It's Your Life December/January 2015 - 2016 | Page 16

16 It’s Your Life Magazine Would you like to try out an unusual printing technique that can be used to make cards, pictures, and also homemade wrapping paper? Here are the instructions for making “sandpaper crayon prints.” This craft is unique, fun, and also is very easy to do. The use of an iron is required, so this part should be supervised by a parent. You will need sandpaper of average grit (extra rough sandpaper doesn’t work as well). Cut pieces of sandpaper in half, so they are 5 1/2” by 8 1/2.” Draw directly on the gritty side of the sandpaper with crayons or oil pastels. For best results, color over all lines and filled in areas twice. Place the sandpaper picture, picture-side down, over a plain piece of paper, and iron over the back of the sandpaper (use cotton setting, and iron over the sandpaper for about 30 seconds). The crayon/oil pastel will melt, forming a print on the paper. The colored area has lots of little speckles in it, corresponding to the sandpaper’s texture. There is something about using sandpaper that makes it possible for the print to transfer. Doing the same process with plain paper instead of sandpaper doesn’t work. These sandpaper crayon prints can be used to make unique pictures, cards, or even wrapping paper. You can print onto various types of background paper, such as white or colored copy paper, colored construction paper, specialty papers or cardstock. Each print can only be made one time, so each one is an original monoprint. Please note: Although the ironing is done on the back of the sandpaper, there is a chance that melted crayon could get on the iron, especially if the coloring extends to the edge of the sandpaper. To prevent this, place a sheet of plain paper over the back of the sandpaper, and iron over this extra piece of paper. Diane and Michael Hurst have nine children, and have been homeschooling for over 25 years. Diane is a stay-at-home mom, home teacher, writer, artist, and song writer. Diane and Michael have a homeschool curriculum business called Gentle Shepherd (www. gentlesh W7W'"