Rubbings are one of the oldest and simplest forms of printmaking, and they still feel like magic to a child. By rubbing a crayon or soft pencil over a textured surface, you reproduce every raised line and ridge underneath — no special skill required, just a steady hand and a bit of patience. Here’s how to try this fun printmaking rubbings craft for children to create and treasure.
This project is easy to set up at home and always gets a reaction the first time the pattern appears on the page. It’s based on an activity from the Primary Printmaking book by Wexford art teacher Orla Bates, published by Potters Yard Press.
For This Rubbings Craft You Will Need
- A5 or A4 white paper — 4 to 5 pieces per child
- Texture rubbing plates (pre-made or home-made — see below)
- Flat objects from around the home with a textured surface
- Peeled crayons or oil pastels
- Newspaper (to protect your work surface)
- Watercolour palettes
- Large watercolour brushes
You probably have more texture right at hand than you think — a garden wall, tree bark, an embossed wallpaper sample, or an oven tray with a raised pattern will all work well. If you don’t have proper texture rubbing plates, get creative with buttons, leaves, wool, or anything else with an interesting surface. Simply glue a few objects to a sheet of cardboard and you’ve made your own texture plate.
You might also enjoy reading 10 Fun Fabric Scrap Crafts and Activities for Kids.
How to Create Your Rubbings
1. Place a piece of paper over the texture plate or textured surface and hold it steady with one hand. Ask your child, “What do you think will happen if the paper moves?”
2. Show your child how to take a rubbing using the crayon lying flat on its side. Press down firmly and pull the crayon across the paper. They may need a hand keeping the paper still while they work.
3. Fill one sheet with a single texture, then move on to another sheet with a different pattern and colour.
4. For variety, your child can also draw a pattern freehand with oil pastels, filling one page per pattern so you end up with a mix of drawn and rubbed designs.
5. Once you have several patterned pages, show your child how to paint over the surface with watercolours — this is called a watercolour resist. Wet the brush and load it with plenty of paint, but avoid adding too much water or the paper will turn soggy.
6. Glide the brush gently over the rubbing. The paint will settle only where there’s no wax, so the pattern appears through the colour. Move quickly and lightly, as too much rubbing will start to lift the wax away.
7. Leave the pages to dry. From here, you can use the sheets to make a collage, or simply enjoy the finished rubbings as they are.
Frequently Asked Questions
What age is this craft suitable for?
Rubbings work well for most ages once a child can hold a crayon and press with some control — younger children may need help keeping the paper steady, while older children can manage the whole process independently.
What if I don’t have watercolours?
The rubbing itself is the main activity, so it’s still a complete craft without the paint stage. The watercolour resist is a lovely finishing touch, but you can leave it out and simply enjoy the rubbed patterns on their own.
What household objects work best for texture rubbings?
Anything with a raised or textured surface is worth trying — coins, leaves, buttons, tree bark, embossed wallpaper, or a textured baking tray all give good results. It’s worth experimenting, as flatter or very fine textures can be harder to pick up.
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If you enjoyed this craft, you might also like our ideas for fabric scrap crafts, other simple printmaking projects for kids, and more easy rainy-day activities using things you already have at home.
Save This for a Rainy Day
No printable needed for this one — just save the page or bookmark it so it’s ready the next time you need an easy, mess-light activity for a wet afternoon.
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Did you try this rubbings craft with your child? What textures did you use? Let us know in the comments below.
