VALENTINE'S DAY CARD | HANDMADE CARD IDEA
If you're looking for a unique Valentine's CARD IDEA, why not try lino printing? Making your Valentine's Day cards is a great way to show your love and appreciation for your special someone. Get creative and make handmade cards that come straight from the heart for your friends and extraordinary people. You can design a card to make them feel extra special this Valentine's Day.
For your card, you will need
• Heart Template printout DOWNLOAD HERE
• A4 smooth heavyweight paper
• The Derivan Block Printing Kit
• Some extra silk cut lino blocks or Vinyl blocks approx. 15x11cm in size.
• 250ml White Derivan Block ink
• A smooth plate or Perspex to put ink onto
• black & white soft pastel
• 4B Pencil
• a brayer
STEP ONE | GET READY TO TRACE
Flip your printed out VALENTINES Heart Template over to show the
blank side, then cover with either a Black or White soft pastel.
(If you are going to transfer this image onto a dark coloured
carving block use the white pastel. A Black pastel is good for
white to grey-coloured carving blocks)
STEP TWO | TRACE YOUR DESIGN
Place the carving block upwards, then place the transfer sheet with the pastel side facing down onto the block. With the 4B pencil, trace the image. Holding the paper firmly with one hand to stop the image from moving while you trace is recommended.
STEP THREE | CARVE YOUR LINO
With your carving tool (provided in the Block printing kit), you can carve into the vinyl block following the line of the transfer imprint.
Always carve AWAY from your body and hands to prevent an accident.
If you don’t feel fully confident in carving, practice on the back of the vinyl block before you start on the printing side. Once you're finished carving, clean your block with a damp sponge.
STEP FOUR | MIX A PINK
With the plastic palette knife spread, approx. A tablespoon each of the Derivan Red and white Block printing ink onto a plate. With the rubber, Roller roll some ink backwards onto the plate. Do this until the roller is covered with ink and has even coverage.
Apply the inked roller to the vinyl block, rolling back and forth, allowing the ink to transfer evenly from the roller to the block.
STEP FIVE | BURNISH THE PAPER
Place a folded piece of heavyweight paper over the inked block with your hand or a brayer* rub on the top of the paper.
Make sure you take the time to rub the entire piece of paper to get the maximum amount of ink off the block onto the paper. Slowly peel off the paper from the block.
STEP SIX | LAYER COLOURS
Repeat all five steps using other types of Blocks. E.g., Silk-cut Lino blocks, Vinyl blocks and rubber stamp blocks. Try adding different shades of red by mixing more or fewer amounts of white. Add these blocks on top of prints to give your card a more dynamic look.
You are going to get a big kiss for your efforts!!
