Bubble Wrap Prints Lesson

Submitted by: MaryAnn Kohl
Unit: Printmaking
Lesson: Bubble Wrap Prints
Age Level: Toddlers and up

Summary

Easy Art idea from First Art, a book of art for toddlers, but all kids love bubble wrap prints! In a nutshell, spread paint on bubble wrap and then press paper onto the bubble wrap to lift a print. Full directions below:

Bubble Wrap Print

Bubble wrap is fun to explore, feeling the puffy bubble pouches and noisily popping them. After exploring, bubble wrap becomes an intriguing printing material with unusually beautiful results.

Materials

*    Newspaper
*    Bubble Wrap (any size bubbles), approximately 9"x 12" (23 x 30.5 cm) or larger
    (Note: big bubbles make big dots, and little
    bubbles make little dots)
*    Masking Tape
*    Tempera Paint
*    Shallow Baking Pan
*    Brushes
*    Large sheets of Drawing Paper
*    Wet Sponges

Prepare: (adult)

1. Cover a table with newspaper, if needed, then place a sheet of bubble wrap on the table, taping down corners to hold.

2. Place a shallow baking pan next to the bubble wrap. Put several puddles of different colors of paint in the pan. Place a paintbrush next to the pan. If needed, place loops of masking tap to keep it from sliding around the table.

3. Have a stack of extra paper handy for multiple prints. Be sure the paper is larger than the wrap.

Process: (child)

1. Paint directly on the bubble wrap with as many colors as desired. The more colors, the merrier!

2. When the bubble wrap is covered with colors, press a sheet of paper onto the bubble wrap and lift off a multi-colored print.

3. Remove the print to a drying area and repeat with fresh paper. If bubble wrap becomes murky with color, simply wipe it off with a wet sponge and begin again.

Tips:

• Allow children to explore feeling and popping the bubble wrap before expecting them to paint on it. Who can resist popping those clear, smooth bubble pouches? Let children pop and play first and the painting activity will go much more smoothly.

• Toddlers and twos are often more captivated by mixing the paints in the baking pan than painting on the bubble wrap.

Variations:

Explore lifting prints from other textured materials. Suggestions include:

* burlap scrap
* grass
* gravel path
* muffin tin
* plywood scrap
* un-crumpled Aluminum Foil
* welcome mat
* wire screen

Explore lifting prints from items glued to cardboard. Suggestions include:

* buttons
* bingo markers
* bottle caps
* Masking Tape
* Band-Aids
* Yarn Assortment
* string
* leather strips

This idea was posted to Art4Kids list group. It appears in First Art by MaryAnn Kohl.
For more ideas see Bright Ring Publishing Art Activities.

Resources

Books: First Art : Art Experiences for Toddlers and Twos- MaryAnn Kohl also is an author of several books at the toddler level. You can also see more art lessons in her other book, First Art for Toddlers and Twos: Open-Ended Art Experiences.

You can see examples of Bubble Wrap Prints here:

• Bubble Wrap Prints- A page by First Palette.

• Bubble Wrap Prints by Family Education.

• Recycled Bubble Wrap Prints by Darling Clementine.

• Bubble Wrap Printing by the Crafty Crow.

• A collection of Bubble Wrap Prints on Flickr.