Cyanotypes

 I'm behind in writing about August because I wrote so much about my trip.

Anyway, early in August, I went to a class at the extension office. It was something I'd never heard of before...Cyanotypes.

The Google tells me this....

The cyanotype process is a 180-year-old photographic printing method that uses ultraviolet (UV) light and iron salts to create rich, monochrome Prussian blue images

...and it's fun!

The instructor had supplies ready for us.

Lots of leaves and flowers that she had picked that morning. We used these to make images. She also had some stencil type cut-outs that could be used.

First, two chemicals were combined and added to water. That mixture was used to paint a thin coat on heavy weight paper.

Next, we arranged flowers and greenery in a pleasing design over the painted paper, and covered with clear plastic sheets...clamped down to hold everything in place.

After that we placed them on a table out in bright sunlight for 15 minutes.

Here's what the papers looked like after that.

But then when you rinse them and allow them to dry, they turn this beautiful blue color.

I really like this result. I'd like it better if I had done a better job!

Cyanotype kits are available to buy online. Not too expensive.

I think it would be fun for anyone - all ages.

This may seem like a re-run to you because it's sort of like the indigo dye class I took earlier this summer.