Hello, Parents! I hope you’re having a low-stress week. Let’s talk about exciting crafts for the season using simple items to create colorful prints.
My goal when it comes to activities for my little one is to get him excited about something, while also keeping it as simple as possible for me. Let’s jump into it!
I’ve seen prints made with natural items like fruits and vegetables. I gravitate towards activities like these because they can be set up quickly, easily, and for relatively low cost.
Nothing to Buy
I love an activity that can be done without having to run to pick something up from the store. Luckily, I tend to have some acrylic paint and potatoes laying around the house.
To start, you’ll want to cover your surface with something to keep the paint off. Unless you have one of those handy dandy arts and crafts tables that the paint can get all over.
From there, it’s time to grab those veggies. I used the example of potatoes because that’s what I saw initially. But after doing some research, I have learned that there are so many fun prints and pictures your little ones can make using all sorts of fruits and veggies. For example, apples can make a super exciting pumpkin shape for some halloween themed arts and crafts!
Printing a Leaf
In terms of potatoes, it’s pretty simple to carve whatever you want to make a stamp. For this activity we are keeping it pretty simple and attempting to print a beautiful leaf.
Once your surface is covered and safe from any potential damage, you’ll prepare the potatoes. I like to give them a good wash, despite not eating the veggies themselves, it still makes me feel better to know there isn’t anything gross sitting on the surface.
After that, it’s time to cut the potatoes up. Depending on the size, you may want to just chop them in half. If you are using larger potatoes like a baking potato, you could slice them into big, thick slices.
Once sliced, create the look of stretching veins on the inside that will create a wonderful leaf-like print. You can simply carve out the veins or for extra effect, cut the outside border into a more pointed leaf shape. Totally up to you!
Fall Colors
Then, get the paint ready. I like to use paper plates as a pallet. We’re talking fall vibes, so of course we used red, orange and yellow. You can brown and forest green.
Grab your paper, and get stamping!
There are tons of fun shapes you can carve out of a potato to create wonderful art projects. For example, you can cut around the border to create a heart shape sticking out for some Valentine’s Day prints. Or try to create the shape of a Christmas tree and use a q-tip dipped in different color paint for the ornaments. The options are truly endless!
Welcome the Season
II hope this inspires you to engage in some seasonal art activities with your little ones! It doesn’t always have to be an elaborate arts and craft event.
Sometimes dipping some potatoes in paint is the perfect way to celebrate the coming of a new season.
Good luck and let me know how it goes!
Sophie Hamel is a freelance writer and works as a crisis responder. Her son is a three-year-old preschooler.
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