Valentine Printmaking Project

Valentine #1

This is a Valentine printmaking project I have planned with grade 5.

The main focus is teaching them how to create their own stamps with craft foam.

Valentine #2

Here is a second version.














MATERIALS REQUIRED:

- watercolour or disk tempera paint
- heavy paper or wc paper
- sticky backed craft foam
- scraps of corrugated cardboard
- black acrylic or tempera paint
- coloured pencils, china markers, sharpies
- alphabet stamps, glitter gems, optional

PROCEDURE:

Using watercolour or disk tempera paint your background.

Here I'm using disk tempera and this resulted in Valentine #2.

I used watercolour paint and a little kosher salt to create the background for Valentine#1.

Set aside to dry.

Now we can work on our stamps.

Gather your materials, we need some scraps of cardboard for the base of the stamp and some craft foam.  I like the sticky back.

There are 2 ways to make a stamp with craft foam:

1st Way:
Cut the cardboard into the shape of the stamp. I then cut strips of craft foam and apply to cardboard to outline the shape. You can also cut shapes to be added like the inner heart for this stamp.

2nd Way:
Cut your cardboard shape, then trace around it on the craft foam.  Cut the shape out of craft foam.

You then use a blunt pencil and draw designs into the craft foam shape.  Push hard enough that you can feel the design marks with your fingertip when you touch the foam.

Here is a good tip I got from Traci Bautista.  Use small pieces of craft foam on the back of the cardboard to make a handle.  I use the parts where the product sticker is, I normally just throw those ones away.  You can also use the leftover little pieces from cutting out a stamp.
Use 2 layers and you'll have a good handle.

Using a paintbrush brush some acrylic or tempera paint onto the stamp.  This gives you more control than stamping into a plate of paint to load.


I always have practice paper nearby when doing a printmaking or stamping project.

Here you can see then difference between the 2 types of stamps. 


Have the kids practice working with the stamps.  Sometimes the ghost print or the 2nd ghost print turns out to be the best.

Ghost Print = the second print from a stamp without applying more paint.

When they are confident apply the stamp to your dry background.

Now you might want to just stop there but I like to take it further.

Ensure your print/stamp is dry.  I use a hair dryer to speed things up a bit.

I added some coloured pencil, some china markers, and some sharpie.

I also used a little white and silver paint that I dipped the end of a pencil into and stamped on some accents. (see finished photo)

I painted some scrap paper.

I then stamped on some letters and added these to the Valentine.


You can also add a few sticky gems.

You could also print off some text from the computer to add.

Pair it with a Valentine poem and you have a great Valentine the kids can make for Mom and Dad.


Gail

Stamped Autumn Tree

Ok,  just one more tree project and then I'll move on.




This is a very easy one that is quite striking.  It includes use of a homemade stamp.













MATERIALS REQUIRED:

- wc paper
- watercolour paint or disk tempera, blue, green. black, and Fall colours
- spray bottle with water
- scissors
- sticky back craft foam
- piece of corrugated cardboard, wood, or even a small candy treat box (smartie)
- ink pad

PROCEDURE:

Tape off wc paper onto art board.   Paint in a sky starting with lots of blue paint, then gradually just painting with water to create a graded wash.


Paint in a horizon line and the ground.

Let dry.

Take 1 or 2 scraps of wc paper.

Paint with Fall colours, spray some water on to get the colours to mingle a bit.


Set aside to dry.

When background has dried paint in a tree with a few major branches.



Let dry.

I love, love, love using craft foam to make my own homemade stamps.  It's kid friendly, no carving or using sharp tools, cheap, and produces a great effect.



Having sticky back foam makes it super easy but you could use regular craft foam and just tape in place with a loop or glue in place.

 You could also use store bought stamps.  I'm always picking up some from the dollar bin at Michaels.

Cut a leaf shape out of the foam.  Using a pencil and pressing hard draw your detail lines.

Remove the sticker paper and stick to a base.  I often use wood (2"x2") that
is cut into cubes.  You can also stick to corrugated cardboard or even to an empty little treat box.

Cut out some leaf clumps.  Stamp on your leaf stamp here and there.


Glue into place on the tree.

That's it for this one.

Here is another variation.  The individual leaves are cut out.

The tree is cut from painted paper and the small branches are done in pastel.


The stamp on this one is made from plasticine or modelling clay.

Roll your modelling clay into a cylinder shape.  Tap one end on the table to make it wider and flat.

Carve your design into the clay with a toothpick or skewer.

Instead of a stamp pad I used black tempera.


See you next week.