Kid creativity expert Courtney Watkins demonstrates ways to keep kids active and involved on rainy afternoons by making a homemade printing press out of recycled objects, like plastic foam, and things around the house, such as a potato and cardboard.
Block Printing
Materials:
safety scissors
2 pieces of cardboard
glue
printer's ink
To use block printing:
- Using safety scissors, kids cut their own designs from ordinary cardboard.
- The shapes are glued onto another square piece of cardboard, making a giant "stamp." Add printer's ink and stamp away. (Printer's ink is widely available and is inexpensive.)
- Use these stamps on T-shirts or paper.
Pressed Foam Printing
Materials:
pen-like object (example: handle of a small paintbrush)
piece of plastic foam (foam backing for meats are available unused for free at the grocery store.)
printer's ink
paper of choice
To use pressed foam printing:
- Using a pen-like object, kids draw a design onto a piece of pressed foam.
- Use printer's ink to cover the impression, and place your paper of choice on top.
- The resulting print is a negative image of the design.
Printing with Vegetables
- Using raw fruit and vegetables from around the house can be an exciting way to make cool prints.
- Can use lime halves, broccoli florets and other items.
- Dip, roll or stamp in the ink of choice.
- Press on a variety of surfaces to print.
Resources Courtney's Creative Adventures
by Courtney Watkins
Little, Brown & Co., 2002
Order this title from Amazon.com.
Guests Courtney Watkins
Creativity Expert
E-mail:
Courtney@CourtneyWatkins.com
Website:
www.courtneywatkins.com
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