Cookie Cutter Potato Printing

So I would totally love to take credit for this amazing idea, however I can not!! Potato Printing is fun at the best of times, but this just takes the cake. Make the shapes on your potatoes using cookie cutters for some amazing prints. I first came across this one at our local Playgroup, one of the fabulous leaders had cut teddy bears into potatoes for printing at our Teddy Bears Picnic.
It was so simple and yet very effective and the kids loved it.

You will need:
Potatoes
Cookie Cutters (I used metal ones as they were rather sharp)
Chopping Board
Sharp Knife

I started by cutting the potatoes in half and then pressing the cutter into the potato, approx 5mm deep. 

Then run a sharp knife around the edge of the cookie cutter and lift the cookie cutter away.
You end up with a really easy way of making shapes in your potatoes. 

An Elephant in action! We used some small kitchen sponges to add the paint so it isn't too thick and dries reasonably quickly.

Miss A busy printing.

Miss M, an expert mess maker!

Love the concentration on Master J's face.

Miss O having fun printing and smearing the paint.

Miss A, working on her print.

Close up of one of the hippos.

Rabbit

Elephant

Teddy

These prints were heaps of fun and really easy. If you rinse the paint off the potatoes you will get about 3 days out of them without having to cut new ones! The prints we made would look fabulous as wrapping paper and you could also do some wonderful pattern work.


Enjoy x

Make your own Textured Rubbing Plates

Every time I am in an Arts and Crafts store I look at the textured rubbing plates. Master E and Miss M love using them when they go to Playgroup but the ones at the stores are expensive. Awhile ago I came across a post to make your own. (I can't find the link). It was very simple and quick to complete.

I started with some thick cardboard and cut them into large squares (I always have things like this stashed away, a nappy box would work perfectly), my trusty gluegun and some extra glue sticks.

Once the glue was quite hot I got to making patterns, these aren't fabulous but for the purpose it doesn't matter. I found it hard to control the amount of glue coming out and sometimes needed to retrace my lines.

Here are the finished plates, spots, swirls, lines, big and small zig zags and diamonds.

Here is a quick sneak peek of the pattern made from one of the zig zag plates. Not bad for my first attempt!

They are now ready and waiting for Master E and Miss M to get up and have a go. That will be the real test. If they go well I might have a go at making some letter and picture plates.

Enjoy!