Pick up your print carefully by the edges so you don't smear the ink...
Turn it over and press it onto your cardstock.
Because we were using white ink, we used dark paper. High contrast is always best!
I had a clean roller that we used to press the backside to make sure the ink stamped off onto the paper.
You could use the back of a spoon too!
We pressed pretty hard and it didn't damage the styrofoam at all and were able to get several prints off the same block.
Learn how to do Styrofoam Printmaking (or block printing) with a styrofoam produce tray and a paint roller. With this fun and easy technique, you can make multiple prints of the same image and use them for homemade greeting cards or art that can be framed and given as a gift. Great art activity for kids of all ages, from preschoolers right through to teens.
My daycare kids have enjoyed various forms of printmaking since they were toddlers. When they were young, we made prints with homemade stamps, corks, flowers, apples and leaves, and they always loved the process.
Recently, however, we tried block printing (also known a monotyping) for the first time, and oh my goodness, I don’t know why we waited so long to do it.
The process exceeded all of my expectations. It was so fun, and the results were beautiful. It’s so exciting to transform a simple pencil drawing into a beautiful, colourful print, and know that you can do it over and over again!
We first tried styrofoam printmaking last month to make Christmas cards (see image below), and last week, when we were crafting for Valentines Day, we made Valentines cards using the same process.
If your kids have never made prints this way before, you have to try it. It’s such a fascinating and gratifying process.
The great thing is, there’s no fancy equipment required to make prints this way. You don’t need an ink brayer or ink or even a special plate for your template.
We used things we already had around the house: a styrofoam grocery tray, a dense foam paint roller and acrylic craft paint, and they worked beautifully!
You’ll want to choose a high density foam roller like this (affiliate link) for printmaking. It’s firm and will allow you to apply the paint to your styrofoam “master plate” evenly. If you use soft, spongy roller or a fuzzy microfibre roller, it will hold too much paint, and it will be too “squishy” to apply the paint evenly.
What’s really fun is that you can make countless prints from the same template, so you can switch up your colours and make a bunch of cards in different colours. You might also want to experiment with multiple colours or with layering your colours to make each print unique.
I’ve made a video to demonstrate the process from start to finish, so you can watch that, or if you’d rather, you can skip to the written instructions below.
I hope your kids have as much fun with this activity as we did!
For your conviencience, this post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Note: If you don’t have blank cards, you could use card stock or watercolour paper folded in half.
Time needed: 30 minutes
How to Make Prints with Styrofoam
Wash and dry your produce tray and cut off the curved edges of the tray so you’re left with just the flat bottom.
Cut the bottom to fit the card (or paper) that you’ll be printing on.
Using a pencil, draw your image on the styrofoam, pressing firmly to engrave your image into the foam.
Alternatively, you could draw your image on a thin piece of paper and then trace it firmly on to your styrofoam
Note: Remember to write any letters/words backwards as the finished print will be a mirror image of your styrofoam design (see image).
Place the following on a flat, even work surface: blank greeting card, your styrofoam image, paper plate, paint roller, paint.
Squeeze a good amount of paint on to a paper plate and roll the roller back and forth through it until it’s completely and generously covered.
Roll your paint roller back and forth over your styrofoam design, making sure the entire surface is covered with paint.
Flip the styrofoam over and press it down on your card. Continue to press and rub the styrofoam firmly with your hands, taking care not to disturb the placement of the styrofoam.
Carefully lift the styrofoam off the card to reveal your print!
Allow your styrofoam template to dry for a minute or two and then repeat the process with a different colour.
How fabulous (and easy!) is that?
Block printing is such a fun art technique to experiment with and a great way for kids to make sets of greeting cards for all occasions.
25+ Preschool activities by 25 bloggers, 10 printables, PLUS 50 links to activities not featured in the book.
Click here to download your copy today
Jackie is a mom, wife, home daycare provider, and the creative spirit behind Happy Hooligans. She specializes in kids’ crafts and activities, easy recipes, and parenting. She began blogging in 2011, and today, Happy Hooligans inspires more than 2 million parents, caregivers and Early Years Professionals all over the globe.