Name: CleverPatch Crafternoons: Collagraph Printing
SKU: 92538L
Price: 370.26 AUD

Step 1Put a splash mat or scrap paper down to protect your workspace. To start, you want a nice firm piece of cardboard for your printing plate, so we are using an old box. You could also use something like a cereal box. Use scissors to cut 2 “plates” that are the same size from the cardboard. We have made ours A5. Adult supervision is recommended when using scissors. Sketch up the design you wish to create on a scrap piece of paper. For a two-plate design, you need to create a background and then a foreground image.
Think carefully about the positive and negative spaces in your design and how the foreground image will sit over the background.
Step 2Cut 2 foam sheets the same size as your plates. Copy your chosen designs onto the foam pieces using pencil. Cut out the shapes and use tacky glue to stick them firmly in place on the cardboard plates. Allow to dry.
Step 3Use glue on the foam pieces to add in any details you want to show in your design. The glue will dry and give a smooth, raised surface to create a different texture to the foam underneath. You can also create different textures by scratching back through drying glue with a skewer. Allow to dry.
We have kept it simple to show you the basics of collagraph but here’s where you could experiment by adding a variety of different textures using different collage materials such as corrugated card, sandpaper, bubble wrap and textiles!
Step 4Once your plates have completely dried, it’s time to print! Choose what colour or colours you want to print your background plate with - we have chosen to roll out 2 colours to create a gradient but you can print a single colour if you wish. Put a small amount of block printing ink down on your splash mat or scrap paper and then use a Lino roller to drag small amounts down, rolling backwards and forwards until the roller is completely inked. Take your background plate and roll the ink over the surface, rolling back and forth until the plate is fully inked.
Step 5Take the piece of paper you wish to print on and press the plate face down in the centre of the page. Without sliding or moving the plate, use the palm of your hand to rub firmly over the back, pressing to transfer the ink from plate to paper. Once you are happy, carefully peel back your plate to reveal the print below.
Step 6Print as many copies of your background as you wish. Each print will turn out slightly different and you can experiment with how much ink you use and how much time you spend using your palm to rub the back of your plate to see if you can achieve a perfect print! Allow your prints to dry. While they are drying, clean up the ink and roller ready for the foreground print.
Step 7Once your background print is completely dry, it’s time to print your foreground! Choose the colour or colours you wish to print and roll the ink out as you did in step 4, then ink your plate. Because this plate is going to print over the top of your background, you may wish to clean up or cover any ink that might have gotten on the plate base with some scrap paper. If it’s not cleaned or covered this will be printed as part of your design.
Step 8Take your dry print and carefully align the foreground plate over the background, lowering it onto the paper and pressing it down firmly. Use the same technique as you did in step 5 to print the foreground plate, peeling it back to reveal the finished design. Continue to print the foreground plate then allow them to dry. Clean up any ink and wash the roller ready for next time.
Step 9Once your prints have dried, use coloured cover paper and a permanent pen to turn your print into a beautiful artwork. You could even create a personalised card, poster, or invitation - get creative!