Directions for Printmaking Projects

Homemade Paper

For this project you will need the following...

• Old paper (preferably from books or used printer paper- not newspaper as they make a muddy color)
• Large waterproof container with flat bottom
•  Blender
•  Corn or Rice Starch
•  A screen attached to a wooden frame (see picture below)
•  Rags
• Parchment paper
• Large Cookie sheet

1. Tear the paper into strips and soak in water overnight

2. Blend the paper- I found that adding half paper and half water to the blender make the blending process much easier. 

3. Add starch to the paper pulp- I added about 3 tablespoons, but I think I could have used a little more. The starch makes it possible for you to write on the paper without the ink bleeding

4. Lay the screen box on the bottom of the large waterproof container and add the pulp mixture on top

5. There should be no holes on the surface, but be careful of laying the pulp on too thick. A very thin, even layer is ideal. 

6. Lie any Flat flower, leaves, doilies etc. on the paper and press into the pulp, making sure not to create holes

7. Take a rag (or many) and press down on the wet paper to soak up the excess water

8. Take the bottom of a cookie sheet (flat side) and put parchment paper on top. place on top the screen box. Flip the screen box and paper upside down so it falls onto the parchment paper

9. Let dry in the sun! - I tried to dry the paper inside and it took a week to dry. I then took a second batch and placed it in the sun and it dried in a few hours!

This is where I got the idea, but I changed my directions a little

 http://www.mommy-labs.com/creative-kids/art_craft_projects_kids/how-to-make-recycled-handmade-paper-inlaid-with-leaves-and-petals/

Here is our screen box with wet paper. To make the box, you can use an old picture frame and staple in a screen (we used a metal screen from a window), or you can make a square box yourself, which is what we did. 

Sun Prints

What you will need..

• Cloth- lighter colors work better
• Fabric paint
• Paintbrush
• Flat objects found in nature or around the house (the more interesting the silhouette, the more interesting the print)
• Plastic Bags
• Old cardboard box
• Tape
• Spray bottle with water
• Sun! 

1. Cut the plastic bag so it's flat, and tape it onto a flattened cardboard box

2. Tape the fabric onto the plastic bag

3. Spray water onto the fabric in an even layer

4. Quickly paint the fabric paint onto the damp material (i diluted the paint with water and mixed it first)

5. Quickly place your flat objects on the material

6. Leave out in the sun for at least an hour- make sure you're objects don't shift during this time!

My test try

Tip- After the material had finished drying and you have a print, try outlining the design with more fabric paint or even sewing around the print to add more texture and a pop of color!

 

 

Vegetable/Fruit Stamps and Plant Prints

What you Will Need...

 

• Vegetables/fruits- Onions, Mushrooms, Potatoes Broccoli, Peppers, Apples etc 
• Plants- Flowers, leaves, stems, roots, everything!
•  Fabric print- for fun clothes, or decorative cloth
• Regular paint- for paper prints
• Mini paint roller (I used a scrapbook roller, you can also use a trip roller)
• Paintbrushes
• Paint trays

 

This project is pretty simple and open for experiementation

 Here's how I made some fun prints..

Use a roller to roll paint onto leaves and press them onto fabric and paper- leaving their inner details

Use a paint roller to roll over leaves and flowers in order to leave the negative space of the object

Combine the above to 

Paint objects and create a print this way

Dip the plants and veggies in paint and press on fabric or paper to create a desgin

 

What else do you think you can do with these materials?

 

 

Marbled Paper

 

What you will need..

 

• Whipped Cream (I just beat heavy cream for this project)
• Food coloring
• Paper - lighter paper works better
• Knife
• Fork
• Lots of napkins!

1. Create a flat area of whipped cream on an even surface (I used a sheet of wax paper taped to the table)

2. Add food coloring to the whipped cream

3. Using a fork or other device, swirl the food coloring into the whipped cream, but don't blend completely

4. Place the paper on top and press down gently so that all the paper is touching the whipped cream

5. Peal the paper off slowly and gently

6. Scrape the remaining whipped cream off the paper to reveal the marbled design!