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This giant snowflake printmaking project gives children a chance to paint on a different canvas and practice a printmaking technique in an ombre color scheme. A large, slatted wooden snowflake is the inspiration and unique find for this printmaking activity.
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Snowflake Printmaking Craft Supplies
For this gigantic snowflake printmaking activity, gather the following supplies:
- large slatted wooden snowflake
- turquoise, red, blue, and white tempera paints
- paint pots and paintbrushes
- spoons
- large sheets of paper
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The Giant Snowflake Printmaking Process
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To do this snowflake printmaking activity, select a large, wooden snowflake for the canvas. This oversized snowflake with four wooden slats works perfectly for an ombre painting activity.
Next, choose tempera paint colors. In this ombre design, the chosen colors are shades of blue, pink, and turquoise.
Then stir white paint into the red, blue, and turquoise temperas to create hues to your liking. Varying amounts of white mixed with blue tempera paint make the light and medium blue hues. White added to red makes a pastel pink shade. And white added to turquoise makes the lighter hue.
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Afterward, set out the paints in pots and add a paintbrush to each one.
Paint each slat a different paint color. Apply the colors generously, and make sure to give the outside edges an extra good coat.
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Finally, carefully flip the wooden snowflake over onto an 11-inch x 14-inch piece of sturdy art paper, or an 11-inch x 17-inch piece of copy paper. Press firmly on all parts of the unpainted side of the snowflake, and then lift it off carefully.
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Tip: You may want to make two prints for your first try with this painting technique. The tempera paint will transfer over better on the second try.
When the paint print snowflake is dry, trim the top and bottom edges of the paper. Or cut the colorful snowflake out.
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The wooden snowflake canvas can be used over and over if you are introducing this printmaking activity to a group of children.
Large printed snowflakes positioned at different angles display beautifully together.
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Helping Little Learners Experience The Printmaking Process
Little learners will need help when performing this giant snowflake printmaking activity in the following ways:
- painting each slat the appropriate color
- applying paint to all areas of the wooden canvas
- flipping the snowflake over to make a print on paper
In this activity, they can label and match colors, learn about an ombre color scheme, and practice a printmaking art activity.
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Variations Of This Giant Snowflake Printmaking Activity
To follow up this art experience, invite participants to paint the snowflake canvas any way they would like to allow for individual creativity.
A second idea is to offer wooden snowflakes in a smaller size. This gives little learners a chance to make snowflake prints independently.
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More Winter Activities
Spray Paint Snowflake Silhouette
Blue Candy Cane Science Experiment
Winter Wreath Paper Plate Craft
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