Linoleum Printing

Now this is something slightly more difficult, but still very do-able. The only problem is that the materials are a little more expensive. Micheal's still has everything you need but if you really want to try this, I recommend shopping around online or to other craft stores, like my recently found favorite, Pat Catan's.

What You Need:
Linoleum block (it's pink if you go to Micheal's)
Linoleum cutter
Printing ink (water based and any color you would like)
Brayer
Piece of plexy glass or something smooth
Construction paper or actual printing paper if you want to be official
2 Spoons

brayer
http://www.dickblick.com/
products/speedball-soft-
rubber-brayers/

lincutter
http://www.americanprintingequipment
.com/speedballno1linoleum
cutterassortment.aspx

How-to:
1. Take your block of linoleum and draw your desired image. Try to remember that when you print, the picture will be reversed.
**With the linoleum cutter, there are a variety of heads available for the different sized gouges. The shallower you carve, the more of a texture you will receive **
2. Where you don't want there to be ink, you carve away the linoleum until you are satisfied with how your image looks.
3. Take the ink, plexy glass, and brayer, and evenly spread a spoonful of the ink so that you can easily coat the linoleum block
4. Place the paper squarely on the block and pat it down to make sure it isn't going to move.
5. Rub with a clean spoon to fully get the inked image applied to the paper.
6. Last step! Peel back the paper carefully not to smudge the ink, and allowing everything to dry, leaving you with a beautiful hand made print! (They make for great presents when matted)

Here's a finished print! Happy Saturday!
http://www.artebelladaily.org/artists/tressa-breton/

Scratchboards

I'll start with something simple for the first art how-to. We're going to make a scratchboard like what you can buy in those little kits. They are really pretty cool and cheap to make with all the materials available at your local Micheal's.

What You Need:

white art board (almost like cardboard but more dense)

crayons

paint brush

india ink

toothpick

How-to:

1. Draw a simple image on your art board (if desired)

2. Take your crayons and color where you want to be able to scratch. Make sure you press rather hard to make sure the wax completely covers those specific areas. 

**Everywhere that you leave gaps/color too lightly will automatically absorb the ink**

3. Use your paint brush to apply the india ink evenly across the art board. Any brush will work, but I recommend using a large watercolor brush because it will lay smoother and cover better.

4. Last step! Once the ink is dried, take your toothpick and start scratching your picture or design.

My homemade scratchboard from high school of an image I found on the internet.
It's that simple!