Block printing is one of the oldest and most satisfying forms of printmaking — and the Essdee Block Printing Kit for Kids makes it completely accessible for children from age 5 upwards, with no sharp tools required at any stage. This is a genuinely child-safe introduction to a real printmaking technique, using PrintFoam rather than lino or traditional carving blocks, so children can create their own printing blocks by pressing, indenting, and drawing into the soft foam surface with a pencil — no blades, no cutting, no risk.
The PrintFoam is the clever core of the kit. It is a deep, soft foam material into which children can draw and press designs using the included pencil, creating an indented relief surface that holds ink on the raised areas and releases it onto paper when pressed down. The result is a genuine printed image — reversed, repeated, and with all the character of a real block print — produced entirely through a process that is safe for young children to work independently. Six sheets of PrintFoam are included, giving plenty of material for experimenting, reworking, and trying multiple different designs.
The 100ml bottle of premium quality water-based block printing ink rolls out evenly using the included roller and washes out of most fabrics, making clean-up straightforward and spillages significantly less catastrophic than oil-based alternatives. The washable ink tray keeps the workspace contained. Full instructions are included.
Finished prints work brilliantly for posters, greeting cards, gift wrapping, decorations, scrapbooks, and montages — giving the finished work a genuine handmade quality that is genuinely impressive for children of this age.
Kit contents: 6 sheets of PrintFoam, 1x 100ml water-based block printing ink, 1x ink roller, 1x washable ink tray, 1x pencil for drawing and engraving, instructions.
What age is this kit suitable for? Recommended for children aged 5 to 12 years. Because no sharp tools are used at any stage, children aged 5 and over can work with this kit independently under light supervision. The technique is simple enough for younger children while being genuinely creative and engaging for older ones.
How does PrintFoam work? Draw or press a design into the foam surface using the included pencil — the indented lines will not print, while the raised foam surface picks up the ink and transfers it to paper. This is the same basic principle as traditional relief printing but achieved entirely without cutting tools.
Is the ink washable? The water-based ink washes out of most fabrics and surfaces with water. Clean all equipment promptly after use before the ink has dried.
What can children print on? Paper and card give the best results and are the most practical for most projects. The ink is not formulated for fabric in the same way as the Essdee Fabric Printing Ink — for fabric printing, the dedicated Essdee Fabric Lino Printing Kit is more appropriate.
Can the PrintFoam be reused? Yes — the same PrintFoam sheet can be inked up and printed from multiple times, allowing children to build up a series of identical prints or experiment with printing at different ink densities.
