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Friends Art Lab / Blog / Apple Stamps Process Art Activity

Apple Stamps Process Art Activity

By Kristian Klebofski   Published: August 4, 2023    Updated: August 4, 2023

Fall means it’s time to make all the apple projects! Apple stamps are a process art preschool classic and a hit year after year.

Two paper plates sit next to one another, one with red paint and one with yellow paint. In each color of paint are apple stamps (an apple half with a popsicle sticking it in). Below the plates is a white piece of paper with red, yellow, and green apple stamps.
Table of Contents:
  1. Apple stamps are an adorable Fall process art activity
  2. Apple stamps fit the ultimate “process art rule”
  3. Materials
  4. Wait! Save your apple seeds
  5. How to make apple stamps
  6. A note about color mixing
  7. Kick apple stamps up a notch Make an apple tree
  8. FAQ
  9. Apple stamps are such a delightful process art activity

Apple stamps are an adorable Fall process art activity

In the preschool classroom, we make apple stamps every year.

Every single year.

It just feels right.

Related: Have you seen our GIANT 10-foot Apple Coloring Page Banner? Your kids can color apples, an apple pie, apple juice, a caramel apple, an apple tree…and more!

A hand holds three apple stamps each with different colored paint on the apple in red, yellow, and green. Behind the stamps is a paper with colorful apple prints.

Apple stamps fit the ultimate “process art rule”

In the world of process art, one rule defines it all.

Setting up an art project should never take you (the adult) more time than it does for the kids to actually do the project.

Apple stamps pass this test with flying colors as they’re beyond simple to prep and can last for hours of play, art, and fun.

Looking for more apple activities? These are “apple-solutely” adorable:

  • 🍎 Apple Salad Spinner Paintings – Friends Art Lab
  • 🍎 3-Dimensional Apple Tree Art – Teaching 2 and 3 Year Olds
  • 🍎 Our Favorite Apple Books for Preschoolers – Happily Ever Elephants
The materials for the project: three white plates with paint on each, large popsicle sticks, two fresh apples, and white paper.

Materials

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  • Apples cut in half
  • Kids’ paint 
  • Popsicle sticks
  • Plates
  • White paper
Two apples are cut in half. Two apple halves sit on a table, two are in an outstretched hand with a small collection of apple seeds.

Wait! Save your apple seeds

When you cut your apples in half, you will find your apple’s seeds.

Don’t throw them away! Instead, save them to make dancing apple seeds.

A white piece of paper has yellow apple shapes stamped onto it. A hand holds an apple stamp. A white paper plate with yellow paint sits above the paper.

How to make apple stamps

I almost always have apples in my refrigerator, and whenever we make apple stamps, I either buy the least expensive variety at the store or use whatever is the least fresh in the fridge.

First, begin by cutting an apple in half (for adults to do). 

Next, the apple halves flat side down, and push a popsicle stick into the rounded top of the apple to serve as a handle.

Next, add paint to plates (I used red, yellow, and green) and set one apple half into each paint color.

Last, invite your kids to stamp the apples on their papers!

Two paper plates sit next to one another in the background, one with red paint and one with yellow paint. An apple stamp sits in the middle of a paper with red, yellow, and green apple stamps.

A note about color mixing

Kids are inevitably going to mix paint colors when making apple stamps. 

Here are some strategies you can use to avoid overly muddy colors:

  • Strategy 1: Occasionally rinse off the apples so they’re “fresh” and blank for stamping.
  • Strategy 2: Add small amounts of paint to the plates at a time so they’re constantly refreshed.
  • Strategy 3: Invite the kids to follow the lightest to darkest color sequence. For example, here I might have them use yellow first, then red, then green.

And, friends, just remember that colors will get mixed no matter what you do, and it doesn’t impact the experience and beauty of the project. Instead, it’s a valuable learning opportunity for kids to see what happens when two colors touch.

You can take steps to avoid how mixed the colors get but don’t fret when it happens. 

Three photos. (1) A white piece of paper has the brown outline of a tree drawn. (2) A hand holds an apple stamp and stamps a green apple onto the tree outline. (3) The tree outline is covered in many apple stamps.

Kick apple stamps up a notch: Make an apple tree

A fun, optional twist to this project is to invite your child to draw or paint a tree shape (trunk + branches) for them to make their apple stamps.

Sometimes I do regular apple stamps one day and if the kids are really into it I’ll save the apples and the next day we’ll make apple trees, too!

FAQ

What age is this activity recommended for?

Any that can safely use the materials + enjoy the process.

What do children learn from stamping?

Stamping is a form of printmaking where kids identify shapes, complete designs, and use fine motor skills.

What type of apple works best for this?

Any! What’s fun is you can use any size, any variety, any color, etc.

A hand holds an apple stamp upside down above plates with paint on them.

Apple stamps are such a delightful process art activity

There’s something magical and just perfect about the simplest projects.

Save your papers as wrapping paper, cards, signs, or beautiful-just-as-they-are masterpieces.

Have fun!

Friends Art Lab Best Resources:

GIANT 10-Foot Coloring Banners 🎨
Directed Draw Sets for Kids ✍🏼
Learn About Virtual Preschool 🖥️
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Kristian

Hi, I’m Kristian!

I love all things early childhood. Having earned a master's degree in education, I love sharing my passion and knowledge both as a classroom preschool teacher and college professor. Friends Art Lab is my heart and I'm excited to share with you! LEARN MORE

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