Introduction: Meat Lover's Block Printing
- Salvaged styrofoam tray from a supermarket meat product
- utility scissors
- ball point pen (or some kind of pointy stylus)
- some kind of water soluble paint
- brush or brayer to spread paint
- paper or cloth to print on
- optional: brayer or rolling pin to press block print on paper or cloth
Step 1: Prepare the Block
Save the styrofoam trays from your favorite meat products bought at the supermarket and wash them throroughly. Cut off the rounded corners so that you have a flat styrofoam surface.
Step 2: Prepare Your Print Design
Using a pen/stylus, "carve" your design into the printing surface.
I prepared a line drawing on tracing paper to transfer onto the styrofoam. Alternately of course you can just wing it and draw/carve directly on the printing surface.
Step 3: Make a Print
Spread your paint over the printing surface. You can use a brayer for this to get a consistent coating - I couldn't find mine though, so I just used a large paintbrush to distribute a thin coat.
Lay paper gently over the top and gently rub fingers over the top. Using a brayer for this will give you more even pressure. A rolling pin would also work for that. However, I just used my fingers for this.
Gently peel off the paper and voila! Block print.
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