DIY Scented Sidewalk Chalk and #EarlyMemories

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Growing up, the majority of my playtime was spent outside – building forts in the woods, riding my bike, playing in the leaves, skating down at the creek, jumping rope and playing hopscotch and kick the can. There were no wireless electronics like there are today, and as a kid, outside was where we just felt, well, FREE.

Once school was out for the summer, we played harder and we played longer. Lunches were always simple and quick, so I could get back outside and pick up wherever I had left off. Macaroni and cheese was on the menu at least one day a week. . . and I wouldn’t have had it any other way.

I have such fond memories of my childhood and think about it often. There’s so much of it I want to re-create for my own children. I want them to explore, I want them to pretend and I want them to learn the games I played as a little girl. Is it crazy that sometimes I love re-living my childhood through them?

Well, this week I decided that I was going to plan an afternoon like the ones I experienced when I was little. There would be macaroni and cheese, there would be hopscotch, there would be friends and we were going to have some fun! That’s when I got the bright idea for this DIY Scented Sidewalk Chalk.

Why scented you ask? It’s a nostalgia thing. Remember those markers years ago that were scented, and when you drew with them, they gave off the most wonderful smell? My favorite was grape. Yum.
Well, anyway, that’s it. I thought it would just be fun to make some wonderful smelling sidewalk chalk. The end.

So before we can get to the hopscotch and the mac & cheese, we need to get this chalk made. I know you’re going to want to make some, too, so here’s what you’ll need:

Materials 

• Plaster of Paris
• Water (not shown)
• Tempera paints
• Plastic cups
• Plastic spoons (not shown)
• Silicone mold(s)
• Fragrance or essential oil

For each color of chalk you want to make, you’ll need:

• 1 plastic cup
• 1 plastic spoon
• 1 cup Plaster of Paris
• 3/4 cup water
• 4 tablespoons paint
• 3-5 drops fragrance or essential oil

Decide on how many colors you want to mix up and let’s get started! I chose six bright, fluorescent colors!

1. Fill each plastic cup with 3/4 cup water.
2. Add 4 Tablespoons of each color of paint to each cup.
3. Add a few drops of fragrance or essential oil.
4. Add the Plaster of Paris and use your plastic spoons to stir each cup until the mixture is well-combined.
   I had to punch some holes in a cardboard box to serve as a stand for one of my molds. If you’re using something like toilet paper or paper toweling rolls for your molds, you may need to do the same.

1. Pour the paint into your molds (I used three different kinds of molds).
2. Allow to dry, untouched for at least 24 hours.
3. After 24 hours, pop the chalk out of the molds and allow to dry outside of the molds for another 24 hours.

Note: After 24 hours, the chalk will be more of a “paint-like” consistency. If you allow it to dry “outside” of the molds for another 24 hours, it becomes even more “chalk-like.” Personally, I love the “paint-like” consistency. They draw so smooth and the colors are super vibrant, but they will be a bit “wet” yet.

The hardest part of this all was waiting for the sidewalk chalk to dry. Why did 24 hours seem like an eternity?

So, while we wait, let me tell you about a normal weeknight at our house. My kids are super hungry when they get home from school. They’re always headed to the pantry for a snack. Instead of something sugary, I serve them the fruit or veggie that’s planned for dinner that evening. It works out well and it holds them over until the main course is ready.

Well, for our fun night, dinner didn’t take long at all so they were only halfway through their bowls of grapes and strawberries before I called them to the table. Horizon Mac & Cheese was on the menu and it was the perfect precursor to the active play we had planned.

Horizon Classic Mac is made with organic pasta and real Horizon® organic cheese. It’s our go-to meal when I need to prepare something quick and delicious. I mean, couldn’t you just gobble that right up?

We did!

We either eat it “as is” or sometimes make this yummy White Cheddar Mac & Chicken Bake. I feel good knowing there are no scary, artificial ingredients in that box that I need to worry about. Because who needs more to worry about? Not me.

After a delicious and quick mac & cheese meal, we were all ready for some fun! I bet you’re anxious to see how this sidewalk chalk turned out. . .

It turned out FANTASTIC!

We threw the chalk into a bucket, headed outside and waited for our friends around the neighborhood to join us. It sure didn’t take long before the driveway was filled with kids, bikes, chalk and, well, FUN!

This is what spring and summer are all about! We ate quick, easy and delicious food, spent a beautiful afternoon outside and crashed hard at the end of an active day. I would say, mission accomplished! What were your favorite outdoor activities when you were a child? Do you share experiences from your childhood with your children today? I can’t wait to hear about what you have planned for spring and summer in the comments!

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This conversation is sponsored by Horizon. The opinions and text are all mine.