-mail is fun to get, but sometimes it just isn't the same as paper. Make some terrific stationery with a personal touch---your fingerprints! Then use it to send letters or cards to the special people in your lives. "We made birthday cards for Keith (Dad), and he enjoyed them. It was nice--each aged child could do it all by themselves," said a mother of three kids, ages 5, 9, and 12. "This is a super project for kids of all ages because there's no right or wrong way to do it."

Older children will like adding lots of details. Younger children will just enjoy the printing process. Because it's so sensory, it's great for kids who like hands-on crafts, and even for kids who don't! "Ryan (age 12) doesn't like putting paint or ink on his hands, but he did it anyway. Once he got going, he got really creative," shares his mom, Peggy LaClair.

Here is what you'll need:

• plain paper (typing paper, plain note cards, postcards, or index cards)
• non-toxic ink pads (Washable ink makes clean-up easier)
• fine line markers
• decorative-edge scissors

Here's what you do:

• Cover your work area with newspapers.
• To make basic fingerprint pictures, press a finger firmly on an ink pad.
• Then press the inked finger on plain paper to leave a print.
• Use different fingers for different sizes of prints.
• Practice on scrap paper to see what your prints look like.
• Draw details on the fingerprints with black or colored markers to make creatures or designs.

Some Tips:

• For small round spots, use a pencil eraser instead of a finger.
• Group your fingerprint pictures in the paper's corners, across the top and bottom edges of the paper, or around all four sides.
• Choose some of these fingerprint designs or come up with your own.
• The LaClairs liked making caterpillars, butterflies, letters, and flowers.
• The Hannans from Cincinnati made balloons, flowers, and scattered fingerprints in lots of colors. "The borders on the paper with different colors turned out cool!" they report.

Design Ideas:

• Balloons--Make round or oval fingerprints in different colors. Group them together and draw a string below each one.
• Pumpkins or apples--Make orange, red, or green fingerprints. Make some round and some oval. Draw stems, leaves or jack-o'-lantern faces on each print with markers.
• Caricatures--Make one oval fingerprint for the head and/or body of each person or pet in your family. Draw faces, legs, arms, and other details with markers to show each person's interests or personality. For example, show a teenager skateboarding, the dancer in your family en pointe or in a tutu, or Grandpa with a wild mustache. The sillier, the better!
• Flowers--Print five round or oval shapes in a circle to make the flower petals. Print a different colored spot in the middle. Use a green marker to draw stems and leaves. (A pencil eraser works great for the petals and centers of small flowers!)
• Holiday Wreath--Overlap a series of green fingerprints in a circle to make a wreath. Use an eraser to make small red dots scattered around the wreath. Draw on a red ribbon.
• Words--Turn your fingerprints into simple words, like "HI!" or "THANKS." Lightly print the word in pencil. Then make fingerprints over your pencil lines to form the letter shapes.
• Random designs--Make finger or eraser prints in different design or color patterns around the edges of the paper. Try stripes, circles, zigzags, and curves. Alternate colors that look good together or use all the colors of the rainbow!

Project Suggestions:

Now that you know how to make the prints, it's time to create different kinds of stationery.

COMPUTER STATIONERY: Type a personalized heading on your computer, such as "From the Desk of. . . " or "An Update from the Smiths." Use different fonts and sizes. Print off several copies on plain typing paper. Then make fingerprint pictures on each sheet near the heading or around the outer edges. For computer-printed letters, compose a letter on the computer. Then put the personalized stationery into the printer and print the letter on it. For handwritten letters, trim around the edges of the printed paper with decorative scissors.

GREETING CARDS: Fold and cut typing paper into note cards that fit standard envelopes. Trim the edges or corners of the cards with decorative scissors. Make fingerprint pictures on the cover of each card. Leave the inside plain for writing.

POSTCARDS: Make a border of fingerprint patterns around the edges of the plain side of each postcard. Write your message inside the border.

RECIPE CARDS: Decorate the corners of index cards with fingerprint pictures in colors that match your kitchen. At the center top of each card, print "From (name's) Kitchen" or "Here's What's Cooking".

Gift-Giving Options:

• Place decorated sheets of typing paper in a colored file folder. Add stamps and envelopes. Decorate the front side of the folder. Tie colorful ribbon or raffia around it.
• Bind twenty personalized recipe cards together with a piece of raffia or ribbon. Tie on a small cookie cutter.

TAKE IT FROM ME:
"I have some cool vellum envelopes that looked great with our designs showing through!" --mother of two

This article © 2001-2004 Studio One Networks.

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