Love This Printmaking Technique: Foam Shapes

I first did a foam sticker printmaking project a while back, and it was the bomb. THE BOMB! So fun and easy. Naturally, I decided to explore this technique a little more, and this time it was the mega-bomb. You guys need to try this if you haven’t already. Did I mention it’s easy?

This time, instead of using pre-cut foam stickers, I cut my own shapes. Mainly because I wanted my prints to look a little more loose and uneven. I also tried using a foam piece that I had carved lines into with a pen, but this one wasn’t as wonderful. I think with a little messing around, it could turn into a better technique, but I decided to stick with the foam cut out shapes.

The best part about printmaking like this is that it’s quick, so you can get to printmaking in a jiffy, experiment all over the place, and then you have a bunch of prints to do more stuff to.

I started by cutting a tiny triangle out of the foam sheet, then using it sort of as a cutting guide for lots more of them.

After a bunch were cut out, I glued them onto a piece of cardboard.

Roll out the paint (I used acrylic craft paint – this stuff.) onto the surface of the print press it nice and evenly onto the surface of your paper, and lift to reveal the magic. I always get this self-congratulatory little thrill when I lift the paper off and a print looks good. Let’s call it printer’s high.

My first print got a second print over it once it dried.

My second print got some printed dots all over it once it dried. I need to do more to this one, but I’m not sure what yet. I’ll let it percolate for a while.

My third print was all about SILVER. I printed on black, then went in with a white gelly pen when the paint was dry.

Okay, here’s the sad little carved print. Actually, I think it could make a cool subtle background if you’re doing art journaling, making a card, or something else you wanted a starting point for. You could draw on this, do some stamping, etc.