Thursday, August 24, 2017

Easy Printmaking Project for Kiddos: Colorful Initials!

Howdy friends! Today I wanted to just pop in and share this colorful, kid-friendly printmaking project.  I know, it's been awhile since I've shared a printing project here. (I've been shying away from messier projects lately because my youngest has now entered the VERY precocious and active toddler years. Ahhh! )  But, I recently took a printmaking course and was enamored with the whole process.... so I had to try out the process with my eldest.

Let's Print Kid Initials


Easy Printmaking Project for kids- Print your Initial

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Everyone loves initial art, right?  It's graphic and a great way to show identity and individuality.  My son was no exception.  He totally dug the idea of making art with his first initial.  Here's how we did this project:

Let's do some printmaking!

First we cut out letters from foam sheets.  Then, we drew designs on them with pencils.  (Two notes:  Make sure you're working on the letter backwards so that it prints the right way.  Also, press down very hard when you draw your design.

Easy Printmaking Project for kids- Print your Initial

Now it's time to get inking!  Grab a styrofoam sheet (or baking dish... whatever is nice and flat).  Put a strip of block printing ink on it.  (I'm sharing Amazon links here, but you'll find some really great deals at Dick Blick.)

Use a rubber brayer to roll the ink out.  Then, roll it over your initial.  (I protected the table with a clear plastic table cloth and we worked on newsprint.)

Easy Printmaking Project for kids- Print your Initial

Once your initial is covered, take a sheet of paper and rub it gently over the initial.  (To make sure the print is nice and neat, we moved the letter over to a clean section of newspaper.)

Easy Printmaking Project for kids- Print your Initial

Pull up your sheet to reveal the print.  :) This was the neatest part!

Easy Printmaking Project for kids- Print your Initial

To create the colorful background, simply glue strips of paper to a sheet of paper.

Easy Printmaking Project for kids- Print your Initial

Trim the strips, cut out your initial, and then glue it on.

Easy Printmaking Project for kids- Print your Initial

That's it!

Easy Printmaking Project for kids- Print your Initial

I hope you enjoy this festive and fun art project!

Happy making, friends!
Easy Printmaking Project for kids- Print your Initial