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Potato print

The potato print is perfect for decorating surfaces such as wood and paper with colours and patterns.

Material:

Potatoes
A sharp knife
A felt pen
Kitchen roll
Acrylic paint
A flat paintbrush
Clear polyurethane varnish

In order to make impressive potato prints you will need to carve a shape into the potato with a sharp knife. Cut the potato in half and in order to achieve a perfectly flat surface, cut off another slice. The size of the print depends on the size of the potato. For the biggest possible print, choose a large potato and cut it lengthways.

Draw the shape onto the flat side of the potato with a felt tip pen. Remove the parts which are not needed for the print from the potato with a knife. Make sure that clean edges are achieved and then apply the paint to the surface with a thin paintbrush. This method is better for controlling the amount of paint on the potato than simply dipping the potato in paint. One coat of paint is sufficient for approximately four prints with different paint levels. In order to achieve a two colour effect, apply the two different colours to the two different halves of the potato.

How to do it:

Cut the potato in half. A straight knife edge is better than a zigzag knife. Cut another fine layer from the surface in order to achieve a smooth surface. Blot the surface dry with a piece of kitchen roll.
Use a felt tip pen to draw the contours of the motive onto the surface. Choose simple motives and leave a thin space on the outer edge.
Cut the shape following the contours of the motive vertically into the potato up to a depth of approx 12 mm.
Cut through the potato horizontally up to the vertical cuts. Remove the parts of the potato which have now been cut out in order to create your stamp.
Apply a good layer of paint to your stamp with a brush and press it onto your object. You must reapply the paint after three or four prints. Should you notice that your print has an uneven surface; wipe off the paint and rub the potato onto a piece of smooth wood and try again.
Once the paint has dried, seal the pattern with a coat of clear polyurethane varnish.