STONEROLLER COOPERATIVE 

Creativity Care ClassesHoly Ghost, Printed Form

A recycled materials printmaking workshop for ages 14+
A sample print, using the Tetra pac printing method


Shots from the October 25 Workshop at St. John’s Montclair




Join us for an afternoon of creative exploration, using recycled milk and soup cartons to create prints inspired by moments of holiness, love, and blessing. These paperboard cartons—commonly used for milk, broth, or juice—are surprisingly effective for printmaking. We’ll transform them into etching plates by cutting, peeling, and scoring their surfaces.

You’ll ink your plates with water-based inks and print them using a variety of presses—including an adapted pasta maker. We’ll work primarily in black ink, with the option to add color through chine collé, a collage technique that adds rich accents to your prints.

The workshop will explore two layers of meaning in your prints:
  • Printed areas to represent the tangible, physical reality of your chosen moment.
  • Blind embossing (uninked impressions) to evoke the presence of the Holy Spirit—what is unseen but deeply felt.
We’ll use X-Acto knives and other simple hand tools to shape and texture the plates, so participants must be comfortable handling sharp tools safely.

We’ll conclude by sharing and reflecting on our prints together.



  • Ages: 14 through adult
  • Duration: 3 hours, including cleanup
  • Materials: All provided—just bring an open heart and a willingness to create
Interested in scheduling a workshop? Reach out and let’s discuss details!

Holy Ghost, Printed Form Supply List (still fleshing this out)Everything is supplied by Stoneroller Coop

Paper prep
  • Printmaking paper 
    (Rives BFK or similar) cut to size
  • Large sealable Ziploc bags for storing damp paper
  • Wax paper or plastic sheets between damp sheets in the stack (to prevent sticking/tearing)
  • Spray bottles with clean water for misting paper during class
Plate materials
  • Cleaned, flattened milk and soup cartons (pre-cut for samples)
  • Extra whole cartons for participants to cut themselves
  • Cutting mats/boards (1 per student)
  • X-Acto knives with #11 blades (plus extras)
  • Scissors
  • Metal rulers
  • Paper for wiping
  • Magazines, catalogs as wipe stations
  • Tools for plat manipulation
  • Q-tips, paper towels and other wiping tools
  • Sandpaper
  • Gloves
  • Paper scrapers

    Inking stations
    • AKUA water-based intaglio ink (black, plus chine collé accent colors if desired)
    • Palette knives
    • Small inking surfaces (plexi, glass, or laminated boards)
    • Tarlatan cloths (cut from old clothes or purchased)
    • Newsprint or scrap paper for test pulls
    Press & printing tools
    • Small etching press (main station)
    • Pasta maker press (secondary)
    • Barens, wooden spoons, or rubbing tools
    • Registration sheets/guides
    Chine collé station
    • Glue sticks or archival glue for attaching decorative paper
    • Pre-cut stacks of thin decorative papers (rice paper, tissue, colored papers)
    • Lightweight paper + small watercolor sets for participants to paint their own chine collé colors
    • Brushes and water cups (for glue moving and if watercolor option is offered)
    • Drying space for painted papers before use (I have tabletop drying racks)
    General workshop
    • Aprons or disposable gloves (I do not have loads of aprons yet, will try to thrift some more)
    • Table coverings 
      (vinyl cloth or plastic)
    • Paper towels/rags
    • Cleaning supplies
    • Recycling bin for carton scraps
    • Hand wipes
    • Access to water

    The plate is simple a milk or stock carton, manipulated to create shapes and textures
    We will print in plack ink, adding color through strategic bits of colored paper, pressed to the paper at the time of printing


    We take the carton, carve and peel some elements, shape it overall, and add textures. Then we ink it up like an etching plate, add small bits of glued paper (chine collé) and create original compositions. We are also going to explore using blind embossed elements–running uninked pieces through the press to create a visible impression on the paper. 

    Holy Ghost, Printed Form – 3-hour Workshop Timeline


    Setup  (1 hour before start)
    • Arrange central printing hub & outer ring of tables (2–3 students per table, facing inward)
    • Prep presses, tools, and materials at each station
    • Moisten printmaking paper, store in damp packs with wax paper between sheets
    • Set chine collé paper station (colored papers, glue, optional watercolor sets)
    • Lay out sample plates/prints to inspire participants


    Workshop  0:00 – 0:15 | Welcome & Introduction
    • Brief intro, workshop purpose, and the Holy Ghost / printed form metaphor
    • Show finished samples (black ink + chine collé)
    • Explain printed areas vs. blind embossing as metaphor for seen/unseen
    • Safety talk: X-Acto knives, rulers, press etiquette
    0:15 – 0:35 | Demo: Plate Prep
    • Show how to cut and peel carton surface for line & texture
    • Demonstrate different mark effects
    • Demonstrate transferring designs to the plate
    • Students begin sample plate at their tables
    0:35 – 0:55 | Demo: Inking & Printing
    • Show inking process with AKUA ink, wiping, and registration on press
    • Print sample plate in front of group
    • Students ink & print their sample plates (come to hub in pairs)
    0:55 – 1:40 | Main Plate Creation
    • Students create larger/more detailed plate inspired by a “moment of holiness”
    • I circulate for feedback/troubleshooting
    • Optional: prep chine collé paper (cut or paint lightweight paper)
    1:40 – 2:15 | Inking & Printing Main Plates
    • Students bring plates to hub for printing
    • Dry prints laid out on display table
    • Encourage viewing of finished prints as they emerge
    2:15 – 2:45 | Second Prints / Embossing Experiments
    • Try blind embossing or chine collé accents on same/new plates
    • Continue printing as time allows
    2:45 – 3:00 | Group Reflection & Sharing
    • View and discuss prints at display table
    • Invite brief sharing of process and meaning
    • Thank participants, mention possible future workshops

    Cleanup] (Last 15 minutes of workshop)
    • Students sort tools/materials into labeled bins (cutting, rulers, inking, chine collé)
    • Sort “like with like” and stack on central cart
    • Any items needing deep cleaning go in bussing tray to take back to studio
    • Wipe tables, remove coverings, stack chairs

    Resources

    Engraving a character on Tetra Pak® and printing it on paper
    Stoneroller Cooperative
    Based in Maplewood, NJ. 
    Serving clients nationwide and beyond.

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