Faux Sun Prints

I make these faux sun prints every summer now, and they're so easy for any kid (or adult!) to do.  The results are really cool, and can be used for a variety of things.  I posted about the technique last summer too, but at the risk of repeating myself, I'll go over it briefly again.

What you need:

• a piece of cotton fabric (any size depending on what you're planning to make with it)
• acrylic paints
• water
• wide paint brush
• fresh green leaves (nothing too stiff)  I used: ferns, bleeding heart leaves, ginkgo leaves
• a board to set the project on in the sun

Gather your leaves and have them ready.  You might want to arrange them on the fabric first to get them in a pleasing pattern.

 

Place the fabric on the board first so that you don't have to lift up the wet fabric later.

 

Water down the acrylic paint so it's quite runny.  Paint the fabric with this paint.  You can use only one colour, or do blotches of different colours ... whatever you (or your child) prefers.

 

Press the leaves top side down into the wet paint on the fabric.  Gently press all over the leaves to get them to stick down fairly well in the paint.  The better they are stuck in the paint, the clearer the image of them will be at the end.

 

Now set the board with the fabric and leaves in the hot sunshine.  It seems this is the most challenging part of this craft this summer.  We've had a lot of grey days here :[

Leave the fabric in the sun until completely dry ... this is the second most challenging part because everyone wants to peel them off before it's ready!  Resist the temptation.  Once the fabric is completely dry, peel off the shriveled leaves and your sun prints will be revealed like magic!!  How cool is this!

 

Ta Da!

We used the smaller cotton pieces as bookmarks, and then framed the larger pieces with these cool frames from the dollar store.  You could also use the pieces for a cushion cover.

 

 

Next I'll be showing how you can turn your child's art into a garden flag!

 

 

Seriously, how cute it this?  Drawn by a four-year old with professional results!  Stay tuned, and hopefully tomorrow I'll get that post up.

 

Thanks for stopping by!

 

Wendy