Catching Sunbeams: DIY Sun Print Kits
Create Nature-Inspired Art with UV Light
Wednesday, July 29
2:00pm - 8:00pm
Swoop into the library to scoop up a free Sun Print (Cyanotype) Kit! Use the sun's light, found objects, and water for this low-mess art project.
This low-mess art project uses the sun's UV rays and water to create beautiful white and Prussian blue images.
How to Create Your Sun Print
- Prepare: Gather leaves or flat objects from around your house and a piece of cardboard or a magazine to use as a sturdy base.
- Expose: Place your objects on the specialized fabric, secure them with the provided plexiglass, and set them in the sun.
- Develop: Wash the paper with water to reveal your "camera-less" photograph—one of the oldest photographic processes.
Bonus: Creative Uses for Your Plexiglass
The kit includes a piece of plexiglass that you get to keep! Here are some fun ways to reuse it:
- Suncatchers: Decorate with permanent markers and hang in a window.
- Monoprinting: Spread paint on the surface, draw designs with cotton buds, and press paper onto it to make a print.
- Dry Erase Board: Use washable markers to practice drawing or writing, then wipe clean.
Win a Ribbon at the Fair!
Don't forget that you can enter your finished sun print in next year’s Polk County Fair. It's free to enter and you might win a ribbon & some money.
AGE GROUP: | Teens (Ages 13-18) | Pre-Schoolers (Ages 3-6) | Middle Grade (Ages 10-13) | K-5th Graders (Ages 5-10) |
EVENT TYPE: | Summer Reading Program | Entertainment | Arts, Crafts and Hobbies |
TAGS: | technology free | sun print | fabric | cyanotype |
Fertile Public Library
The Fertile Public Library is tucked inside the Duane Knutson Community Center on Mill Street across the street from the Main Street Station & Deli. The Fertile Library is a large one-room library with access to a small meeting room and auditorium that can be reserved through the city office and 24-hour access to WiFi.