I love printmaking!
Printmaking has always been one of my favorite art forms to do with kids because any kid can be successful no matter their level artistic ability. The process of printmaking and pulling the print is like a big surprise to kids and give an added excitement factor. One of my favorite printing techniques is printing with back of a cupcake tin or muffin pan to make a series of evenly spaced circles.
I thought this technique would be perfect for making cute little beetle prints for bug week of our FREE summer camp U Ready Kids Camp.
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MATERIALS FOR CUPCAKE TIN BUG PRINTS
- Cupcake Tin or Muffin Pan
- Paint
- Paint brushes
- Q-Tips
- Large piece of paper
- Black Marker
- Black Crayon or Black Paint Stick like Kwik Stix
HOW TO MAKE CUPCAKE TIN BUG PRINTS
- Choose several colors that will mix well together (we picked cool colors) and quickly paint the round tops of the back of a cupcake tin or muffin tray.
- Use q-tips to add designs in the paint by removing paint in areas or adding other colors of paint on top. Q-tips are perfect for making polka dots!
- Place a large sheet of paper on top of the painted cupcake tin and press firmly. Make sure to press where each of the circles are.
- Pull print (lift up paper)
- Let dry.
[Optional] create a second print with different colors and designs while your first print is drying. - Add a black circle to each colorful circle for the head using black crayon, marker or paint sticks.
- Use a black marker to add antennas and legs.
- Sign your name 🙂
MORE IDEAS
Pair this activity with a book about bugs like Yuval Zommer's Big Book of Bugs
Learn more about beetles. What types of beetles are there? What kind of patterns do they have? How many legs do they have?
Leave the colorful cupcake tin prints as abstract circle paintings, turn the circles into flowers by adding petals around the circle, use warm colors to make sunshines, or turn the circles into faces with different emotions MUFFIN TIN MONOPRINT FACES
Add eyes and wings with marker.
Add googly eyes.
DID YOU TRY IT?
Let us know what your little one thought of these cupcake tin bug prints in the comment section or show us your play by sharing your photos on Facebook or instagram and tagging @ureadyteddy or #ureadyteddy
We'll share our favorites in our stories!
