7 Ways to Make Ice Chalk

Since I first posted about our ice chalk, we've made lots of variations of it. Instead of putting each in a separate post, I thought it would be more helpful to have them all here.


The basic chalk paint recipe:

• Half cornstarch
• Half water (though I tend to use more water than cornstarch so it's easier to mix)
• Food Coloring
• Dish soap (optional, but makes clean up easier)

Once you pour this chalk paint mixture into molds and freeze it, you have ice chalk, which you can use like regular sidewalk chalk. (Except it's cold and melty and the perfect sensory, art, and science activity for a hot summer day.)

To make popsicle chalk, I substituted washable paint for the food coloring and poured it into popsicle molds. I also used flour in place of the cornstarch.

To make scented ice chalk I used unsweetened Kool-Aid instead of food coloring. I used one packet per two cups of chalk paint, but since we tend to overdo things around here, I'm sure you could get away with less. I used muffin tins for the molds.

Peach Mango, Tropical Punch, and Mixed Berry

For marbled ice chalk I left out the food coloring, poured the white chalk paint into molds, and added a few drops of food coloring. I mixed it in (just a little) with a toothpick.

Rainbow ice chalk is tedious, but totally worth it. You need to freeze each layer before adding the next. (Trust me, I really tried to come up with a shortcut.)

For fizzing ice chalk, substitute baking soda for some of the cornstarch in your batch of chalk paint. You can either use a squirt bottle to add vinegar to the ice itself, or spray it on the chalk lines and watch the bubbles.

To make treasure ice chalk, choose any of these variations, and freeze small surprises for your kids to find inside the chalk.

Ice chalk has become one of our summer favorites. What summer activities does your family like best?