Potato Prints

 Potato Printing!:
In 10 easy steps

So this is a great secret that you might already know, or you might have once known and forgotten. Making “Potato Stamps” is a great way to reproduce basic pictures or images or…… NUMBERS! Once you make these numbers you can use them to put 350 on anything – home made posters, tee-shirts, or make your own headbands or ties!

Materials:
-      2 potatoes, as big as possible.
-    A knife (and an adult to help you use it).
-     Pencil
-    Paintbrush
-    Acrylic or Latex paint (ink works too)
-    Fabric or paper to print onto.

Step 1: Cut two potatoes in half

Step 2: Draw a 3 on one half. Make your numbers as big as possible.

Step 3: Cut away the background of the number

Step 4: Draw a 5 on one half.
    NOTE: Because we will be printing, everything comes out backwards of how you think it will.
          Step 4.1: Draw a 5 on a scrap of paper

                             
          Step 4.2: Flip the paper over.  You should still be able to see the 5, but now in reverse.

                                                        Trace this onto the potato through the paper.

Step 5: Cut away background of the number

.

Step 6: Draw a O on a half potato and cut this out too. 

You now have all 3 numbers, and are ready to print.

Step 7: Paint (any color) onto the numbers.

Step 8: Place the three numbers, with the paint on them, face down in the correct order. Push slightly on them, and make sure they don’t slide around.

Step 9: Lift them straight up and see your printed numbers!

Step 9.1 [Optional]: Draw and cut 24.10.09 (or 10.24.09 if your in America) into
the other half potato. TIP: If you make a mistake you can stick it back on using a
pin or toothpick.

Step 10: MAKE STUFF! You can now use your stamps to make posters to advertise your event, tee-shirts, headbands, or even ties!
 Have some friends or kids help you to paint the background and then put the stamps on top once its dried. Remember, with 350 we are fighting to save the whole world, so you can paint anything! Its also a good idea to put a website or contact information or the details about where and when your next meeting will be.

One good trick is to make little flaps at the bottom of your poster that people can rip off and take home. This makes it less likely they will forget. This flap could have your email address, the 350 website, or your phone number – so that people who want to get involved know where to look.

Look closely at this poster. All the leaves on this tree were made with a tiny leaf stamp, cut from another piece of potato. Get creative, now that you have this skill use it to your full advantage. You could paint a tree and make big leaf stamps and have a 350 tree-banner for your event (everyone could print a leaf!). The possibilities are endless!

You can use potato stamps to print on fabric. Just spread the fabric out flat (no wrinkles) and follow the steps above. You can also put a piece of cardboard under the fabric, so it doesn’t bleed through. Get creative, you can use this to make very easy headbands, armbands or ties. You could also cover a whole sheet in 350’s and make a 350 cape, dress or dinner jacket. Acrylic and latex paint can be machine washed, and hold up well over time.


TIP: If you want to store your potato stamps, put them in the fridge or a cool place if you can. Otherwise they shrivel up a little.