Puffy Sidewalk Paint | DIY Sidewalk Foam Paint (2025)

This puffy sidewalk paint is SO COOL! Combine three simple ingredients (that you probably already have!) to create this DIY foam paint. It’s both quick and easy to make!

Kids (and adults!) of all ages will have a blast painting outdoors with this sidewalk puffy paint. It’s thick, foamy, and allows you to create a 3D looking drawing! And bonus: it’s really easy to clean up!

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Helpful Tip:

Using squeeze bottles can be easier and less messy for younger kids, but the puffy paint lines end up being a little skinny. If you want thick lines, squeeze the paint right out of the plastic bag instead of transferring it to a squeeze bottle.

Should I add glue to this sidewalk puffy paint?

No, we definitely don’t recommend adding glue to this paint. We’ve seen several recipes online suggest using washable glue, but we tested it – and it’s difficult to remove after it’s dried! In fact, we had a really strong rainstorm, and the puffy paint with glue was STILL perfectly intact after the rain!

Glue gives the paint a nice thick texture, so it would be super fun to paint with on paper. But for the outdoors, we prefer paint that washes away in the rain – so we suggest following our recipe without glue.

Does puffy sidewalk paint stain?

No, we found it really easy to wash off! The paint rinses away in the rain. Or you can rinse it by pouring or spraying water on it. Our paint washed away without leaving any residue.

If your pavement is particularly porous or light coloured you might want to paint on a small test area first to make sure it comes off without staining. If it doesn’t, try a scrub brush and biodegradable soap.

As for paint on the hands, soap and water should easily remove the colour!

How long does this puffy sidewalk paint last?

Be sure to use up all of the puffy sidewalk paint on the first day you make it. By the second day, the shaving cream will lose its foam and get really runny. You can still use the paint, but it won’t have the same 3D look to it.

Do I need to put the sidewalk puffy paint in squeeze bottles?

No, you can also paint directly from the Ziploc bag by snipping a hole in one corner. The smaller the hole, the skinnier the lines. The bigger the hole, the bigger and puffier the lines.

We found the paint was actually easier to squeeze out of the plastic bags. The only trouble is that it can be messy, especially if the bag accidentally opens while you’re squeezing the paint out!

What type of shaving cream do I need for this foam paint?

Make sure you use the foam kind of shaving cream, such as Gillette Foamy or Barbasol. The foam is what makes the sidewalk paint puffy!

Where else can I use this sidewalk puffy paint?

You can use this sidewalk puffy paint in a sensory bin, or play with it in the bathtub. Plus if you want to paint outside, but the weather isn’t cooperating, you can also use it to paint on paper!

Add some colour to your summer with this puffy sidewalk paint! Why buy expensive paint when it’s so easy and fun to make your own?!

Here’s even more DIY paint ideas:

Sidewalk Chalk Paint

Ice Painting

How to Make Puffy Paint

Our bookLow-Mess Crafts for Kids is loaded with 72 fun and simple craft ideas for kids! The projects are fun, easy and most importantly low-mess, so the clean up is simple!