Kids and printmaking go hand in hand. The experimental nature of printmaking lends itself so beautifully to exploring all sorts of different materials, techniques, and ideas with kids to get them creatively revved up.
If you’re looking for printmaking ideas for kids, look no further. I’ve compiled a big old bunch of great printmaking techniques for you to choose from, whether you’re looking for quick and easy, or more involved printmaking ideas.
Don’t be surprised if you get caught up in the fun and make a bunch of prints yourself. Printmaking is incredibly addictive.
1. Plastic bag printmaking? Nice. This is one of those techniques that you can do with multi-aged kids and everyone will have fun. If you watch her video, notice the layering she does with flowers over the printed backgrounds.
2. Not a project per se, but some fantastic ideas for collagraph printing.
3. Linoleum printmaking. I think linoleum prints were my first introduction to printmaking, and a great intro to learning to carve. Fir younger kids, you can carve their linoleum for them, and older kids can do it themselves. Just remember: always carve away from fingers!
4. Several ideas here for making prints with cardboard rolls. So, like, keep collecting those paper towel rolls. Printmaking doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated!
5. Similarly, you can roll out prints by using rolling pins. This is a reminder that you can use printmaking techniques to make wrapping paper.
6. This is so my kind of project. It takes a few more steps/materials, but the results are gorgeous. This could be a great precursor to linoleum carving, since kids will be carving erasers to make their shapes for printing patterns.
7. You know a project is good when an art teacher says it’s one of their favorite projects ever. I love the color exploration and different steps in this one.
8. Drawing added to the top of bubble prints– an example of taking printmaking one step further.
9. Another linoleum printing project, and she goes into great detail with the process of 2-step printing, and carving the linoleum. This is a must try printmaking idea for kids.
10. How can a printmaking ideas roundup be complete without a potato print project?
11. Monoprint Mandalas, – These are such a neat way to get your kids to work quickly, and they incorporate some drawing along with the printmaking. This is one of those printmaking techniques you won’t want to stop doing.
12. This acrylic gel transfer project only looks complicated. Once you have the materials and get to it, it’s really quite easy and gives a fantastic result you’ll want to hang on up.
13. I am thinking really, really hard about whether or not this would really be considered printmaking, or is it a cool form of drawing/painting that LOOKS like printmaking? She has it tagged as printmaking, so I’ll just go ahead and include it in here, because it’s really lovely.
14. This one is slightly involved – but the results are great, plus you’ll hang it on your wall forever.
15. Printmaking using a glue gun. I MUST try this coolness.
16. City prints using foam boards. These are fantastic!
17. Multi-media printmaking projects. I don’t know a kid who wouldn’t love making these.
18. More cityscape printmaking, but with a different approach.
19. This is some crazy chalk-and-water printmaking technique that looks like all sorts of fun.
20. Easy printmaking idea using those little foam stickers you’re usually cursing for getting everywhere.
21. Preschoolers get to printmake, too!
22. Any project that uses up extra cardboard is golden, and this one is extra-golden because it’s like 2 projects in one: collage and printmaking.
23. Monoprinting, baby.
24. Card stock printing- similar to the cardboard cut-outs printing, but more subtle.
25. Active printmaking – roll your prints with balls!
I have an amazing post on photo/image transfer onto wood that you will love if you’re looking for fun printmaking ideas!
Pin it:
I am drooling over this printmaking book for kids.
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Great resources – we love printmaking too. Looking forward to much more of it this year. Great round-up of ideas! 🙂
Love it! pinned and off to share it on my FB page too *shines halo*
Oh we love printing… and lots of new to us ideas here too! So much inspiration! Thank you!
This is a fantastic resource! I feel like you made this just for me since I love your printmaking projects so much and they are all here plus more. I am bookmarking and sharing.
Thanks so much for including my project in your list (#18)! I am looking forward to checking out all the rest. Printmaking is just the coolest, isn’t it?
I love your project! Thanks for doing such a cool one, and yes, printmaking is the best. I can’t get enough of it.
Hi Jeanette,
Thanks for all the great info you have here! I am sure I will use some of these ideas in my art lessons.
Also, just wanted to let you know that there is another book about printmaking (without a press) which is great for art teachers and kids. I am an art teacher and have used most of those techniques in class (and I wrote the book as well).
It is called “Printmaking + mixed media” by Dorit Elisha. Check it out!
Thanks
Dorit
Oh my gosh! Thank you so much for sharing your book with me- it looks FANTASTIC, and I love your approach to printmaking. Congrats on such a lovely book!
10: I think you mean “without”…
Ha! Thanks for pointing that out.
cool ideas! pinning for inspiration that will be reqd sooner than later !
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Entiendo que tiene que haber anuncios pero no de esta forma. No volveré a entrar y a seguir.
Love these ideas all together! Wish I had found this to use with my printmaking middle school class. Just retired, and still love to learn! Thanks!
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