Beach Bag: Printing With Bubble Wrap

A simple printing technique to make a beach bag for your teacher or yourself.

Materials

• Blank canvas bag (you can purchase these at craft stores)
• Bubble wrap (re-use it from packaging or purchase at a post office)
• Various colours of blue fabric paint
• Two craft trays (you can use one to apply the paint or use a large tile as we did)
• Brayer or paint brush
• Large piece of cardboard (the size of the bag)
• Scissors
• Fabric pen
• Smock
• Printout of the gift tag “A Beach Bag for You!” BeachBag

Directions

• Don a smock (especially as you don’t want to get fabric paint on your clothes!)

• Cut a large piece of cardboard to go into your bag (so the paint won’t seep through to the other side) and insert it.

• Cut your bubble wrap into wave shapes or for younger children long, thick strips.

• Pour one colour of your fabric paint into a shallow tray.

• We used a brayer (rolling it over the paint several times in the tray to get a thin, even coat) to apply the paint to the bubble wrap or you could brush it on or simply dip the bubble wrap in.

Apply your bubble wrap to the bag carefully and slowly (as you will have to flip it over and may require assistance with this).  

• Allow  your first set of waves to dry overnight.

• Repeat the process with additional colours of blue, overlapping your waves.

• Or if you don’t mind some mixing, apply the second set consecutively.

• Create waves on the other side of the bag, should you like, using the same idea. (Once the front side is completely dry.)

• In the inside hem of the bag, write your name and the date.

• Fill the bag with a set of nice shampoo and conditioner, body wash etc., a towel or things you think your teacher may enjoy on the beach- magazines, snacks, drinks etc.

• Attach the provided gift tag.

Purpose

• Thinking of others, exploring printmaking techniques.

Safety Notes

• Be sure to wear a smock when you use fabric paint.
• As with all plastic wrapping materials, keep out of reach from children 0-3 and use with supervision.