Summer Makes an Imprint All Year Long With These Nature Sunprints

Long after Summer's over, kids can still enjoy pieces of the season thanks to fun crafts that take advantage of nature's bounty. Rinne Allen recently showed how it could be done on the pages of Martha Stewart Living with little more than some sticks or twigs, paper, and the sun. While traditional sunprints involve an artist painting a light-sensitive solution onto thick watercolor paper, Allen says pretreated sheets, like the SunPrint Paper Kit ($18) and Inkodye Print Fabric With Light Kit ($30), work just as well. Read on to see how easy it is to make these mementos that would look equally as beautiful in your living room or your tot's room. Source: Jennifer Causey

Materials

Materials

  • Light-sensitive paper
  • Tray
  • Pane of glass or a clear acrylic sheet
  • Paper towels or a clothesline, for drying

Source: Jennifer Causey

Step 1: Collect Pieces of Nature

Step 1: Collect Pieces of Nature

On a sunny day, collect objects with interesting shapes and silhouettes (the more intricate the negative space, the better). Place the objects flat, being careful not to bend stems or break leaves. Source: Jennifer Causey

Step 2: Arrange Specimens

Step 2: Arrange Specimens

In a room with little to no ambient light (e.g. a windowless bathroom), place a sheet of light-sensitive paper on a tray. Then arrange your specimens on the paper. Place a pane of glass or a clear acrylic sheet on top of the arrangement to keep it in place (and to create crisp outlines when it's exposed to light). Take the tray outside, and expose it to sunlight. Source: Jennifer Causey

Step 3: Wait!

Step 3: Wait!

After about five minutes (or up to 20, if it's overcast), the silhouette will be apparent. Source: Jennifer Causey

Step 4: Set the Print

Step 4: Set the Print

Rinse the print with water from a hose or in a sink to stop the chemical reaction. The colors will then become more pronounced. Lay the sheet on an absorbent surface, like paper towels, or hang it on a clothesline until it's completely dry. Source: Jennifer Causey

The entire set of instructions, and more, can be found in the July/August issue of Martha Stewart Living, available at newsstands and for iPad now.