If you're new to Art Journal Every Day, there is a short introduction here. All of the previous posts can be found archived here. There is a flickr group for sharing right here. Remember, it's just ten minutes of nourishing your creative self every day! No need to finish anything or even like it. If you've done some art journaling this week and you've blogged about it, or put it on flickr, please leave a link in the linky list at the end of this post. Thanks!
I've been experimenting with some ways to get color and pattern into my art journal quickly and easily. One of those experiments involves a product called "Scratch Foam." Essentially, it's a really thin and large sheet of styrofoam. People often use the styrofoam trays that vegetables or meat come on as printing plates. This is simply a packaged product that does the same thing.
Essentially, you draw on the plate with a ballpoint pen, a skewer — something pointy — which indents the styrofoam. Then you ink up the plate with paint or printing ink. The ink only goes on the raised portion of the plate. When you press a piece of paper to the plate you get an easy peasey print!
I used a ballpoint pen to doodle into the plate and created two really cool patterns.
You can see that wherever I indented (black on the plate) is white on my print! Both of the examples above were printed onto smooth cardstock. The prints look a bit more distressed when printed in my art journal (which has more texture):
And in this example I've printed the two plates side-by-side using the same colors of paint:
Using the same colors of paint almost makes the two prints look like they flow together.
A very quick and easy way to add pattern and color to a blank journal spread!
Have you ever tried Scratch Foam? What do you think?
Here is this week's linky list:
Thanks for stopping by!
love this idea!
love this idea!
love this idea!
love this idea!
love this idea!
Very cool!
Very cool!
Very cool!
Very cool!
Very cool!
Bought the scratch foam. Now I know what to do with it!
Bought the scratch foam. Now I know what to do with it!
Bought the scratch foam. Now I know what to do with it!
Bought the scratch foam. Now I know what to do with it!
Bought the scratch foam. Now I know what to do with it!
I HAVE TO try tis! Love it! Thanks, Julie. Your prints are gorgeous. Kath
I HAVE TO try tis! Love it! Thanks, Julie. Your prints are gorgeous. Kath
I HAVE TO try tis! Love it! Thanks, Julie. Your prints are gorgeous. Kath
I HAVE TO try tis! Love it! Thanks, Julie. Your prints are gorgeous. Kath
I HAVE TO try tis! Love it! Thanks, Julie. Your prints are gorgeous. Kath
I’ve never used scratch foam, but I use styrofoam to make stamps all the time… I’d never thought of doing big ones to create backgrounds… I might now though!
I’ve never used scratch foam, but I use styrofoam to make stamps all the time… I’d never thought of doing big ones to create backgrounds… I might now though!
I’ve never used scratch foam, but I use styrofoam to make stamps all the time… I’d never thought of doing big ones to create backgrounds… I might now though!
I’ve never used scratch foam, but I use styrofoam to make stamps all the time… I’d never thought of doing big ones to create backgrounds… I might now though!
I’ve never used scratch foam, but I use styrofoam to make stamps all the time… I’d never thought of doing big ones to create backgrounds… I might now though!
This looks like so much fun! Doodling with a great side effect. I’ve never tried it but I love it.
This looks like so much fun! Doodling with a great side effect. I’ve never tried it but I love it.
This looks like so much fun! Doodling with a great side effect. I’ve never tried it but I love it.
This looks like so much fun! Doodling with a great side effect. I’ve never tried it but I love it.
This looks like so much fun! Doodling with a great side effect. I’ve never tried it but I love it.
Too cool…love the idea of creating a full page pattern 😉
Too cool…love the idea of creating a full page pattern 😉
Too cool…love the idea of creating a full page pattern 😉
Too cool…love the idea of creating a full page pattern 😉
Too cool…love the idea of creating a full page pattern 😉
Very cool. Thanks for sharing another great idea.
Very cool. Thanks for sharing another great idea.
Very cool. Thanks for sharing another great idea.
Very cool. Thanks for sharing another great idea.
Very cool. Thanks for sharing another great idea.
This is so ccol…I cant wait to try it!
This is so ccol…I cant wait to try it!
This is so ccol…I cant wait to try it!
This is so ccol…I cant wait to try it!
This is so ccol…I cant wait to try it!
Beautiful! I love scratch board— you can keep inking and stamping with the scratch foam over and over. It lasts a long time. Another cool thing to do is – after getting the scratch foam painty or inky from mainy prints, instead of throwing it away, cut the foam into small pieces (2″ x 3″ or smaller) and you can mount one piece to the outside of a greeting card for a “clean and simple” look. The squares of scratch foam become little works of art in themselves. You can also just take the whole sheet of worked scratch foam and frame it!
Beautiful! I love scratch board— you can keep inking and stamping with the scratch foam over and over. It lasts a long time. Another cool thing to do is – after getting the scratch foam painty or inky from mainy prints, instead of throwing it away, cut the foam into small pieces (2″ x 3″ or smaller) and you can mount one piece to the outside of a greeting card for a “clean and simple” look. The squares of scratch foam become little works of art in themselves. You can also just take the whole sheet of worked scratch foam and frame it!
Beautiful! I love scratch board— you can keep inking and stamping with the scratch foam over and over. It lasts a long time. Another cool thing to do is – after getting the scratch foam painty or inky from mainy prints, instead of throwing it away, cut the foam into small pieces (2″ x 3″ or smaller) and you can mount one piece to the outside of a greeting card for a “clean and simple” look. The squares of scratch foam become little works of art in themselves. You can also just take the whole sheet of worked scratch foam and frame it!
Beautiful! I love scratch board— you can keep inking and stamping with the scratch foam over and over. It lasts a long time. Another cool thing to do is – after getting the scratch foam painty or inky from mainy prints, instead of throwing it away, cut the foam into small pieces (2″ x 3″ or smaller) and you can mount one piece to the outside of a greeting card for a “clean and simple” look. The squares of scratch foam become little works of art in themselves. You can also just take the whole sheet of worked scratch foam and frame it!
Beautiful! I love scratch board— you can keep inking and stamping with the scratch foam over and over. It lasts a long time. Another cool thing to do is – after getting the scratch foam painty or inky from mainy prints, instead of throwing it away, cut the foam into small pieces (2″ x 3″ or smaller) and you can mount one piece to the outside of a greeting card for a “clean and simple” look. The squares of scratch foam become little works of art in themselves. You can also just take the whole sheet of worked scratch foam and frame it!
I like scratch foam very much. I’ve also tried those meat/vegetable trays, but although they are similar to the scratch foam, they are not really the same. The trays aren’t nearly as strong, so you have to be very careful not to poke holes in it as you create your designs. The scratch foam is much stronger.
Your designs are super!
I like scratch foam very much. I’ve also tried those meat/vegetable trays, but although they are similar to the scratch foam, they are not really the same. The trays aren’t nearly as strong, so you have to be very careful not to poke holes in it as you create your designs. The scratch foam is much stronger.
Your designs are super!
I like scratch foam very much. I’ve also tried those meat/vegetable trays, but although they are similar to the scratch foam, they are not really the same. The trays aren’t nearly as strong, so you have to be very careful not to poke holes in it as you create your designs. The scratch foam is much stronger.
Your designs are super!
I like scratch foam very much. I’ve also tried those meat/vegetable trays, but although they are similar to the scratch foam, they are not really the same. The trays aren’t nearly as strong, so you have to be very careful not to poke holes in it as you create your designs. The scratch foam is much stronger.
Your designs are super!
I like scratch foam very much. I’ve also tried those meat/vegetable trays, but although they are similar to the scratch foam, they are not really the same. The trays aren’t nearly as strong, so you have to be very careful not to poke holes in it as you create your designs. The scratch foam is much stronger.
Your designs are super!
So AWESOME!! I have made a couple small stamps from styrofoam meat trays, but never thought to do a large patterned design.
So AWESOME!! I have made a couple small stamps from styrofoam meat trays, but never thought to do a large patterned design.
So AWESOME!! I have made a couple small stamps from styrofoam meat trays, but never thought to do a large patterned design.
So AWESOME!! I have made a couple small stamps from styrofoam meat trays, but never thought to do a large patterned design.
So AWESOME!! I have made a couple small stamps from styrofoam meat trays, but never thought to do a large patterned design.
This is so cool!
This is so cool!
This is so cool!
This is so cool!
This is so cool!
Love your printmaking! Gorgeous pieces!
Love your printmaking! Gorgeous pieces!
Love your printmaking! Gorgeous pieces!
Love your printmaking! Gorgeous pieces!
Love your printmaking! Gorgeous pieces!
I never heard of scratch foam before – I have, however, printed a face that I drew in to the styrofoam lid from my dinner one night – cool process! LOVE your intricate patterns!
I never heard of scratch foam before – I have, however, printed a face that I drew in to the styrofoam lid from my dinner one night – cool process! LOVE your intricate patterns!
I never heard of scratch foam before – I have, however, printed a face that I drew in to the styrofoam lid from my dinner one night – cool process! LOVE your intricate patterns!
I never heard of scratch foam before – I have, however, printed a face that I drew in to the styrofoam lid from my dinner one night – cool process! LOVE your intricate patterns!
I never heard of scratch foam before – I have, however, printed a face that I drew in to the styrofoam lid from my dinner one night – cool process! LOVE your intricate patterns!
Gorgeous prints Julie, what a fun technique. Thank-you for sharing.
Hugs x
Gorgeous prints Julie, what a fun technique. Thank-you for sharing.
Hugs x
Gorgeous prints Julie, what a fun technique. Thank-you for sharing.
Hugs x
Gorgeous prints Julie, what a fun technique. Thank-you for sharing.
Hugs x
Gorgeous prints Julie, what a fun technique. Thank-you for sharing.
Hugs x
Julie…you are like an art scientist always experimenting 😉 so inspiring. Thanks for sharing.
Julie…you are like an art scientist always experimenting 😉 so inspiring. Thanks for sharing.
Julie…you are like an art scientist always experimenting 😉 so inspiring. Thanks for sharing.
Julie…you are like an art scientist always experimenting 😉 so inspiring. Thanks for sharing.
Julie…you are like an art scientist always experimenting 😉 so inspiring. Thanks for sharing.
I have always loved using the meat and veggie plates to make prints.. so much fun 🙂
I have always loved using the meat and veggie plates to make prints.. so much fun 🙂
I have always loved using the meat and veggie plates to make prints.. so much fun 🙂
I have always loved using the meat and veggie plates to make prints.. so much fun 🙂
I have always loved using the meat and veggie plates to make prints.. so much fun 🙂
Wonderful patterns, and a great way to get them. Thanks for posting!
Wonderful patterns, and a great way to get them. Thanks for posting!
Wonderful patterns, and a great way to get them. Thanks for posting!
Wonderful patterns, and a great way to get them. Thanks for posting!
Wonderful patterns, and a great way to get them. Thanks for posting!
Now on my to try list!
Now on my to try list!
Now on my to try list!
Now on my to try list!
Now on my to try list!
Shoot! I made one a few weeks ago but thought I did it wrong and threw it out without testing it. Now I just have to wait to get some more foam.
Shoot! I made one a few weeks ago but thought I did it wrong and threw it out without testing it. Now I just have to wait to get some more foam.
Shoot! I made one a few weeks ago but thought I did it wrong and threw it out without testing it. Now I just have to wait to get some more foam.
Shoot! I made one a few weeks ago but thought I did it wrong and threw it out without testing it. Now I just have to wait to get some more foam.
Shoot! I made one a few weeks ago but thought I did it wrong and threw it out without testing it. Now I just have to wait to get some more foam.
I’m having a bit of a conceptual problem here. If you etch designs into the foam, doesn’t that depress the designs? Wouldn’t your ink or paint go into the designs and then not print them, since the part that isn’t indented would contact the paper? Maybe you ink up the back side of your design? Help me out here, please.
I’m having a bit of a conceptual problem here. If you etch designs into the foam, doesn’t that depress the designs? Wouldn’t your ink or paint go into the designs and then not print them, since the part that isn’t indented would contact the paper? Maybe you ink up the back side of your design? Help me out here, please.
I’m having a bit of a conceptual problem here. If you etch designs into the foam, doesn’t that depress the designs? Wouldn’t your ink or paint go into the designs and then not print them, since the part that isn’t indented would contact the paper? Maybe you ink up the back side of your design? Help me out here, please.
I’m having a bit of a conceptual problem here. If you etch designs into the foam, doesn’t that depress the designs? Wouldn’t your ink or paint go into the designs and then not print them, since the part that isn’t indented would contact the paper? Maybe you ink up the back side of your design? Help me out here, please.
I’m having a bit of a conceptual problem here. If you etch designs into the foam, doesn’t that depress the designs? Wouldn’t your ink or paint go into the designs and then not print them, since the part that isn’t indented would contact the paper? Maybe you ink up the back side of your design? Help me out here, please.