How to Make Children's Paint Stampers From Potatoes

Children love to paint and make crafts of all kinds and this activity will be no exception. Simple to make and store for a week or more, potato stampers can be reused by simply washing them under cold water, reapplying lemon juice to the cut surfaces to prevent oxidization and storing them in plastic wrap in the refrigerator. Knife handling and shape cutting of the potato must be done by an adult for this project but the kids get to do the fun stuff.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Potatoes
• Poster paint
• Knife
• Lemon
• Cutting board
• Plastic wrap
• Paper towel

1. 
    
   Cut square-shaped stamper

   Wash a medium-sized potato and rinse it under cold running water to remove dirt and debris. Cut in half widthways on a cutting board. This will enable you to make two stampers.

2. 
    
   Cut triangular shaped stamper

   With a knife, slice into the potato about a quarter of an inch below the cut side. Cut about half an inch in and stop. Remove the knife and slice down from the top to remove the piece you just cut. Repeat the process on the other three sides of the shape. You will end up with a square-shaped potato stamper.

3. 
    
   Rub cut sides of stampers with lemon juice

   Rub lemon juice all over the cut surface of your stamper, wrap in plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator until ready for use.

4. With a knife, cut in on three sides of the other half of the potato to make the triangular stamper. Rub the cut side with lemon juice and refrigerate.

5. Dry off the stampers with a paper towel when you are ready to use them. This ensures the paint will adhere to the stamper without sliding off.

6. Grab a stamper and dip the shape into a saucer full of poster paint. Print out the shape by pressing the stamper down gently onto cartridge paper, art paper, poster-board or any other suitable paper or cardstock you may have on hand. Lift up the stamper and you will see the imprint of the shape. Make stampers in different shapes, such as stars and crosses, for shape variety.

7. Gouge out shapes in the cut sides of potatoes instead of making a raised shape. Carve the letters of a child's name in several potato stampers for an educational slant on playtime.

Resources

• Great children's crafts
• Children's fun crafts
• Crafts for children of all age groups

[gentlewaves]

on 9/4/2008 My grandson LOVED this play activity and I would recommend it to any mom or granma!