DIY Block Printing

We recently joined Loud Flower Art Co, a Santa Barbara-based shop specializing in cute and curated printed goods, for their Block Printing Hangout. The evening was filled with carving, printing, and socializing—exactly the kind of creative community experience we love.

As complete novices, we’ll admit we felt a little nervous about the process at first. But with some simple instructions and a couple of hand tools, we created our first block print, and it turned out better than we expected (if we don’t say so ourselves!).

If you’re looking to create custom designs and brand your packaging with a handmade touch, we highly recommend giving block printing a try. It’s fun, surprisingly easy to learn, and produces fantastic results that will make your packaging stand out.

The beauty of block printing lies in its simplicity. You carve your design into the linoleum block, roll ink onto the surface, and press it onto your chosen material. The handcrafted imperfections are part of the charm—each print has its own character.

Pro tip: Start with simple designs and bold shapes. Fine details can be tricky for beginners, but clean, graphic elements translate beautifully to packaging.

What You’ll Need

Materials List:

• Carving tools
• Ink roller (brayer)
• Linoleum block
• Ink (water-based or oil-based)
• GreenKraft Clamshells

The Community Connection

Loud Flower Art Co isn’t just a retail space—it’s a hub for creativity with community workshops, book signings, artist talks, and more. As they put it, they’re “here to add some goofiness, togetherness, and encouragement.” We couldn’t agree more with that philosophy, especially when it comes to DIY projects that might seem intimidating at first.