PPFK: Spool Printing

• Colored construction paper or posterboard
• Colored acrylic non-toxic paints
• White non-toxic craft glue
• Several empty thread spools
• Yarn
• A muffin pan
• Safety scissors
• Newspaper to protect your work area
• A crafter's apron or old shirt to protect your child(ren)

Preparation Cover the work area in old newspapers or a vinyl tablecloth so that you don't harm your furniture with any accidental spills or other creative mishaps. Gather all supplies and have them ready at the table before you get your child, or if old enough, let them help. If your child is too young to do some of the following steps, have them completed before you bring them to the table, so they won't get impatient. Then bring your child to the table, making sure to put on their craft apron or old "painter's" shirt to protect skin and clothing. An old oxford shirt put on backwards works great and kids can personalize it with paints or iron-ons.

Step1: Spread white non-toxic craft glue over the spools surface. Ross and Elmer's both make suitable brands, but there are also others available. I have had the most success with Ross.

Step2: Unwind a length of yarn and then wind it around the spool until the yarn sticks to the spool surface. Wind the yarn around to make interesting patterns, but make sure that you don't cover the entire spool. Cut yarn with safety scissors and make sure the end sticks.

Step 3: Repeat Step 2 until you have made several spools with interesting yarn patterns on them. Let spools dry, they should do so quickly.

Step 4: Put different color non-toxic acrylic paints into each of the openings in the muffin pan. Fill them about halfway with the paints.

Step 5: Set out several sheets of paper to spool print, or tape one down if your child is too young to keep it in place themselves. White or colored paper will give different looks depending on the paint colors used.

Step 6: Dip a spool into one color of paint and roll it onto the paper. Do this several times until the paint is dispersed. Only use one spool to one color of paint.

Step 7: Repeat Step 6 with different spools until you have covered a good section of your paper and are pleased with the spool print you have created. It's best to wait a couple of minutes between applying a new color of paint so that the first color has had a chance to dry. However, you might like the effect of the paints blending too.

Go To Page: 1 2