Shampoo Paint

Cheap, easy, and smells great! Mix about 3 tablespoons of shampoo with an electric mixer. (add food coloring if you wish) Mix until it resembles shaving cream. Lots of fun, and this recipe is cheaper and smells better than shaving cream paint.

Yogurt Paint

Mix plain yogurt with a few drops of food coloring. Has nice texture for finger paint and dries shiny. Non toxic. Stores well in fridge.

Bathtub Finger Paints

Mix 1/3 cup mild liquid dish detergent with 1 Tbs. Cornstarch. Separate the mixture into a few small to all batches – an ice cube tray works well. Mix in a few drop of food coloring to each batch. Use your paint in the bathtub to make pictures, play tic-tac-toe, or write your name. Clean the tub and the kids at the same time! Great recipe for traditional finger painting too.

Quick Sparkle Finger Paint

1 cup water, 1 cup flour, 2 teaspoons salt, food coloring. Mix well. This makes a fun, textured finger paint that sparkles well it dries.

Cornstarch Paint

Mix equal amounts of cornstarch and vinegar. Add food coloring. Start with a tablespoon of each.

Shaving Cream Paint

This paint recipe is a good one for young children to use when painting at an easel since it doesn't run. Half fill a bowl with shave cream. Add about 3 tablespoons of dry tempera paint (more or less depending on bowl size - experiment the first time) Blend well and add more shaving cream. Doesn't run, dries quick and bright.

Paint Stretcher Recipe

Tempura paint is nice, but expensive too. Try this:
Mix 1 part liquid starch to 2 parts tempura

Homemade Washable Paint
Mix 3/4 cup liquid tempura paint to 1/4 cup liquid detergent. (my recipe says Dreft or Ivory, although it probably doesn't matter) Works like a washable paint and stretches your tempura paint to save money.