Easy DIY Sidewalk Chalk Paint

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Turn broken leftover chalk into fun and easy diy chalk paint for kids to create vibrant, beautiful outdoor art.

Summer days call for colorful outdoor crafts, and if your kids are anything like mine, you probably have a bucket full of broken sidewalk chalk pieces sitting in the garage. Instead of throwing them out, we are turning them into vibrant sidewalk chalk paint!

If you are looking for another classic recipe, you can check out our original DIY Chalk Paint tutorial. But if you want an amazing upcycling project that includes a little hands-on "smashing" (which the kids absolutely love) this is the perfect summer activity.

Here is how to make the brightest crushed chalk paint with just two simple ingredients!

DIY Sidewalk Chalk - Materials 

• Sidewalk chalk: Leftover broken pieces or fresh sticks work perfectly.

• Zip-top plastic bags: Heavy-duty freezer bags are best to prevent tears.

• A wooden mallet: You can also use a small hammer or a rolling pin.

• A muffin tin: The perfect palette for mixing and carrying your paints outside.

• Water: Just enough to reach your desired consistency.

• Paintbrushes: A variety of sizes for different designs.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Sort and Bag Your Chalk Gather up your chalk and sort the pieces by color. Place each color group into its own zip-top bag and seal it tightly, making sure to press out the extra air.

2. Smash It Up! This is where the fun begins! Take your bags outside to a hard, flat surface. Let the kids use a wooden mallet to gently smash the chalk inside the bag until it turns into a fine, colorful powder. Tip: Place a towel under the bag if you want to protect your concrete from any accidental tears.

3. Set Up Your Paint Palette Carefully open each bag and pour the crushed chalk powder into the separate cups of a standard muffin tin. =

4. Just Add Water Slowly stir water into each muffin cup. Start with just a little bit of water and mix it with a paintbrush. Keep adding small amounts until you reach a smooth, paint-like consistency.

5. Paint the Sidewalk! Grab your brushes and head to the driveway! The colors go on so vibrantly—perfect for painting bright rainbows, beautiful butterflies, and colorful spring flowers. The best part? When playtime is over, it all washes away easily with the garden hose. 

One of the most fun parts of this process is watching the paint dry. When you first brush the crushed chalk paint onto the concrete, the water makes the colors look super deep and dark. It goes on looking almost like a rich watercolor. 

But as the warm summer sun dries the paint, the colors slowly transform and lighten up, returning to that classic, bright pastel chalk look. It's super fun for the kids to watch their vibrant artwork change and reveal its final colors. 

Final Thoughts

This crushed sidewalk chalk paint is such an easy, clever way to upcycle broken chalk. It keeps the kids entertained, uses up materials you already have around the house, and results in beautiful sidewalk art. Plus, the hands-on process of smashing the chalk is a great fine motor activity!