Invite children to make citrus fruit art prints on art paper or white dish towels with this fun process art activity.
Citrus printing is an easy process art project and a fun activity for children and adults. Making art prints with oranges, lemons, limes, or grapefruits is a fun way to practice stamping and printmaking to create various forms of citrus art. (First published August 30, 2016; this post about how to create art and other DIY projects with lemon, lime, grapefruit, or orange prints is regularly updated and republished to improve the content.)
Stamp citrus prints onto paper to create lemon, lime, or orange stamp artwork of various kinds. Or print citrus stamps onto a white cotton towel. Or any of the other craft supplies recommended in the DIY project ideas at the bottom of this art project tutorial. Citrus arts and crafts are a gorgeous gift idea that kids can make! Scroll down for step-by-step instructions to create beautiful art with orange, grapefruit, lime, and lemon prints. For more easy process art ideas for kids, visit wet-on-wet watercolor painting and kraft paper sensory process art.
Stamping, PrintMaking, and Painting with Citrus Fruits
This process-oriented painting technique uses citrus fruits, such as oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruits, as stamps to create vibrant and unique patterns in various forms of citrus artwork. Painting unique stamps and prints with citrus fruits offers kids and adults of all ages a delightful way to engage the senses while making art. Especially for those who appreciate natural elements in their crafts like we do! For more beautiful nature art ideas, look at this list of nature crafts and art activities.
This fun art activity for kids or adults can foster creativity and encourage experimentation with printing citrus fruits in different colors and patterns. Making it a perfect DIY project idea for artists and craft enthusiasts of all ages. Whether used in educational settings with students in a classroom, as a creative activity the entire family can make together, or to create handmade decor and homemade DIY gifts; Citrus art prints are an easy and enjoyable way to explore the intersection of nature and art. You might also enjoy painting a rose.
How do you paint with citrus fruits?
This process art activity begins by slicing citrus fruit to reveal the intricate segments and textures inside lemons, limes, oranges, and grapefruits. Choose one of three tried and true preparation methods. Read through the step-by-step instructions in the next section and choose the technique you will use to prepare each half of citrus fruit for printmaking and painting.
Once the citrus fruits are ready for painting, each artist has the choice of dipping the citrus fruit in the paint. Or, using a paintbrush to paint the orange, grapefruit, lime, or lemon, as shown in the photo tutorial below. Add color to the fruit to make prints using the method or technique you prefer. Once the fruit has paint evenly applied to it, press it onto paper, fabric, or canvas to create a beautiful citrus print.
The segmentation of the citrus fruits results in beautiful, organic patterns. Natural variation in sizes and shapes of different citrus fruits offers a wide range of artistic possibilities. Scroll down for the art supply list and step-by-step instructions to make art prints with citrus fruits of several different varieties. You might also enjoy this list of Rainbow arts, crafts, and painting ideas.
Citrus Printing Process Art Supplies:
Most people will have the art supplies needed for this printmaking art activity at home (or in the classroom) or can get them easily at most hobby and craft stores. We have also included orange Amazon affiliate links for the recommended citrus printing art supplies for your convenience. (Rhythms of Play will earn a small commission at no cost to the consumer.)
- Citrus fruits (orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit)
- Grapefruit spoon or knife, butter knife, or paring knife (optional)
- Tempera paint, fabric paint, or acrylic paint
- Paper plates, muffin tin, or another container to hold paint (recycled sour cream and cottage cheese containers work great!)
- Paintbrushes (optional)
- Art apron or smock
- Something to paint or make stamps on. Choose at least one of the following:
- Painting paper.
- Art canvas.
- Cardstock (hang it in an art storage picture frame).
- Blank white, multi-colored, or kraft brown greeting cards.
- Glossy white or kraft brown paper roll to make DIY wrapping paper.
- Blank round or square tiles to make coasters.
- White cotton dishtowel (or use a colored dishtowel with white paint or another contrasting or complementary color.)
- Tote bags.
- Clothing or accessories, such as a large white scarf or shawl that you want to decorate with citrus prints.
- Citrus print scarves, totes, and dishtowels make a great DIY gift idea.
- Or any of the other fabrics and craft supplies recommended in the DIY project ideas at the bottom of this post.
Related: Best Art Supplies for Children and Why Young Artists Should Use Them
How to Make Citrus Fruit Stamps and Prepare Citrus Fruit for Printmaking
To prepare one or more citrus fruits to create citrus prints or stamps to make art, first, choose a firm citrus fruit such as orange, lemon, lime, or grapefruit. The fruit should be ripe but not overly soft or mushy. Otherwise, it will not be able to maintain its shape well enough to make prints.
Once you have chosen a piece of fruit, there are a few different methods you can use to prepare citrus fruits to make stamps for citrus art prints. Decide how you will prepare the citrus fruit (or fruits) before painting or making prints from the recommendations below.
Prepare Citrus Fruit to Use as Stamps for Printmaking Art
Follow these steps to have a well-prepared citrus fruit ready to create beautiful and unique prints. Start by mindfully cutting the citrus fruit in half from top to bottom using a sharp knife. Aim for a clean, straight cut to ensure a flat surface for printing. Once the citrus fruit is cut in half, use one of the options described in detail below to prepare oranges, lemons, grapefruits, and limes to stamp, and paint with them. You might also enjoy this list of Flower Art projects for kids and adults.
Citrus Stamping Option 1: Leave the Citrus Fruit As-Is
- The first option is to slice an orange, grapefruit, lemon, or lime cleanly in half and leave it as-is (without removing the juice).
- Then, use one of the cut halves of citrus fruit to paint and stamp paper.
- The lime, lemon, and orange in the top row of the photo below are left as-is to use this printmaking technique.
- This is the messiest option because the fruit juice mixes with the paint and makes the art prints nice and sloppy. Which is fabulous if it is the citrus art effect you are going for.
- This option works best as a sensory process art activity for young children. When painted, stamped, and printed onto paper; the citrus fruit paint stamps will first appear in giant blobs.
- Printmaking with citrus this way is messy and fun, especially for toddlers and preschoolers. encourage toddlers, preschoolers, and other young children to use them as stamps or painting tools in any way they desire.
- My daughter used her citrus fruits prepared using this method like a giant paintbrush to push the paint mixed with juice all over her paper to create wild and crazy citrus art.
- More of the citrus details will begin to show in the orange, lime, and lemon prints as the juice runs dry.
Related: Rainbow Art Projects
Citrus Printmaking Option 2: Gently Squeeze Citrus Fruit to Remove Excess Juice
- The second option is to squeeze the juice out of each half of the orange, lemon, or lime before using it to make art prints.
- The lime, lemon, and orange in the bottom row of the photo above are prepared using this citrus printing method.
- To try this citrus printing technique, gently squeeze each cleanly cut half over a bowl to remove excess juice. Be careful not to deform the fruit as you do this.
- This citrus printing technique is less messy than the first option and allows details of citrus fruit to show up in the citrus prints.
- The photo of my daughter’s printmaking below shows what orange, lemon, and lime citrus prints look like when you stamp them onto paper after preparing the citrus fruit using this technique. (The paint colors are: orange for the orange prints, bright yellow for the lemon prints, and neon green for the lime prints.)
Related: Squeezing an Orange Montessori Practical Life Activity
Citris Prints Option 3: Cut the Citrus Sections Out and remove the Juice Sac
- The third option is to cut the juice sac out of each segment of the citrus fruit using a grapefruit spoon or knife, a butter knife, or a paring knife as shown in the photo below.
- This citrus painting preparation method will leave the pattern of the citrus membranes intact for the printing process.
- Step-by-step instructions to remove the juice sacs from citrus fruits to use this citrus printing technique are directly below.
- Using this method is recommended if you are making citrus prints on fabric (such as white cotton dish towels or clothing) with fabric paint or other DIY projects with acrylic paint.
- We made our favorite citrus stamps or prints using this option, but it does take more time and effort to prepare the citrus fruits to paint. (Most of the citrus stamps shown in the photographs are made using this technique.)
- Removing the juice sacs out of each half of the orange, lemon, or lime can take anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes, depending on the skill level of the person removing each segment from the citrus fruit.)
- If you have an older child or are working with older children in the classroom, invite them to try this precise food preparation skill as an advanced handwork activity. But please ensure they are taught how to handle the tool they are using safely (especially if they use a knife) and are supervised as they work.
- Removing the juice sacs out of each half of the orange, lemon, or lime can take anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes, depending on the skill level of the person removing each segment from the citrus fruit.)
How to Remove Segments from Citrus Fruit:
- Carefully scoop out the individual fruit segments or juice sacs from each half with a small spoon, a dull knife, or a paring knife.
- A grapefruit spoon or knife works well for this task.
- Work slowly to avoid tearing the inner walls of the peel and pith.
- The goal is to leave the inner white part of the peel (the pith) intact, as shown in the photograph above. (The orange, lemon, and lime each have the juice segments removed.)
- Doing so will provide a better surface for applying paint and making citrus prints.
- Once the segments are removed, pat the inside of the peel dry with a paper towel to Remove as much moisture as possible.
- This will prevent the paint from diluting. As well as make it easier to use acrylic paint and fabric paint to make orange, lime, or lemon stamps and prints on dish towels, clothing, home decor, and other DIY projects with citrus prints.
Related: Cutting a Banana Montessori Practical Life Activity
How to Use Citrus Fruits as Stamps for Printmaking
There are two primary ways to put paint onto a half piece of citrus fruit to use it as a stamp to make art prints and various DIY citrus print projects. Both paint-loading methods are described below. First, choose your favorite method to make citrus prints.
Then, scroll down for the complete step-by-step directions for citrus printing. Followed by several DIY citrus print projects you can try. You might also enjoy stamping hearts to make thumbprint heart magnets or these other fun thumbprint heart gifts and craft ideas.
How to Put Paint on a Citrus Fruit Stamp:
- Either put paint on a paper plate and then dip the fruit into the paint to make prints.
- Or, pour paint on a paper plate, into a muffin tray or other recycled container, and use a paintbrush to paint the citrus fruits before making prints with them.
My daughter chose to paint the citrus fruits before stamping them because she loves to paint things. (You can see her painting a lemon with bright yellow paint, and using it, along with a lime and an orange to make citrus art prints in the photo collage below.)
No matter which method you choose, it is best to stamp the citrus fruits several times before re-applying more paint. The citrus prints of grapefruits, oranges, lemons, and limes begin to look much clearer. Especially after they are stamped a few times, as shown in the photographs above.
Related: Fingerprint Art Magnets
Step-By-Step Citrus Printmaking Art Instructions: How to Make Citrus Print Fruit Stamps
Follow the step-by-step instructions below to make citrus print art and other DIY projects such as dish towels or citrus prints on clothes. If you are working with children and this is the first time your children have ever tried art printing or stamping. It’s best to demonstrate how to make art prints with citrus fruit, so children will understand the process. Young children learn best by watching and imitating others. Model and demonstrate how to use citrus fruits to paint and make stamps before inviting them to give it a try.
1. make citrus Fruit Stamps for Citrus Printing:
- Gather citrus print art materials from the recommended art supply list.
- Prepare citrus fruits using one of the three methods above.
- As a reminder, you can leave the fruit as-is, gently squeeze the juice out, or remove each juice sac or segment.
- The first or second option is recommended for young children creating citrus-stamped process art. While the last method is recommended for most other craft and DIY projects.
- If the fruit halves are not flat, trim a small portion off the bottom to create a stable base. This will ensure even pressure when stamping.
- As a reminder, you can leave the fruit as-is, gently squeeze the juice out, or remove each juice sac or segment.
- Put paint, a paper plate (or another container to hold paint), and paintbrushes, on the art table along with at least one of the following items to paint, stamp, and make citrus prints on:
- Painting paper
- Cardstock
- Art canvas
- Dish towels
- Clothing
- Or any of the other craft supplies included in the DIY project ideas at the bottom of this post.
2. Load Paint onto the Citrus Fruit Stamp:
- Once the citrus fruit is prepared, invite artists to apply paint using the painting or stamping method they prefer:
- It’s best to cut the citrus segments out and ensure the fruit is dry before using acrylic or fabric paint to make orange, lime, or lemon prints.
- Then, dip the fruit in the paint, or use a brush to coat the pith of the fruit evenly.
- Make sure the paint is not too thick, as this can fill in the natural textures and reduce the clarity of the citrus fruit print.
- Tempera paint is recommended for most art projects because it is water-based and can handle the juice mixed with the paint better.
- Acrylic paint is recommended for making citrus prints on DIY projects, such as cotton canvas, blank coasters, and other home decor.
- Non-toxic fabric paint is recommended for most clothing or linen printmaking projects.
3. Start with a Test Print:
- Before stamping the citrus fruit on the final material, do a test print on scrap paper to ensure it is properly coated and the print looks as expected.
- Citrus art prints often look their best after a few stamps each time paint is added.
- Consider doing a test stamp each time you add more paint to the citrus fruit stamp. Especially if you are stamping them on clothing, dish towels, or making citrus-printed DIY home decor of some kind.
4. Stamp citrus prints on paper, cardstock, canvas, a white cotton dishcloth, clothing, or other craft supplies in the DIY printmaking project ideas below.
- Remember, the beauty of this technique lies in the natural variations and imperfections, so don’t worry if each print doesn’t look the same. Do your best and have fun!
- If you are working with children, stamp them to make prints, or use them to paint in various ways emphasizing process over product. Unless you are making citrus-stamped dish towels or making citrus prints on clothing–lol.
- There is no right or wrong way to do this. Allow the child to stamp the citrus fruit into the tempera paints and use the materials in whatever way works for them if you want to make it a process art-oriented experience.
Related: 15 Ways to Raise a Helper
Printmaking with Citrus Fruit: DIY Printmaking Project Ideas
Citrus printing process art is an easy art project and painting idea for children and adults of all ages. Invite kids to make citrus art prints on an art canvas, or a white cotton towel for a great homemade gift idea for the kids. Or, try any of the other citrus printmaking ideas below.
Decorating different DIY projects with citrus prints is a fun and creative way to make unique art and decorative items for your home, office, or classroom. Please use non-toxic, washable paints if the items will be used by children or in contact with food. Experimenting with different colors and fruit sizes makes it possible to make a wide variety of creative designs! Here are several fun citrus printmaking ideas you can try:
1. Citrus Print Wall Art:
- Use citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, grapefruits, and limes to create vibrant wall art for your home, bathroom, bedroom, or kitchen:
- Cut the fruits in half, dip them in paint, and stamp them onto a canvas, wallpaper, heavy paper, or directly on the painted walls (or ceiling) of your kitchen, office, living room, den, bedroom, bathroom, playroom, baby nursery, etc.
- Make patterns with citrus prints in complementary or contrasting colors, or use orange, grapefruit, lime, and lemon prints to create vibrant abstract designs.
2. Handmade Citrus Print Linens:
- Add a fresh touch to kitchen towels, napkins, paper or cotton placemats, white tablecloths, pillow covers, and more by stamping them with a colorful array of citrus prints:
- Choose non-toxic fabric-friendly paints (such as this fabric paint).
- Then press the cut side of the fruit onto the fabric to create prints.
- Ironing over the print after it dries can help set most fabric paints.
- Setting the paint with an iron can also help set acrylic paint.
- One of my favorite items to decorate with citrus stamps is a bright white dish towel.
- Dish towels and other linens decorated with orange, lime, or lemon prints stamped on them not only make lovely DIY home decor. But are excellent handmade gift ideas that even kids can make. (For more DIy gift ideas look at this list of homemade gifts kids can help make.)
3. Citrus Print Coasters:
- Create unique coasters by stamping citrus prints onto round or square tiles, wood blanks, wood chip slices, paper coasters, and more.
- Use any of the coaster blanks for crafts recommended on the list below:
- Round white blank ceramic tiles for crafts with cork backing.
- Square white blank ceramic tiles for crafts with cork backing.
- Round and square blank white ceramic tiles for crafts with cork backing.
- Unfinished round wooden coasters.
- Blank unfinished round and square wood chip slices for handicrafts and DIY projects.
- Seal coasters stamped with citrus prints with a waterproof sealant for a practical and stylish addition to your coffee table.
- Use a foam brush to paint the sealer directly on top of the citrus prints and over the entire coaster.
- Citrus-stamped coasters also make a great gift idea!
4. Personalized Stationery or Greeting Cards:
- Use citrus prints to create beautiful stationery on white or colored blank greeting cards.
- Citrus-printed cards make lovely homemade thank-you cards to send to friends and relatives.
- They also are perfect homemade card ideas for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Christmas (or another winter holiday), New Year’s, Easter, and more!
- Colorful citrus prints look great on blank white cards, and white stamps look fabulous on Kraft brown cards and multi-colored cards.
- Combine different fruits and colors of cards and prints to create a multitude of unique personalized looks.
5. Citrus Print Tote Bags:
- Give a plain undecorated tote bag a fresh update with a smattering of citrus prints:
- Use fabric paints to stamp the fruit prints directly onto the tote bags.
- This can make for a great personalized gift or a stylish accessory for yourself.
- Make one to take to the park, pool, beach, or farmers market!
- Citrus-printed tote bags also make a great collecting bag for nature study supplies and special treasures found outside in nature.
6. Fruit Print Wrapping Paper:
- Make DIY wrapping paper by stamping a large sheet of kraft brown or glossy white wrapping paper with citrus prints:
- Kraft brown paper looks best with white citrus prints, while white paper looks best with colorful complementary or contrasting prints as shown in the photographs for this post.
- Homemade wrapping paper with citrus prints on it adds a sweet personal touch to year-round gift-giving. Make some today!
7. Citrus-Themed Nursery Decor:
- Use citrus prints to create a playful and colorful nursery or kid’s room decor:
- Stamp onto walls, cotton canvases, cushions, pillow covers, and more!
- You can even make a citrus mobile with orange slice ornaments or the citrus print ornaments below!
8. Citrus Print Ornaments and Gift Tags:
- Make citrus prints on round wooden blanks to make ornaments for your Easter tree or Christmas tree, or DIY gift tags for year-round gift giving.
9. Decorate Clothes with Citrus Prints:
- Make your clothes and accessories stand out with citrus prints.
- Decorate clothing or accessories, such as a white shirt, skirt, scarf, or shawl that you want to decorate with vibrantly colored citrus prints. Or use colored clothing with white citrus prints.
- Put fabric paint on a piece of citrus fruit and press the cut side of the fruit onto the fabric to create prints.
- Ironing over the print after it dries can help set fabric paint. (It can also work to help set acrylic paint when painted on fabric when not using fabric paint).
Citrus Printing Art Tutorial and Project Ideas for Kids and Adults
Learning how to make art prints with citrus fruit is a fun art technique that can help children and adults learn how to use paints and art materials, explore their creativity, and practice stamping to make art.
Encourage children to make art prints with citrus fruit for a simple classroom or homeschool art lesson for toddlers, preschoolers, kindergarteners, and kids of all ages. Or try any of the other DIY citrus stamping project ideas on the list above. There are so many fun things you can make or decorate with citrus stamps. Happy citrus printing!
You might also enjoy learning How to Make Natural Cleaning Products with citrus fruits and other natural ingredients.
More Painting Ideas for Kids
- Wet-on-Wet Watercolor Painting
- DIY Four Season Hand and Fingerprint Tree
- Painting with Foam Blocks
- Winter Art Project and Painting Ideas
- Art & Science: Watercolor Resist Experiment
Stephanie says
Do you think I can cut the membranes out of the lemons the night before? Hoping they won’t dry up if I put them in a ziploc bag in the fridge
Nell Regan M.A. says
Hi Stephanie, good question. I haven’t tried it before, so I’m not sure, but I think the lemons will still make great citrus stamps to create art from the prints if you put them in a bag and put them in the fridge after cutting the membranes out. I really doubt they will dry up and become un-useful. So I recommend giving it a try. Happy citrus stamping and printing!