Easy Summer Break Art Project: Sun Printing, A Guide to Creating Botanical Wall Art

Easy Summer Break Art Project: Sun Printing, A Guide to Creating Botanical Wall Art

I absolutely love this craft and as summer brings longer days and abundant greenery, it's the perfect time to create seasonal artwork that captures nature’s fleeting beauty. One of the most elegant and surprisingly simple ways to bring the outdoors in is by making botanical sun prints. This method uses light sensitive paper (or fabric) to create ethereal blue and white prints of leaves, flowers, or stems through the power of sunlight.

These cyanotype style artworks add a touch of natural elegance to any room and are perfect for framing as a seasonal gallery wall display. In this blog post, I'm focusing on using the light sensitive paper instead of fabric. You're going to love this craft; each print offers a fun opportunity to express your creativity in a unique and beautiful way. Let's dive in!

Materials Needed for Your Easy Summer Break Art Project

• Sun print paper or cyanotype paper (available online or at craft stores)

• A piece of clear glass (such as from a photo frame)

• Leaves, ferns, flowers, or other flat botanical items

• Scissors or garden shears

• Tray or basin with water (for developing the print)

• Towel or flat surface for drying

• Optional: frame(s) for displaying your art

Basket of Botanicals for Sun Printing

Gather and Prepare Your Botanicals

Head outdoors and collect flat, detailed plant materials. Ferns, delicate leaves, and single layer flowers work best. Make sure the items are dry and not bulky, as flatness ensures sharper results. Trim stems and arrange each piece in advance so you’re ready to work quickly once the paper is exposed.

Arrange the Composition

In a low light area away from direct sunlight, remove a sheet of sun print paper from its packaging. Place it on a flat surface with the blue side facing up. Carefully arrange your botanicals on the paper. Once you're satisfied with the layout, gently place the piece of glass over the arrangement. The glass helps flatten the materials and keeps them in place during exposure.

Placing Fern Leaves on Cyanotype Paper

Expose to Sunlight

Bring the entire setup outside and place it in direct sunlight. Exposure time will vary depending on conditions, but generally, 2 to 5 minutes is enough. You’ll notice the paper fade from deep blue to a pale bluish white where light hits it. Once the background has significantly lightened, it’s ready. Avoid overexposing, as this can blur fine edges.

Develop the Print

Immediately after exposure, remove the botanicals and submerge the print in a tray or sink of clean water for about one minute. If you do not have a tray available, a casserole style baking dish works well for this step, and you will need to develop each print one at a time. You’ll see the colors invert, the background will return to a rich blue, while the areas that were blocked by the plants remain white or light colored. After rinsing, carefully lay the print flat on a towel to dry. Avoid touching the surface until it’s completely dry to prevent smudging or warping.

Set of Botanical Prints Decor on a Wall Without Frame Mats

Frame and Display

Once dry, your botanical print is ready to be framed. Use a clean frame with or without a mat, depending on your aesthetic. The photo above displays the botanical prints with no mat and the photo below contains botanical prints with mats. One look is very rustic and the other more refined. For a modern look, consider a floating frame that highlights the edges of the print. Hang multiple sun prints together to form a serene, nature inspired gallery wall. They pair beautifully with minimalist decor, natural woods, and summer linens.

Set of Botanical Prints Decor on a Wall with Frame Mats

Final Thoughts

Sun print wall art is so much fun and is not only visually striking, but it also offers a mindful, creative connection to nature. Sun printing is also a fantastic craft to enjoy with kids because it's simple, hands on, and sparks curiosity about how sunlight can create art. As children gather and arrange leaves or flowers, they begin to observe details in plants that they may have overlooked otherwise, like the shape of a fern or the veins of a leaf. This process not only nurtures creativity but also encourages a deeper appreciation for nature's intricate beauty. It's a wonderful way to combine art, science, and outdoor exploration in one meaningful activity. Each print is one of a kind, capturing a real moment in time. Whether you frame them in a grid or create a single statement piece, these botanical prints are a timeless summer craft worth displaying year round.

Let the sunshine do all of the work and enjoy the beauty it leaves behind.

And as always, happy crafting and creating!

Jennifer