We often think of blueprints as an industrial technology. Agricultural craft expert Tammy Algood of the University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service uses blueprint paper to create decorative pictures. Materials:
Blueprint or sun-sensitive paper
Cardboard
Spoons (or any objects you like: pearls, starfish, wire, fern leaves, etc.)
Bowl
Water
Timer
Paper towels
- Place a sheet of sun-sensitive paper, with the green side up and the white side down, on top of a piece of cardboard (figure A).
- Place an object flat on top of the paper (figure B).
- Place the paper in bright sun for 8 minutes. Set a timer to make sure you don't leave it too long.
- Rinse the paper by submerging it in a bowl of water and shaking it vigorously underwater (figure C).
- Lay the paper flat on a stack of paper towels and blot. Let dry. You can use a hair dryer to speed up the process.
- Frame the picture as desired.
Tips: - Press fresh leaves in a book to flatten them. Pin a leaf to sun-sensitive paper along the stem to keep it flat.
- In bright summer sun the design will print on sun-sensitive paper in 8 minutes. In spring and fall, set the timer for 10 minutes. In winter the process will take 12 minutes.
- To create a picture with variations in the color intensity of the objects, place an object on the paper and set it in the sun for 8 minutes. Then move the object and expose the paper again. Some of the objects will be darker (figure D).
- Sun-sensitive paper must be used within three months--before it loses its chemical sensitivity to the sun.
- A UV lamp can be used to develop the paper indoors.
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