She started with a simple, readily available ingredient: white tempera paint. She then experimented with different ingredients to make it easier to apply and remove. This experimentation led her to create a formula using white tempera paint, thinner, and a little water.
It's important to note that her initial recipe was not a secret formula. She used ingredients that were commonly available at the time. It was her persistence and ingenuity in developing a better product that led to the success of Liquid Paper.