Traditional oil-based printmaking inks produce the finest results — but they require solvents for cleanup, which makes them impractical outside a properly equipped studio. Caligo Safe Wash inks solve this entirely. Oil-based, heavily pigmented, and equivalent in print quality to traditional inks — but cleaned up with soap and water. In this post we cover the difference between the Relief Inks (for lino, woodcut, and monoprint) and the Etching Inks (for intaglio techniques), how the Safe Wash Oil and Wiping Compound work, and what the inks mean in practice for home printmakers, schools, and professionals. In stock at Craft and Canvas from £10.57.

Not all air dry clays are the same — and choosing the right one for your project matters more than most people realise. In this guide we cover DAS Air Dry (£8.25 — paper-reinforced, strong, carveable, ideal for sculpture), Jovi Patmache (£7.99 — lightweight paper clay, perfect for armature work and fine surface detail), Silk Clay (£8.45 — foam-based, pre-coloured, ideal for small figures and children's projects), and Fimo Soft individual blocks (£3.75 — oven-bake polymer clay for jewellery and miniatures). Clear guidance on which to choose for your project. All stocked at Craft and Canvas.

Lino printing is a relief printing technique with a distinguished history — used by Picasso, Matisse, and Munch — that is genuinely accessible to beginners with the right equipment and a clear understanding of the process. In this complete introduction we cover everything: the different types of lino block (traditional, easy cut, and foam), the cutter shapes and what each produces, how to choose and use a roller, which inks to use and why Caligo Safe Wash inks are a significant development for home printmakers, the best papers for printing, and a clear step-by-step guide to the full printing process. Starter kits from £23.49, full supplies range stocked at Craft and Canvas.