Personalize your Pencil Case with Block Printing

Back to School: Personalize a Pencil Case with Ink Block Printing from make-it-your-own.com (Art, crafts and activities)
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Add your personal “stamp” to a plain pencil case using block printing.

This post was featured on The Crafty Crow. Looking for more creative back to school activities? Check them out!

http://www.thecraftycrow.net/2014/08/block-printed-pencil-case.html

you'll need Materials

Back to School: Personalize a Pencil Case with Ink Block Printing from make-it-your-own.com (Art, crafts and activities)

  • Pencil case
  • Carving block
  • Linoleum cutter (we used the speedball one that has all the interchangeable heads that store inside the grip.)
  • Rubber brayer
  • Fabric ink for block printing
  • Pencil
  • Large tile (you can purchase these inexpensively at hardware stores or you can use a specially inking plate from art supply stores if your prefer
  • Pencil
  • Smock
  • Table cover or craft tray.

Tassel(optional)

  • Embroidery floss
  • Beads
  • Scissors

Directions

  • Don your smock and cover your work area.
  • Draw out a simple design that would be easy to cut on your carving block.

Back to School: Personalize a Pencil Case with Ink Block Printing from make-it-your-own.com (Art, crafts and activities)

  • Using a linoleum cutter, have an adult cut away the excess area around the design. (The blades can be quite sharp.)

Back to School: Personalize a Pencil Case with Ink Block Printing from make-it-your-own.com (Art, crafts and activities)

Back to School: Personalize a Pencil Case with Ink Block Printing from make-it-your-own.com (Art, crafts and activities)

Back to School: Personalize a Pencil Case with Ink Block Printing from make-it-your-own.com (Art, crafts and activities)

  • Make sure you have carved away enough so that your image is the only part that is raised on the block (so ink will only go onto your design).

Back to School: Personalize a Pencil Case with Ink Block Printing from make-it-your-own.com (Art, crafts and activities)

  • Apply a small blob of ink to your tile or inking plate and rub your brayer in it, going horizontally and vertically to help distribute the ink evenly on the brayer.

Back to School: Personalize a Pencil Case with Ink Block Printing from make-it-your-own.com (Art, crafts and activities)

  • With your brayer, apply an even layer of the printing ink to your stamp. (You may have to go over it several times.)

Back to School: Personalize a Pencil Case with Ink Block Printing from make-it-your-own.com (Art, crafts and activities)

  • Carefully apply your stamp to your pencil case. (Make sure your case is on a hard surface).

Back to School: Personalize a Pencil Case with Ink Block Printing from make-it-your-own.com (Art, crafts and activities)

  • You could repeat this several times if you like or create a patter with different colours.

Back to School: Personalize a Pencil Case with Ink Block Printing from make-it-your-own.com (Art, crafts and activities)

  • Follow the directions for setting the product and washing etc.

Adding a Simple Tassel

  • Take the labels carefully off an embroidery floss skein, keeping the floss in it’s little bundle.
  • Find one end of the floss and gently unravel it a few times from the bundle to create a longer piece for the beads and knotting it to your zipper pull.
  • Fold the skein in half as seen in the photo.

Back to School: Personalize a Pencil Case with Ink Block Printing from make-it-your-own.com (Art, crafts and activities)

  • Take an additional colour and wrap it around the top of the fold about 1/3 of the way down (as seen in the photo). Be sure to knot it at the beginning and the end.

Back to School: Personalize a Pencil Case with Ink Block Printing from make-it-your-own.com (Art, crafts and activities)

  • Trim the bottom with a pair of scissors, making a uniform fray.

Back to School: Personalize a Pencil Case with Ink Block Printing from make-it-your-own.com (Art, crafts and activities)

Back to School: Personalize a Pencil Case with Ink Block Printing from make-it-your-own.com (Art, crafts and activities)

  • Make a knot to hold your beads in place on your long piece that you have out of the tassel (on the top) and thread your beads. Knot the top.Back to School: Personalize a Pencil Case with Ink Block Printing from make-it-your-own.com (Art, crafts and activities)
  • Knot it to your zipper pull on your pencil case and trim off any excess floss on any of the parts.
  • Fill your pencil case with your school supplies!

Back to School: Personalize a Pencil Case with Ink Block Printing from make-it-your-own.com (Art, crafts and activities)

Purpose

  • Designing your own image
  • Getting familiar with printing techniques

Safety Notes

  • Be sure to wear a smock to protect your clothing.
  • Have an adult use the cutter.
  • Use scissors with adult supervision.
  • Beads can be a choking hazard and are not recommended for children 0-3 or those who tend to put things in their mouths. Be sure to store them out of reach.

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