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Transparent Paper

Tamara and Geri both wrote in to tell us what she did to make some coloring pages look transparent. 

Have the kids color a picture with crayons. They can color dark or light - it doesn't matter but darker tends to look better. Coloring pages with heavy black lines also come out a little better.

  • Use crayons, NOT markers or colored pencils.

  • Have a few bowls with a VERY small amount of cooking oil and a couple of cotton balls in them. 

  • Have the kids flip the pages over and slowly and thoroughly rub the cotton balls on the paper. (You'll see the paper turn transparent and the colors come through).

  • Put them aside to dry (usually doesn't take long)!

  • Cut them out and either hang them as is with a hole punched in them or frame them with construction paper.

 

I am experimenting away with oil, etc to see what I can do. The oil looks good, but I cannot get it to dry.... 

...after I left the cooking oil on for awhile it dried fine, so that is what we used.  You can make colors transparent with a VERY thin coat of cooking oil. I applied with a paintbrush, and taped to the window to dry. I would not recommend taping to a wall in case it discolors the paint, but its perfect for on windows.   

Thanks guys!