Cherry Sweig uses leaves and ink to create stationery inspired by nature. Materials: 10" x 17" piece of wood 3 sheets white felt 10" x 17" Faux leather (vinyl) 10" x 17" Waxed paper #12 pad of newsprint Eyedropper Scissors Linseed oil Turpenoid 2 pairs tweezers Print-making paper Oil-based relief ink (yellow, red, green and black) Palette knife (one per color) Palette (clear bag over foamcore) 6" x 6" satin or silk squares Cotton or fiber batting Rubber bands Leaves Tray or baking dish filled with water 12" x 14" foamcore Flat 12" x 14" clear plastic bag - To make "daubers," fill silk or satin squares with cotton or fiber batting and secure with rubber bands. Repeat until a handful of daubers have been made (figure A).
- To make stomping press, layer three sheets of felt over the wood base. Use faux leather/vinyl as cover.
- Choose pressing material (flowers, leaves, etc.).
- Create palette by covering foamcore with clear plastic bag or with plastic wrap folded around and taped to back surface.
- Dilute relief ink with linseed oil, applied with an eyedropper, until it reaches the consistency of pancake batter. Blend with palette knife.
- Using dauber, lightly dab yellow into ink. Dab excess onto palette, then apply to leaf until coated (figure B).
- Repeat process with red, green and black ink, in that order, using a new dauber each time. (It's important to layer the colors in sequence.)
- Soak printing paper in water for 1 minute. Use tweezers to lift from tray and place on stack of paper towels until water dissipates.
- Open top layer of felt on press. Place newsprint piece down, with soaked print paper over it. Use tweezers to gently angle leaf on print paper, inked side down. Cover leaf with newsprint, followed by a sheet of waxed paper.
- Cover with remaining felt sheet and vinyl cover. Gently smooth over each layer, firmly pressing on leaf. Place press on floor and gently but firmly stomp on top of the press while wearing socks. Stomp the press for several minutes while evenly dispersing weight on the entire press surface.
- Next, peel sheets back one at a time to reveal "nature's footprint."
Tips: - Leaves with lots of texture create the best results.
- Store material in old telephone book to keep it pressed flat.
RESOURCES :
Kid Style Nature Crafts: 50 Terrific Things to Make With Nature Materials
Model: 0806909978
Author: Gwen Diehn & Terry Krautwurst
Preprint Edition (April 1997); 144 pages
To order this title from Amazon.com, click here.
Sterling Publishing Co. Inc.
Website: www.sterlingpub.com
Nature Printing With Herbs, Fruits, and Flowers
Model: 088266929X
Author: Laura Donnelly Bethmann and Deborah Balmuth
(June, 1996)
To order this title from Amazon.com, click here.
Storey Books / Storey Communications Inc.
Website: www.storey.com
The Art of Printing
The Nature Printing Society
Lake Shore, MN 56468
Daniel Smith
Fine art supplies.
Daniel Smith
Website: danielsmith.com
Cheap Joe's Art Stuff
Cheap Joe's Art Stuff
Email: cheapjoes.com
Jo-Ann etc.
Jo-Ann etc.
El Segundo, CA 90245
Website: www.joann.com
Transfer: Images on Glass, Fabric, Ceramic, Stone, Paper, Metal, Plastic and Wood
Model: 1571455825
Author: Isabel De Cordova
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