Home and Garden

Ideas For DIY

Book Review and Giveaway Kitchen Lithography

by

Kitchen Lithography Hand Printing at Home  by Laura Sofie Hantke , Lucas Grassmann  $21.95

 

What is Lithography? For those who don’t know it is the process of printing from a flat surface treated so as to repel the ink except where it is required for printing. Remember back in Art class where you did those Lino prints? Well this is similar but lot’s more fun and way more artistic.

 

When printmakers Laura Sofie Hantke and Lucas Grassmann graduated from university, they found themselves without the luxury of a professional print studio. In their search for an easy technique they could implement in their own home, they came across French artist Amilie Aizier-Brouard’s ingenious Kitchen Lithography, which uses aluminum foil, cola, and oil-based crayons as its main materials, and quickly became ardent fans of and experts in the process, which is eco-friendly, inexpensive, and easy to do. In this book, the first on the subject, they share what they’ve learned through a process of trial and error in an easy-to-follow guide on turning your kitchen into a creative studio. Hand print your own buttons, bags, pillowcases, posters, cards, T-shirts, and labels using simple household ingredients with surprising and bold results. (source)

 

The best thing is your weird Art teacher isn’t going to grade you down for thinking outside the box this time.  I really love when a Craft enables you to be creative from your own insides and not anyone else’s. This book is a must have for your Craft book shelf. We love it so much we are giving 3 copies away!!

 

Thanks to Princeton Architectural Press we are giving 3 lucky readers the chance to get their hands on this book. For your chance to win comment below and tell us what you are planning to print.

Open Worldwide and closes October 15th. Winners will be contacted via e-mail at the close of the giveaway.

Related Posts:

Comments

  3. I would love to learn this technique and my first project would be printing designs on a tablecloth.

  14. Id like to do gift tags and possibly wrap for my knotted Chritmas presents. When my kids were young they’d paint freezer paper and make our gift wrap. Good memories.

  15. This sounds like a technique I really need to learn how to do. I’ve been wanting to print a lot of things-dish towels, quilt squares and some tote bags.

  16. I love using things from my kitchen to make crafty things. I’d print things for the cards I make. I’d also print things for my multi-media projects.

  17. Art that I can do at my kitchen table is the best. We live small but are creative, so this type of creative expression is perfect for our family.

  18. What a great book! I have 2 daughters that are getting ready to move out, so I’d print up some kitchen towels, coasters, anything that would help them make their own “nest”. Thanks for the chance to win. 🙂

  21. I would love this book. I have all the supplies but just haven’t been brave enough to take to carving yet. My first design would be a simple botanical of some sort and maybe my Monogram!

  23. Printing kitchen towels and possibly frameable items for gifting would be my first choice. But first, I must must MUST learn this new craft! What fun!!!

  24. Sassy prints of my choosing on kitchen linens that, I must share! Very cool book! Thanks for the chance!

  25. I would love to learn this technique from this book; I would like to print a design and sentiment on canvas bags for patients undergoing chemotherapy sessions at the local infusion clinics.

  26. Oooh! I could see so many ways to add designs to everyday items around the house!!! I would love this book!

  27. I have just ordered 5 yards of medium-weight, bleached linen that was a price I couldn’t pass up. I would love to experiment with making hand-dyed/painted clothing and decor items embellished with stamped designs! This sounds like a wonderful book.

Have you read?

Make This Rustic Patriotic Flag Wreath for Your Front Door

There are plenty of shiny red, white, and blue decorations out there, but every now and then a patriotic project comes along that feels a little more heartfelt. This 4th of July Patriotic Flag Wreath from CraftBits is one of those projects.

Instead of being overly fussy or store-bought looking, this wreath has that lovely rustic Americana feel — a grapevine wreath base, a flag draped diagonally, and a large star layered over the top. It is simple, bold, and just handmade enough to feel special without turning into an all-weekend project.

You can find the full tutorial here: 4th Of July Patriotic Flag Wreath on CraftBits.

What I really like about this wreath is the story behind it. The original CraftBits tutorial explains that the project was made using a damaged flag brought home by a veteran, and his wife, Marsha, turned it into this beautiful wreath for her family to enjoy. That gives the project a little more meaning than a standard seasonal door decoration.

The supplies are very simple: a grapevine wreath, an American flag, a large metal star, and glue. The flag is folded lengthwise to create a sash, then secured diagonally across the wreath. The star is layered on the side to cover the gathered section and give the whole piece a finished focal point.

This would look beautiful on a covered front porch, garden gate, entryway wall, mantel, or even as part of a Memorial Day or Veterans Day display. It is not just for the 4th of July either — with the right styling, this is the kind of patriotic wreath you could bring out for several red, white, and blue occasions throughout the year.

If you’re planning more handmade patriotic decorating, you might also like our 10 DIY 4th of July wreaths to dress up your front door roundup, where this CraftBits wreath is already included as a classic front-door option. For a bigger porch refresh, pair it with our 15 DIY 4th of July porch decor ideas and add planters, lanterns, bunting, or painted rocks for a full summer entryway look.

One helpful note from the tutorial is that you can glue the flag in place, or stitch it to the back of the wreath if you want the option of removing it later. That is especially worth considering if you are using a sentimental flag, a vintage flag, or one with family meaning. Stitching gives you a bit more flexibility and avoids permanently attaching something you may want to preserve.

You could also soften the look with a few extra details. Add raffia for a farmhouse feel, tuck in cream or red faux roses, use denim ribbon, or add smaller stars around the grapevine base. I’d keep the extras fairly restrained though, because the flag and star are already doing the heavy lifting. This is one of those projects where too much “more” can tip it from rustic to crowded very quickly.

For supplies, Amazon is a handy option for grapevine wreath forms, metal star accents, glue, and mini flags. Etsy can also be useful if you want a handmade metal star, rustic Americana embellishments, or vintage-style patriotic trim, but I’d keep it simple so the wreath still feels meaningful rather than overly decorated.

This is a lovely beginner-friendly patriotic craft because there is no complicated measuring, no sewing machine required, and no special tools beyond basic craft supplies. It is also a good project for using a flag that may not be suitable to fly outdoors anymore but still holds meaning. As always, if you’re using an actual American flag with sentimental or ceremonial value, take care with how it is handled and displayed.

The finished wreath has that warm front-porch welcome feel — festive enough for the 4th of July, but classic enough to suit a farmhouse, cottage, or rustic summer decorating style.