How to Make These Pretty 'Sun Prints' With Common Household Items
If you're looking for cheap but fun activities to do this summer that can double as wall or fridge art, it turns out you may only need to look in your spice and bathroom cabinets.
Creator Alishia Keller (@alishiakeller) recently shared a video showing how she used turmeric and isopropyl alcohol to make the prettiest natural prints in the sun.
Not only is it budget-friendly and easy to do, but it's also a fun science experiment for all ages-including for school-aged children home on summer break.
@alishiakeller making sun prints! such a fun and simple summer craft #sunprint#crafts#toddlercrafts#gardening#whimsical
Riverbank Mandolin - Zany Zep
What Is an Anthotype?
While the prints may look like other bohemian-esque art, like something you'd find at Anthropologie, this actually results from an interesting 19th-century photographic process.
By using light-sensitive pigments that naturally occur, laying something overtop and setting it out into the sun, UV rays bleach the covered area, allowing you to peel it away and find a print left behind and ultimately, creating an anthotype.
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How to Make Your Own
To create your own anthotype, first gather a few common household ingredients: turmeric, isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol), baking soda and water.
Then you'll want to go outside and look for small leaves, foliage or flowers you want to print.
After mixing turmeric with alcohol to achieve a watercolor-like consistency, begin painting it onto a piece of paper or a coffee filter (cardstock or watercolor paper works best).
Pro tip: Be careful with the turmeric, as it stains easily.
Press your chosen foliage onto the paper, and optionally, press it down further with a piece of glass. Stick that outside or in a really sunny spot for a few hours until it dries, and carefully peel away the foliage.
Then, mix water and baking soda in a shallow dish large enough to fit the paper, and slowly dip it in for 30 seconds. This is optional, but allows the print to develop an even deeper color.
Let it dry completely, then hang it up to enjoy.
In the video's comment section, others shared photos of their own homemade prints and thanked Lou for sharing the idea.
"Thank you! Great activity with my 10 yo son today," one commenter wrote, alongside a photo of their print.
Whether you have kids you're looking to entertain this summer, or want a fun project for yourself, this one gives you the perfect chance to make art, all while being eco-friendly and cost-effective.
Related: DIYer Creates the Sweetest Craft for Summer Days
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This story was originally published June 22, 2026 at 3:30 PM.