Inspired by the lovely Molly Mahon, whose work uses traditional block printing in vibrant colours for items at home, here is a wonderful project for little ones to create a potato-print card!
- Get yourself a nice big potato and cut it in half, lengthways. Placing the potato face down on to paper, draw round the outline so that you know how large to sketch your design.
- Now draw something on your paper like a star or a pretty petal pattern, and use a marker pen to copy this design on to the potato.
- Very carefully cut away the parts of the potato that you don’t want to print – for little ones, please ask a parent to help! Lay some newspaper underneath the paper or card you choose to print on, to keep things nice and tidy.
- Using a plate or a plastic tray (reuse something from the recycling bin!) pour your paint (any paint will do) and, with a sponge, apply a nice even layer to the potato.
- Carefully consider where you are going to print and then confidently place the potato down and give it a good push. Lift the potato clean away and there you have it – your very first block print.
- Before you know it, you will be carving away lino and creating beautiful patterns to adorn paper items, fabrics and more… as well as a Mother’s Day card! Printing an old tea-towel can be a great gift too.
