DIY Block Printing...with Stuff You Have Around the House

Lin
by Lin
Your home is your craft supply store. Bet you didn’t know you can create pretty cool prints using stuff you have laying around the house.
For this DIY, I scoured my brother’s garage to find cotton cloths that I can use to print on. This is the best fabric for absorbing the paint. I believe these may be changing pads or cloth diapers or burp cloths, but as long as I didn’t have to buy something new, I was good with using them.


Here’s the stash:


1. Cotton fabric – could be a pillow case, tea towel, blanket, apron, bag, as long as it’s an absorbent material


2. Fabric paint


3. Button


4. Cork (to glue items to so you can get a good grip)


5. Glue


6. Q-tip


7. Disposable chop stick


8. Cedar block (I didn’t end up using it but I think it would make a great print)


9. Bottle cap


10. Potato
I first glued the stick of a Q-tip and button to corks so I can firmly hold them to print.
I then carved my potatoes for the more custom designs I wanted.
Cut off the ends of the Q-tip, attach the stick to the cork with glue, and start printing (dip the stick in paint and wipe off access paint with another Q-tip).
Use the end of a disposable chop stick to create the round tips.
For the potato prints, just dip in paint and start printing on the fabric!
Apply even, firm (not too much though) pressure.
Hang and dry for 1 day.
Lin
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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2 of 6 comments
  • Clyde H Clyde H on Aug 21, 2015
    I did potato stamping as a child in grade school back in the 60's.
  • Anna Columbia Anna Columbia on Aug 21, 2015
    Also use the bottom cut end of celery to make roses. I used potato stamping to paint an accent wall--looks like wallpaper.
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