# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Scratch-Foam, as I have previously posted, is an excellent surface for children (and adults) to use to create a printing plate. Lately, I've had fun cutting the foam into shapes. I simply used a pencil to draw the outline of the fish directly on the foam. After cutting it out I pressed lines onto the fish to add the detail that you see in the picture. I rolled printing ink with a rubber brayer directly onto the surface of the fish. As you can see, the ink does not settle into the lines that I have pressed into the foam and those details remain the color of the paper that you are printing on. I made an accordion folder and decorated with fish prints.

I'm starting a newsletter with DIY templates, news from my Etsy shop, and step-by-step photos of some of the techniques for my artwork and illustrations. The newsletter in early June 2018 will include a template for a simple pop-up book to make with children. Sign-ups on the right-hand side of the blog.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Art projects that are fun for both parents and children.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
5th grade Eraser prints

5th grade artists looked at Islamic art. We noticed the patterns, the repeating elements and the lack of representational imagery. We came up with six different ideas for our 1"x1" eraser stamps. The ideas had to be: abstract, asymetrical and fairly simple given the size of the erasers. After we chose our strongest design, we drew the design on the end of the eraser and then began to carve away the negative (empty) space on the eraser. The areas we left in relief (raised up) are the designs you see here. Using a guide sheet to help us line up our stamps, we created radial balance. Each stamp is repeated four times as it rotates around a central axis. Lastly, since we printed on thin rice paper, we used rulers and following specific measurements, we created a paper mat for our art. The original idea for this project can be found here: http://www.artforsmallhands.com/2010/07/printing-patterns.html

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
5th grade artists looked at Islamic art. We noticed the patterns, the repeating elements and the lack of representational imagery. We came u...

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Create a new document and edit with others at the same time -- from your computer, phone or tablet. Get stuff done with or without an internet connection. Use Docs to edit Word files. Free from Google.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
How to make easy DIY stencils for clothing and art journaling using a hot glue gun.

# data[].attributes.body
Use real natural items

# data[].attributes.headline
How to Make a Gelli Print • TeachKidsArt

# data[].attributes.subject
How to Make a Gelli Print • TeachKidsArt

# data[].attributes.headline
block print on top of monoprint.jpg - Google Drive

# data[].attributes.subject
block print on top of monoprint.jpg - Google Drive

# data[].attributes.headline
Printing - Good examples with directions

# data[].attributes.subject
Printing - Good examples with directions

# data[].attributes.headline
Printing with Gelli Arts®: Gelli® Plate Printing with DIY & Found Textures!

# data[].attributes.subject
Printing with Gelli Arts®: Gelli® Plate Printing with DIY & Found Textures!

# data[].attributes.headline
Printmaking tools techniques for art, hot glue gun, mixed media art

# data[].attributes.subject
Printmaking tools techniques for art, hot glue gun, mixed media art

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Printmaking tools techniques for art, hot glue gun, mixed media art

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
You’ll never guess which household object you can use to take your printmaking to the next level as an artist.

# data[].attributes.headline
Arte a scuola — Creativity in the classroom and in life

# data[].attributes.subject
Arte a scuola — Creativity in the classroom and in life

# data[].attributes.headline
25 So Cool Printmaking Ideas • Craftwhack

# data[].attributes.subject
25 So Cool Printmaking Ideas • Craftwhack

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Kids and printmaking go hand in hand. The experimental nature of printmaking lends itself so beautifully to exploring all sorts of different materials, techniques, and ideas with kids to get them creatively revved up.

If you're looking for printmaking ideas for kids, look no further. I've compiled a big old bunch of great printmaking techniques for you to choose from, whether you're looking for quick and easy, or more involved printmaking ideas.

Don't be surprised if you get caught up in the fun and make a bunch of prints yourself. Printmaking is incredibly addictive.

2. Not a project per se, but some fantastic ideas for collagraph printing.

3. Linoleum printmaking. I think linoleum prints were my first introduction to printmaking, and a great intro to learning to carve. Fir younger kids, you can carve their linoleum for them, and older kids can do it themselves. Just remember: always carve away from fingers!

5. Similarly, you can roll out prints by using rolling pins. This is a reminder that you can use printmaking techniques to make wrapping paper.

6. This is so my kind of project. It takes a few more steps/materials, but the results are gorgeous. This could be a great precursor to linoleum carving, since kids will be carving erasers to make their shapes for printing patterns.

8. Drawing added to the top of bubble prints - an example of taking printmaking one step further.

9. Another linoleum printing project, and she goes into great detail with the process of 2-step printing, and carving the linoleum. This is a must try printmaking idea for kids.

11. Monoprint Mandalas, - These are such a neat way to get your kids to work quickly, and they incorporate some drawing along with the printmaking. This is one of those printmaking techniques you won't want to stop doing.

12. This acrylic gel transfer project only looks complicated. Once you have the materials and get to it, it's really quite easy and gives a fantastic result you'll want to hang on up.

This one is 14. slightly involved - but the results are great, plus you'll hang it on your wall forever.

15. Printmaking using a glue gun. I MUST try this coolness.

17. Multi-media printmaking projects. I don't know a kid who wouldn't love making these.

18. More cityscape printmaking, but with a different approach.

20. Easy printmaking idea using those little foam stickers you're usually cursing for getting everywhere.

21. Preschoolers get to printmake, too!

22. Any project that uses up extra cardboard is golden, and this one is extra-golden because it's like 2 projects in one: collage and printmaking.

24. Card stock printing- similar to the cardboard cut-outs printing, but more subtle.

25. Active printmaking - roll your prints with balls!
I have an amazing post on photo/image transfer onto wood that you will love if you're looking for fun printmaking ideas!
Pin it:

I am drooling over this printmaking book for kids.

Comments

comments

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
25 Cool Printmaking Ideas For Kids · Craftwhack

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Very cool printmaking ideas and inspiration for printmaking projects.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
RNE’s 4th graders had a great chance to get creative both with watercolor and printmaking in our last 2-D projec…

# data[].attributes.headline
Printsy: Printmakers of Etsy: Etsy Printmaker Interview: Leanne Graeff

# data[].attributes.subject
Printsy: Printmakers of Etsy: Etsy Printmaker Interview: Leanne Graeff

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Interviewed by:
VIZart

Websites

Name
Leanne Graeff
www.Leannegraeff.com
www.leannegraeff.etsy.com

Current Exhibit hanging at The Red Thread St udio
www.theredthreadstudio.com

Brief Bio
Current Life: I live in upper Bucks County PA - with my husband and two lovely children (4 and 5). I split my time between; "mom chores", interior design work ( for my husband's business - he has his own architecture firm) , and my love of printmaking and other artist endeavors.

Old life: I worked for 10 years in NYC in product development and textile design for a number of companies - including Tommy Hilfiger and The Museum of Modern Art. Traveled tons - and had an all around fabulous time meeting other designers and artists.

How did you get started in printmaking?
I went to RISD for my masters in textile design back in the early 90's. That is where I fell in love with printing. It was like a whole world of expression opened up for me . I love the smell of the pigments and how they are like cake batter when you mix them up. I love experimenting with a screen in many ways - layering transparencies etc.

I did a lot of textile printing before I had kids - then it pretty much stopped - due to.....well you know time constraints, space constraints. My image of just putting the baby in a sling on my back - and continuing to print was not realistic...

I had sort of given up even trying - and then I found Etsy. Wow - what another life changing - attitude changing event. Everyone was doing something - all different types of artwork - crafts - it was a bit overwhelming - but I was in love instantly.

I was really inspired by the printers - both silkscreen and linoblock. The process seemed similar in nature. I thought I would try to do a few lino's to see if it would be enjoyable... and it was great. I can just whip out my blocks at the kitchen counter - and my rolling pin ( very high tech) . I would love a press - as I find I have about 15% problem prints - but my method still works.

Is lino the printmaking medium you most often work in now?
I do work in lino mostly for my Etsy shop, but I am also completing some positives to be made into silkscreens for textile prints.

Is your kitchen counter where you do most of your work?
Yes, I do all of my lino printing on my kitchen counter. The light is good - and I can usually spread out ( especially if I have done a good clean up prior). The counter is a good height for my rolling pin printing method.( I will send a photo). I use my dining room table for other layouts - and for most of my carving so I can sit down.

What is your creative process for any given print? (e.g. sketch first? pre-planned or freeform? use photos?)
I usually have a photo or image that I work with. Here is an example of a portrait photo I received. I first make a number of sketches - simplifying as I work. I then transfer the image to the block and start carving. There are always small changes during the carving as well.

What are your inspirations (other artists, people, places,events,etc.)?
The two biggest artistic influences have been Vera and Andy Warhol. When I was a girl - I always loved my Vera sheets. I had the Bamboo pattern in bright green. I loved everything I saw with her name. Andy Warhol inspired me to create repeated images in another way. Flat colors and graphic styles attract me the most. As far as subjects - I really love to capture images or scenes that have a story - either just to me - or to everyone by virtue of their age and universal quality. Showing the patina of a house through a lino print just seems natural to me.

What do you you enjoy most about printmaking?
The best part of printmaking is pulling a great print. Feeling that I have captured some essence of the original.

What is your least favorite part of the process?
The worst part is not having enough time to print and create. I have two small children and a house and other work responsibilities( why can't their just be 3 uninterruped hours in every day??). I find that I just get through some kind of breakthrough and then I'm off the project for 2 or three days. It's hard to keep momentum going.

How has your work changed and evolved since you first started?
When I first started printing my silkscreens were more photography based - and I was creating textiles. Now I still create textiles - as well as lino images - but my process is really based on the sketching and painting - instead of photography and xerox manipulation.

How do you get past creative slumps?
Um... well I feel that my slumps are not due to a lack of interest or ideas - but just the lack of time to put them to paper. It does get a bit depressing at times - but then I look at my kids faces and realize that they will only be small for a short time - and I can give up a little satisfaction in my own work for a few more years.

How do you promote your work?
A. I'm not the best at promotion- but I have a blog - I have my Moo cards... which I give out regularly... and word of mouth.

Any other comments or advice for others who want to try making hand-pulled prints?
1. Don't get discouraged if your first group of prints turn out terrible - your technique and they will improve. 2. Make sure you are using the proper inks - silkscreen ink will not work for lino ( I made that mistake by accident). 3. A rolling pin does work - but get a Baren as well. 4. Experiment - you may be surprised and pleased by your trials.

Thank you Leanne. It was a pleasure to interview you!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Etsy Printmaker Interview: Leanne Graeff

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Interviewed by: VIZart Name Leanne Graeff Websites www.Leannegraeff.com www.leannegraeff.etsy.com Current Exhibit hanging at The Red Thread ...

# data[].attributes.headline
Mosaic Collographs - make your own collage print

# data[].attributes.subject
Mosaic Collographs - make your own collage print

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
For several years, my third graders have explored collograph printing by creating snowy evergreens. Our timing didn't quite work out this year for that theme, but we may have topped ourselves with our texture mosaic collographs - they are really outstanding, if I do say so myself! We had lots of craft foam scraps leftover from our Calder sculptures, and I had a few rolls of really old corrugated border that was a similar thickness as the foam. We used the contrasting textures to create nonobjective mosaic designs, where we found shapes that "fit" together, but without touching:

Next, we prepared a couple of printing sheets by gluing some dark construction paper scraps together to contrast with the white ink I bought (originally for snow!). I knew that the kids would start to cut their background shapes really small, so to avoid that I gave them a strict 5 minute time frame to get their scraps cut and glued, and then I did my printing demo and they realized the background shapes weren't really important, it was just a pop of color! Every student had great success and the results are very artistic - they remind me of a piece of clothing I had back in the 80's with geometric and organic shapes scattered about (Esprit maybe, 80's kids?) Ha - it was like a flashback when I pulled my first print - gnarly dude!

Here is a pic of our printing setup - the kids' printing papers are under the table mat to keep them from getting inked until the right time.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
For several years, my third graders have explored collograph printing by creating snowy evergreens. Our timing didn't quite work out th...

# data[].attributes.headline
Michael Gage Artist Printmaker: Work in Progress: Printmaking with styrofoam

# data[].attributes.subject
Michael Gage Artist Printmaker: Work in Progress: Printmaking with styrofoam

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
In preparation for the printmaking course that I am teaching at the South East School of Art, I've been experimenting with styrofoam printmaking. Styrofoam is the soft plastic that you find under pizzas sometimes. It's very easy and quick to work with.

I started with a drawing of a street in Trastevere in Rome. I indented the drawing onto an A4 sheet of styrofoam, inked it, and then printed it by hand. I first printed the block in black; the lines that I indented onto the block appear as white.

Then I printed the block in white ink onto black paper, so this time the lines that I indented show as positive marks.

The ink is a bit blotchy in places where I applied too much.

A quick way of adding colour is to print onto coloured paper. Here's the block again, printed on red paper.

Finally, I cut away some of the block where I wanted bigger light areas, and printed it in warm brown sienna onto light brown pastel paper.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
In preparation for the printmaking course that I am teaching at the South East School of Art, I've been experimenting with styrofoam printmaking. Styrofoam is the soft plastic that you find under pizzas sometimes. It's very easy and quick to work with. I started with a drawing of a street in Trastevere in Rome.

# data[].attributes.headline
Printing with Gelli Arts®: When Gelli Meets MagicStamps™

# data[].attributes.subject
Printing with Gelli Arts®: When Gelli Meets MagicStamps™

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
For this printing project, students were asked to research a famous structure and create a styrofoam printing plate highlighting it within a…

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
DIY Tangrams Art

By: Natalie from Doodlecraft

A Tangram is a Chinese dissection puzzle consisting of 7 flat shapes.
They all fit perfectly in one square.
My dad is a Mathematician. He collects "smart games".
He loves all sorts of thinking games, puzzles and riddles.
So I grew up putting tangrams together.
You can even make all sorts of things with the pieces...animals, people,and things!

Since geometric anything is all the rage, I though it would be fun to make
Rubber Stamp Tangrams art and cards!

This would be so fun to make for a teacher appreciation gift-A little stack of cards and some envelopes wrapped in twine!

Or just to send someone a smile in the mail!

Here's the Tangram.
There's a cool website that explains it all here.

How to Make Tangrams Stamps

Supplies for Tangrams Stamps:
Pink Carving Rubber: I got mine here... Speedball Carving Block
(you could do with with pink rubber erasers or scraps of cling mounted rubber)
Hobby Knife
Ruler, pen, scissors, 1.5″ square paper
Rubber Stamping Ink Pads or Crayola Markers
Paper to stamp on...lunch bags, newspaper, old books!

Supplies for Cards:
5 1/4″ x 4″ pieces of cardstock in white
5 3/8″ x 4 1/8″ pieces of cardstock in black
5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ pieces of cardstock in assorted colors...and then folded in half
Tape or glue stick

Begin by cutting a 1 1/2″ square of paper and make all the
folds and cuts for the Tangram.

Then trace the paper pattern onto the pink carving rubber.
Brace your lines with a ruler and make the cut with a hobby knife.

Just like this. Now you have 7 pieces to play with!

Now just add tape or a glue dot to the backside...and press onto an acrylic block in any pattern or design for stamping.
Like this bunny!

There's so many fun designs...
But to get you started, feel free to save or print this picture as a reference.

Here's another option when making the tangram stamps:

I buy rubber stamps all the time with cling back mounting foam on them.

They come in a sheet and you peel the stamps out of them.

This leaves a bit of wasted rubber...so I just laid out my Tangram pieces

and traced them on wherever they fit on the rubber!

Then cut them out with rubber stamp scissors.

They don't fit together quite as nicely as the one cut from a single square...
but they are easier to use with the cling back...and still make the same adorable shapes!

Just arrange them,

However you want...

Press in ink...or, if you don't have ink pads...use markers!

Press evenly onto paper. Do not rock back and forth.

Use a baby wipe or damp paper towel to clean up the excess ink...then rearrange and do it again!

This time, with a cat...or fox!

Pretty soon, your desk will look like mine! Just keeping it real here!

They are so cute in all their geometric glory!

Then if you are using them as cards, cut paper as outlined in the "supplies for cards" above and mount them together! Easy!

I totally love this whale.

Have you ever played with Tangrams? I'd love to hear about your experience with Tangrams in the comments below!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Craftaholics Anonymous® | DIY Tangrams Art

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Learn how to make your own Tangrams Art using these DIY Stamps! Modern geometric Animals and objects. Perfect for art and cards on the cheap!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Collagraph printmaking can be adapted to any grade level. The possibilities are endless! This lesson is based on a relief printing method.

Supplies: Cardboard or foam core, poster board, scissors, X-ACTO Z Series #1 Knife , cutting boards, printmaking inks (tempera paint can be substituted-dries really fast though), brayers (foam rollers can also be used- Speedball Mona Lisa 3-Inch Sponge Roller ), 12×18″ colored paper, Elmer's liquid glue, varnish or clear acrylic spray (Collage materials: paper crimpers, various THIN found objects to glue on printing plate: drywall tape, doilies, keys, leaves, fabrics, etc.) Keep in mind that various textures will give the appearance of different values depending on how much color actually prints from the surface.

Prepare Collagraph Printing Plate:

1. Cut a piece of cardboard or foam core for the base.

2. I have my older students pre-design their plate before they start so they have an image/concept they are trying to portray. They need to roughly draw in major outlines of their image. Younger children can simply enjoy the experience the process of the creating the plate using objects they find interesting. This leads to great discoveries for them.

3. Create a low-relief image out of collaged materials. You can use layered poster board, exposed corrugated cardboard, &THIN found objects that have interesting textures. All collaged materials need to be relatively flat, less than 1/8th of an inch thick, or you will run into problems printing.

4. Glue all collage materials to the base using Elmer's glue. Let dry.

5. The plate must be dry before sealing it. Seal the front and back of the plate using varnish (paint on) or clear acrylic spray. Dry overnight before printing.

Printing by hand:

1. Ink plate with various colors using a brayer (work quickly),

2. Place paper onto the plate (precut paper to size of base)

3. Burnish from the back with a barren other burnishing tools that would be used in printing a linocut.

4. Place on a drying rack or some flat surface to dry. Do not stack wet prints on top of each other!

5. Sign prints when dry.

This lesson was created by Michelle C East. If you choose to re-blog or use this lesson in any way (written or photos), then please make sure to link/credit to Create Art with ME.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Collagraph Printmaking Lesson-Collagraph printmaking can be adapted to any grade level. The possibilities are endless! This lesson is based on a relief printing method.