I got this recipe from Crafty Girl Fun & Games and it worked surprisingly well. Note that you need to make the water paints several hours in advance to give them time to dry. You'll need small non-absorbent containers for the watercolors. I used a mini-muffin pan, as recommended, I'm hoping it will clean out well. Don't use anything you'll need anytime soon, as I think these watercolors will last a long time. I used soap coloring to color the watercolors but you can use food coloring instead. I also used green glitter, the only type I had.
- 1 Tbsp. distilled white vinegar
- 2 Tbsp. baking soda
- 1 Tbsp. cornstarch
- 1/2 tsp. glycerin
- 1/2 tsp. glitter (optional)
- soap or food coloring
Mix vinegar and baking soda in a medium bowl. Wait until the mixture stops foaming and add the cornstarch and glycerin. Stir well. Add the glitter, if using and stir.
Transfer a little bit of the mixture into a each small container (you can make 6 or so, depending on how much you want of each color and how many colors you have). Add a few drops of coloring and mix well, add more coloring if you want a more intense color. Repeat until all the watercolors are made. Dry for several hours or overnight. Use as regular watercolors.