summer fun: sidewalk chalk

Sidewalk chalk is as much a part of my summer memories as bare feet and ice cream.  Remember the days of hopscotch, cakewalks and tic tac toe? Now check out these clever & crafty ways to chalk up your celebrations...

Wrap It Up: Mighty Girl simply wrapped these colorful sticks of chalk in wax paper, twisted the ends to seal and offered them as favors for her son's birthday.

{image via mighty girl}

Stencil your sidewalk:  Fiskars suggests using stencils to create chalk art designs, leading guests up to your front door.

{image via fiskars}

DiY:  Paperbox Press offers 2 ways to make your own sidewalk chalk.

Sidewalk Chalk Paint:
In a large bowl, I mixed cornstarch + powdered tempera paint.  You can add as much or as little tempera as you like, but note that the color will darken quite a bit when water is added and it's actually ready to use!  I used small containers and put 3 (1 of each color) into each favor box.  I tied a paint brush to the top, tied it up with some ribbon, and added a cute label!  These are great summer party favors.

 Molded Sidewalk Chalk:
Mix together 1 cup of Plaster of Paris with 1 cup of water. Add color to your mixture using powdered tempera paint. Blend well and let stand for a few minutes. Pour your mixture into the silicone molds. Set aside and let dry completely. Once dry you can remove your chalk from the mold. Set it aside to dry for approximately 24 hours more.  I purchased the silicone molds from Sillycone and they have a variety of shapes to choose from.

{images via paperbox press}