Motif #1 Day Block Prints

This was a glorious day in New England...sunny, breezy, and full of things to do. 

One of our favorite places to go for a day trip is Rockport, MA - and on this particular day, they were celebrating Motif #1...

This charming seaside shack is Motif #1, and supposedly, it is one of the most highly photographed, painted, and otherwise immortalized buildings around (which I did not know until today).

So, all around town they had things to do, honoring the motif.  These easels were set up to draw your own masterpiece...

There was a sidewalk chalk contest and, you guessed it, the motif was a popular subject...

My sweetie drew a mermaid :)  I was impressed!  And who knows, maybe mermaids frequent the motif too...

One of my favorite activities were these sweet block print crafts that they had for everyone to try:

They were super simple, and turned out so cool!  I definitely want to make more of these at home, and I'm thinking this would be a really great birthday party craft....

It takes just a few supplies: foam sheets (these were only about 1/8" thick...I'll have to figure out exactly where to get these), a ballpoint pen, paint and paintbrush or roller, and white paper. 

First, take a foam sheet and draw a picture with the ballpoint pen. 

 Second, brush or roll a thin layer of paint all over the foam sheet...

Third, press the foam, paint side down, onto a piece of paper, press down firmly all over, and then lift the foam off. 

Aren't they beautiful!? (If it matters, make sure to draw a mirror image onto the foam...my motif is backward :)  This especially applies with words). 

So, if any of you live in the vicinity, or are planning a visit, I highly recommend Rockport.  It has lovely shops, delicious lobster, and Motif #1.  And if nothing else, it is a beautiful place to throw rocks in the water....