Things to Make - Tissue Paper Tie-Dye

For the last few months I've been saving the tissue-paper wrapping that comes in boxes (Amazon uses it frequently), I didn't really have a plan for what to do with it, it just seemed worthy of keeping. Well, I finally found the perfect rainy day project for using it on this site - tissue paper tie-dye. The results of this project were quite beautiful, as evidenced by the fact that the girls hung their creations all over the walls of their room.

Here's the scoop: You'll need - tissue paper, rubber bands, and liquid watercolors or food coloring.

1. Cut the tissue paper into large rectangles (about 16x20 inches).

2. Accordion fold the paper back and forth into one long rectangle.

3. Then fold the bottom right corner to the left edge to make a triangle. Continue turning and pressing until you have one large triangle.

4. Place rubber bands on the paper triangle.

5. Dip in different colors of food coloring or liquid watercolors

6. We then patted the triangle-paper down with paper towels to get rid of some of the excess liquid.

7. CAREFULLY unwrap. This would probably work best if you waited until the paper was dry, but we were too impatient. Post by Darcy : bedtimemonsters.blogspot.com

Comments

[Anna]

what a cute tutorial. I bet this would work really well with fabrics also if you used a different kind of dye. It makes a great pattern!

[Jan]

Thanks for sharing this! I'm thinking to use the technique on lightweight muslin or even gauze for scarves. And it would be fun to create custom holiday tissue paper for gifts.

[Miss M. Turner]

The results are certainly pretty! Not sure what I'd use it for...maybe decoupage would be neat with it!

[Darcy]

This is Darcy, thanks everyone for the comments - if you find a permanent dye that works, I'd love to hear about it, so please let me know!!

[sara/creativejewishmom]

I found a piece of tissue paper at my mom's house that I'd done as a kid, and it was killing me that I couldn't remember how to do it! And here it is! Thanks so much, can't wait to do it with my kids.
A great permanent dye choice would be dye that one makes by placing the insides of spent markers in alcohol for a day or so. I also just saw a tutorial that uses water instead of alcohol, but don't think that would be as permanent.

[michele]

This is a nice rainy day activity for the kids.

[Karen hornsten]

What lovely kusudama flowers these would make when cut into squares and folded into flowers. Hhhhmmm!!!! Thanks for the great photo tutorial, darling with child's perspective.

[Nicole Murray]

Would a salt water soak work to seal the dye onto fabric?? Maybe ??

[Shari]

On step 3 do you fold the triangle accordion style back and forth or the same direction?

[writing job]

Great scarf! And the best thing about it that even a child is able to make it

[SUSIE]

I TOTALLY LOVE THIS...I'M GOING TO TRY THIS TODAY WITH MY T-SHIRT...THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE INFO...

[Susie @Bowdabra]

Hi! I know that this is an older craft but I've seen it going around Pinterest like crazy the past few days. We would LOVE for you to come link it up in our Crafty Showcase! We love old and new post and even ETSY/Craft Business links!

Thanks for posting this. I've added it to my daughter's DIY links. She wants to make it.

Susie @Bowdabra
http://bowdabrablog.com/2012/06/30/saturday-showcase-craft-projects-8/#

[Hemlata @ indiamarks.com]

Great idea!I would love to see photos of the all steps, especially the folded tissue paper. Thanks for the great tutorial

[Kathleen]

Is the paper still sturdy enough to use for stuffing a gift bag, or is it too delicate after the soaking?

[Stacy Firks]

Oooh, linking your lovely tutorial! http://www.recreationsproject.wordpress.com