Printmaking For Kids using Recycled Containers
This easy recycled container printmaking activity is a great process art activity for kids of all ages.
Kids will love experimenting with all the different prints the containers can make. while the creating some gorgeous art.
This container printmaking for kids would make a fun Earth Day activity. You can talk about all the different ways you can reuse a plastic container, including for printmaking! And when you are done making art, wash off the paint and recycle the containers!
This container printmaking activity started when one of my kids noticed that a plastic container from some food packaging had a ‘funny bottom’. Then we noticed that lots of plastic containers in the recycle bin had interesting patterns on the bottom, and I had an idea!
I asked my child if he could “find other containers with funny bottoms?”, and while he happily sorted through the recycling bin I grabbed all the supplies needed to try a fun printmaking process art activity using the recycled containers.
Container Printmaking for Kids
Printmaking is a fun art process that involves transferring a texture or image from one surface to another.
Watching how a texture, pattern or image moves from one object onto a piece of paper (or other surface) is a magical art activity and lots of fun!
Using recycled containers for printmaking is a fun way and easy way for kids to experiment with transferring textures from an object (the container) to a piece of paper.
Kids learn all about cause and effect while printmaking and will often spend lots of time happily experimenting with different printmaking objects and techniques to see what the results are.
How to do Recycled Container Printmaking
To do some recycled container printing you’ll need:
- A selection of containers and trays that have interesting bottoms
- Some paint and some containers to put the paint into
- Some rollers or paint brushes
- A BIG sheet of paper
- A wet cloth for cleaning up drips
- Somewhere to dry your creations
To make interesting prints you’ll need to look for plastic containers that interestingly textured bottoms. Look for containers with bumps, lines, ridges and different shaped indents.
We found lots of interesting patterns on the bottom of food packaging, especially biscuit/cookie packaging, and packaging from frozen food. Even little containers like yoghurt tubs made interesting prints. You could even look for mental or paper containers with interesting textures to try.
Make sure all your containers are clean and dry before you start!
Set up your printmaking area by covering the work surface and make sure you have plenty of large pieces of paper, and some space to try your prints. Wearing an art smock or old clothes is also a good idea.
We used liquitemp washable paint in two darkish colours so you could easily see the prints on the white paper.
Paint rollers are an easy way to apply paint to the bumpy surfaces, but you could also use a regular paintbrush or try dipping the containers into a large tray of paint.
To make the recycled container prints simply cover the bottom of a container with paint, then press if firmly onto the paper. Carefully lift it up to reveal all of the weird and wonderful printed patterns!
Experiment with what happens when you add a lot or a little paint to the textured bottoms of the containers. Which works better to make a clear print?
Allow your child to simply experiment with the printmaking process. Some kids may like to combine the prints to make pictures, but mostly this is just about the fun of experimenting and seeing what cool prints you can make from something that would usually be thrown out!
More Printmaking for Kids
Printmaking is such a fun and easy process art activity that kids of all ages love!
If you want to do more printmaking with your kids try printmaking with one of these ten crazy items to print with, check out these easy printmaking ideas:
This would make great patterns for wrapping paper… you could start to get a little organised for Xmas or Birthdays AND keep the kiddies entertained!
What a great idea. Trust kids to notice something like interesting container bottoms. Love this creative painting idea Kate.
Love it!
I LOVE THIS!!! We’ve been having fun with Styrofoam prints so this is right up our alley! Bravo!