These homemade finger paints are super easy to make and totally non-toxic. As a matter of fact, this recipe is completely edible. No, it doesn't taste very good, but you don't have to worry if your little one accidentally digests some either, because it's completely harmless. Also, these are really inexpensive to make, not even a third of what store bought cost, especially if you pick up used jars from your local thrift store.

Because these paints are food grade, you should keep them refrigerated for maximum longevity. I recommend using them within two weeks of making them, but the texture is best the same day you make them.

Step 1: Gather Ingedients & Jars

Dry Ingredients:

1/2 cup corn starch

1/2 tsp kosher salt

3 tbsp granulated sugar

Wet Ingredients:

2 cups water

Food Coloring of choice * I used AmeriColor Soft Gel paste* Gel paste = brighter colors

Jars of your coice

* I doubled the recipe for 6 half-pint, wide mouth jars*.

Step 2: Cook the Ingredients

Combine dry ingredients in medium saucepan. Add water. Stir to combine ingredients together, making sure there are no clumps. Turn on stove to medium heat. Stir occasionally until mixture thickens and just begins to boil. Immediately remove from heat and stir until you get a nice, light fluffy texture. (see pic) Set aside to cool.

**If you have a lot of clumps once you have finished with mixture, you have cooked the mixture too long**. This is a fairly short process, between 6 & 8 minutes depending on your stove top. You should not walk away from the stove until you have finished the process.

Step 3: Add Food Coloring

Get your jars ready and pick out desired colors of food coloring for finger paints.

*** Updated****
The easiest way to add the color to the finger paints is to separate the mixture into zip-lock backs. One zip-lock bag per color. Add a few drops of coloring into each bag. Seal the bag and knead back and forth until none of the clear mixture remains.

***Once the mixture cooled completely, the consistency changed and was a little clumpy. I found that once I stirred the coloring into the jars, the consistency was a little better and it didn't affect the final texture of the paints***.