Painting with Homemade Puffy Paints

I found this recipe in a toddler art book I got a while back.  It's full of fun recipes for things like playdough, clay, and all sorts of paints.  I really want to try the face paints soon since Ava LOVES having her face painted.  Here is what you need for the puffy paints.

• 1 Tablespoon flour (self rising)
• 1 Tablespoon salt
• Water
• Food coloring

We did four colors (red, yellow, green, and blue) so I got out four small bowls and put a tablespoon of flour in each and then a tablespoon of salt in each and mixed together.  Then I added about 5 drops of each color into it's respective bowl.  Slowly I added water a little at a time mixing until it formed a nice paste.  I'm thinking it seems to work best when it's about the consistency of toothpaste.  We used paintbrushes because that's what the book called for but next time we will use something easier to scoop and smear with.  This worked better in the areas that were thickly painted so maybe Popsicle sticks or baby spoons.  Here is the process...

Flour, salt, food coloring (water not pictured)

 After your child has painted their masterpiece pop it in the microwave for 30-40 seconds (maybe more if the paint is very thick) and it puffs right up.

 This would be really cool for a mountain or volcano scene for a school project.

Also we used cardboard but I think poster board would work well too.  Just something weighted to support the thick paint.