Personalize your Pencil Case with Block Printing

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

Materials

• 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.

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

• 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).

•  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.

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

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

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

• 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.

• 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.

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

• 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.
• 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!

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.