Here’s yet another way to use the amazing liquid watercolors…

Flower printing and leaf printing!

We did this yesterday for art group and it was a big hit with everyone from the 1 1/2 year old to the 10 year old — probably would be for the adults too if they were ever given a turn at the art table.

We used blank stamp pads from Discount School Supply (thanks Julie Liddle for the suggestion!) with liquid watercolor “ink” added.

They worked perfectly!

We didn’t get quite the level of detail that we got leaf printing with the regular black ink stamp pads, but they sure are beautiful and a lot easier for little kids to work with.

Here’s how we did it:

Flower Printing with Liquid Watercolors

MATERIALS

• liquid watercolors
• blank stamp pads (or make your own)
• Watercolor paper or other sturdy paper

INSTRUCTIONS

First we prepped our stamp pads by squirting our liquid watercolor colors of choice on them to soak the pad (I did this ahead of time).

When the kids arrived, we sent them out into the garden to collect flowers and leaves for printing.

 Then we reconvened in the art studio and everyone pressed their flowers and leaves to the watercolor stamp pads and then to the watercolor paper that I had set out.

It was lots of fun…

…and the prints turned out really well. They are more impressionistic than scientific and don’t show every little detail of the flowers and leaves. But they’re beautiful and the kids were happy with them.

Another nice thing about these stamp pads is that they are reusable.  As the ink dries out, you just squirt on more liquid watercolor.

I also think you could make your own blank stamp pad fairly easily and quickly with a piece of felt (white will show off the color best) set in a dish or recycled styrofoam tray. A few paper towel sheets might work okay as well. Just add the liquid watercolor of your choice (or even try with other paint).

How about you? Do you think your kids would like flower printing?

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