{"id":233,"date":"2012-11-13T19:22:44","date_gmt":"2012-11-13T19:22:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/laurabethmann.com\/content\/?p=233"},"modified":"2015-11-17T15:06:31","modified_gmt":"2015-11-17T15:06:31","slug":"prints-charming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/laurabethmann.com\/content\/prints-charming\/","title":{"rendered":"Prints Charming: how to nature print vegetables"},"content":{"rendered":"

What’s more fun than eating your vegetables? Printing them!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"Printing veggies is food for a creative appetite. Head to the market this season for carrots, mushrooms, broccoli, celery, or whatever fresh produce looks good for making a cozy home project or for gift giving. Print veggie images on paper for framing or on ready made fabric items.<\/p>\n

Printing plants of all kinds has historic roots dating back centuries — Ben Franklin printed leaves on colonial currency to deter counterfeiting. Leonardo da Vinci printed a sage leaf in his manuscript Codice Atlantico.<\/em> In 1557, Italian alchemist Alexius Pedemontanus gave detailed instructions for printing leaves in his Book of Secrets suggesting “… in this way you may make gallant things to adorn your chamber.”<\/em><\/p>\n

Create some kitchen alchemy by transforming a plain tablecloth and napkins into a bed of roses using celery — no kidding, celery prints resemble roses. Lilliputian broccoli ‘trees’ become whimsical landscapes ready for framing. Print on placemats, recipe cards, canisters, walls . . .\u00a0 once the printing starts it’s hard to stop!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"
Celery roses<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Gather supplies:<\/strong><\/span> acrylic paints, plastic plate palette, popsicle sticks to mix colors, cosmetic foam wedges, paper towels, sharp knife, a selection of papers and fabrics, fresh bunch of celery, broccoli, carrots, & some mushrooms.<\/p>\n

Prepare vegetables:<\/strong><\/span> Cut celery bunch 3″ from root end. Cut off individual broccoli stems including florets to form ‘trees’. Slice each ‘tree’ vertically in half. Slice mushrooms and carrots vertically in half. Blot all cuts with paper towels. Remove leafy tops from carrots and choose a select few for printing.<\/p>\n

Print:<\/strong> Hold veggie like a stamp and dab\u00a0 acrylic paint on cut surface using a cosmetic foam wedge. Press to paper or fabric, hold for about 5 seconds, and lift straight up and off to reveal print. Dab leafy carrot tops with paint, place paint side down and cover with newsprint paper. Use hand pressure to print.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Broccoli ‘trees’ on linen<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Mushrooms on paper<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Tips for best results<\/strong>:<\/span><\/p>\n