Sun Printing with Turmeric by Mandy West
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Supplies Needed:
-Any sturdy paper that can get wet (watercolor paper works great)
-Glass or Metal pan with clean water
-Leaves, flowers, or anything you think would be fun to try and print!
-Turmeric powder(any brand)
-Isopropyl Alcohol
-Coffee Filters
-Cheap Brushes
-Cardboard, clipboard, book for sturdy packing
-Glass or plastic plexiglass sheets
-Clips or painters tape
-Baking Soda
-Rubber Gloves
*Every Little Seed is not paid or sponsored by any of the brands listed or shown in the video.
Step by Step:
-Step 1: Place coffee filter in cup and add 1 Tablespoon of turmeric in. Add about 1/4 cup of alcohol in. Let sit.
-Step 2: When the majority of the alcohol has drained through, take the coffee filter with turmeric out and you'll have your solution left!
-Step 3: (Do this in the dark, or close to) Take your cheap brush and paint the solution onto all the papers you want to use. Don't worry about painting technique, just cover the paper in a nice even coating.
-Step 4: While your papers are drying in the dark, collect all your leaves! This is a fun family activity do go searching around the garden or park together. You can use fresh or dried foliage.
-Step 5: (Back in your dark room) Lay our your pages on the cardboard. Think through variety of leaves collected and lay out a variety of compositions for your papers.
-Step 6: Lay plexiglass over the top of the papers and clip (or use painters tape) to secure everything down.
-Step 7: Set out your prints in the bright sun (direct overhead light is best). Leave in sun for 3 hours! (*Mandy actually checked her prints after an hour and a half and they looked ready so the timing may depend on brightness and intensity of the sun where you live)
-Step 8: It's time to develop the prints! Add 3 cups of warm water in your glass pan and about 1/4 cup baking soda and mix it in so that it's fully dissolved.
-Step 9: Remove clips and plexiglass from the board. Take all plants off the paper and you should see a yellow sillhouette at this point.
-Step 10: One at a time, take the paper and rinse it in the water. You'll want to gently wipe the paper with the your fingers under the water for 1-2 minutes. It should turn from a brighter yellow to more of an amber color.
Step 11: Either hang to dry or lay them down and blot them to dry so no water pools on the paper.
Other ideas:
-You could use these prints for collage, framing, bookmarks, postcards, etc.
If you share your work on social media, tag us @everylittleseed so we can see what you've made!
HAVE FUN!!!