Nature Prints
Nature Prints
Age: Preschool through elementary
Time: 30 minutes or more
Type of activity: Nature Craft Activity
Spend some time collecting spring leaves and blossoms to make a piece of earth art!
Materials needed:
· Leaves, flowers, feathers, fruit, and other natural materials
· Paint, markers, or a stamp pad
· Paintbrush
· Newspaper
· Construction paper
What to do:
Step One: Cover the area you'll be working on with newspaper in case of spills.
Step Two: Collect the natural materials that you'll use for your prints. Flat objects (like leaves, cut pieces of fruit, or feathers) will work best.
Step Three: Next, decide how you'll make your print. You can choose between markers, stamp pad, or paint. Follow the instructions below for the option you would like to use:
Make a print with markers:
Step One: Color one side of your leaf (or other nature sample) completely.
Step Two: With even pressure, press the leaf (colored-side down) on the paper.
Step Three: Carefully lift the leaf off the paper and voila you have a print!
Make a print with a stamp pad:
Step One: Lightly press one side of your nature sample on the pad. Be careful not to press too hard, or you'll have too much ink for your print.
Step Two: Carefully pick up your sample, and place it ink-side down on the paper.
Step Three: With even pressure, press the sample down on the paper.
Step Four: Carefully lift the nature sample off the paper. Presto your print is ready to dry.
Make a print with paint:
Step One: Paint one side of your nature sample. Be careful not to use too much paint, or it will ruin your print.
Step Two: With even pressure, press the sample (painted-side down) on the paper.
Step Three: Carefully lift the sample off the paper and let dry.