We made some homemade finger paint again today, and had a blast with our little group. Next time I'll be sure to get pictures of the action! It's totally edible (though not that yummy), and completely non-toxic, but the best part is that it's so easy to make and will last.
This is the recipe I use:
* 2 cups of flour (or corn starch)
* 1 cup of cold water
* 4.5 cups of boiling water
* Liquid food coloring
Mix the flour with the cold water and stir together. Pour in the boiling water and stir between each cup. It gets a little strange and gross (you are basically mixing a hot goop), but after stirring it literally seems to "melt" into a smooth custard-like consistency. I separate it into individual jars or cups, you can do it however you like, and then add color.
Overall verdict? Very easy, safe, and messy fun. Every little one that's played in it seems to love the texture. Paint brushes seem silly, since they almost always use their fingers anyways, but I mix the color in with them, then just leave them just incase. The paint is thick and gel-like, so it takes a long time to dry, but when it does it makes a great, almost 3-D effect on the paper. Give it a shot!