From Habitat magazine - issue 08, Diy kidz
Nothing is nicer than not only choosing a gift for one of your friends or a member of your family, but wrapping it in personalised paper and making a matching card. You can use the paper for other things, too, like covering your school books or simply as a piece of art to hang on your bedroom wall.
Kids, check with your parents first about cutting the potatoes. You may need their help with Step 2!
Step 1: Divide the card into three equal rectangles and cut out. Paint stripes on the paper and card using two or three colours and a variety of foam brushes to make different sized stripes. Let the paint dry completely.
Step 2: Cut potatoes into a few shapes to make printing blocks. We made a triangle and diamond by cutting the ends of the potato off first, then cutting the sides away, and a circle by cutting the end off another potato. We made the star by first cutting the end off a potato, then sinking the cookie cutter into the cut end and shaving away the sides. Dry off the cut ends.
Step 3: Use the potatoes like a stamp by dipping the cut end into the paint and dabbing off the extra paint onto the sponge. Press the potato onto the sheets of paper and card, to create a pattern. 
Step 4: Fold the card in half, and punch a hole in the top corner near the fold. Thread ribbon through the hole. Wrap up your presents and write a message in the card! 
Wet the foam brushes a little before you start painting the stripes. This helps the paint flow more easily.
We used a combination of stripes and potato prints but just using the potato prints on coloured paper and card would look great too!
words: Helena Dunn
pictures: Mark Heaslip
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Printed copies of habitat highlights are available from late March 2024 at Resene ColorShops and resellers, while stocks last. You can view back issues of habitat magazine online.
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