Sometimes it’s fun to get messy, especially if it’s colorful mess! Today there are many popular events centered entirely around attendees getting doused from head to toe in COLOR! The most notable event is the Holi festival, also called the “Festival of Colors.” Holi is celebrated around the world, attracting thousands of attendees each year to celebrate the arrival of spring by throwing colored powders into the air. There’s just something about getting covered in colors that inspires people to let loose and enjoy themselves! Now you can capture the fun and free-spirited nature of color events, right in your own backyard.
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Consider these “chalk bombs” to be the standard water balloon’s quirky cousin. They’re easy to make, but I highly recommend making them outside. (There may have been a balloon-popping incident inside our studio while making these, but I won’t name names!) ;-)
Read to the end of the post for a list of fun ways you can use your “chalk bombs” to make some messy, fun summer memories!
How To Make Your Own Chalk Bombs
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Jar with a Lid
- Pump Bottle
- Water
- Cornstarch
- Food Coloring
- Water Balloons
Mix two cups of water with 5 tablespoons of cornstarch. Put the lid on your jar and shake it up! I used a pint sized mason jar that holds two cups of liquid, so I just filled it up to just under the bottom of the rim.
Now it’s time to add your food coloring! I went with really saturated rainbow colors. I found a great chart on FoodNetwork.com that I based my color formulas off of. Here is what I ended up using:
- Red: 68 drops red
- Orange: 33 drops red, 90 drops yellow
- Yellow: 38 drops yellow
- Green: 46 drops blue, 78 drops green
- Blue: 80 drops blue
- Purple: 80 drops blue, 120 drops red
Transfer one of the colors to a pump bottle and start filling the balloons. This part can be a bit tricky! Make sure you hold the balloon opening tight around the nozzle. Again, I highly recommend doing it outside because I had quite a bit of liquid spill out while I filled my balloons.
Be sure not to make the balloons so big – I had quite a few of mine pop when I added too much liquid!
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The colors don’t look all that impressive while wet…
…but as soon as they dry you are left with a beautiful, colorful masterpiece!
How you’ll use your chalk bombs is up to you, but here are a couple of ideas to get you started…
- Draw a target on your sidewalk or driveway with chalk, and compete to see who can get their balloon to splat closest to the target!
- Create splatter art! Buy a cheap canvas from an art store, or make your own with a sheet or other fabric. Line up and give everyone a chance to contribute to your creation!
- Have a colorful water balloon fight! Have everyone wear something white (or light-colored), so the colored splatters really pop. After the balloon fight, have a colorful family photo shoot!
- Make a classic Water Balloon Toss game a bit more interesting by using chalk bombs in place of standard water balloons. Expect to see lots of colorful hands and arms at the end of the game!
What’s your favorite messy outdoor game or activity?
That’s wonderful Jillee!
In India we have been celebrating color so during “Holi”, the festival of colors…since ancient times!
The entire nation is full of colorful faces and places on this day!
check out this link.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holi
love this idea, Would be fun for a childs birthday party. In the invites, let the parents know to bring extra clothes ……………………………..
How fun!
I have totally another concern. I have absolutely no problem with your idea & its use. What I am concerned about are the powders used in “color runs” where colored powders are thrown at racers. One of our local TV stations looked into this & found that many of these powders are made up of questionable and maybe downright toxic ingredients. Many were easily flammable, too. Just wanting to draw attention to the color runs, which are entirely different than your great idea. Thanks!
God Bless you………….sounds like lots of fun, but I think this is one idea I’ll have to pass up on when the grandchildren come to visit this summer….. with my white carpeting and white furniture. I don’t think so.
My Grandkids don’t seem to grasp the idea of keeping outdoor activities from coming to the indoors.
I’m such a spoil sport!
I’m wondering if using a condiment squeeze bottle to fill the balloons would work also. The balloon might fit better on the tip of the squeeze bottle….
great idea
Great idea Shellie!
Shellie has a great idea to use condiment bottles to mix the colors in and (partially) fill the balloons with!
After working at a preschool for 14 years, I have concluded that using washable water color paint found at any teacher store is preferable to food color. It’s less likely to stain people, clothing and/or surroundings. The cost of a bottle of water color paint may be a little high but a little of the paint goes a long way as it is concentrated. Thanks for all your great ideas!!! This would be an awesome school art project!!
Thanks for the tip Shellie!
I am wondering the same thing as Edna..does it come off little faces easily..and if they wore white shirts would the colors stay on when washed. That would be kind of cool
If you wanted to keep the dye on the shirts, I would suggest soaking them in white vinegar before washing – to set the color. :-) It does come off of hands and faces with soap and water.
I assume this does not stain hands? I know sometimes food coloring is hard to get off. Really worried about splatters on face??
It does leave color on your hands, but it comes right off with some soap and water!