It felt like a science experiment in my kitchen yesterday.
I tested out all the different tea bags and made lots of lovely crinkly seam binding.
I used Chalk White Seam Binding
I love all the shades. I crinkled it up and dried it in the oven.
I dunked the tags in the leftover tea. Next time I need a colour I will know how to get it.
I couldn't stop there so I dunked and splattered some white art paper with the various solutions of tea and coffee and dried it in the oven. When it is dried in the oven it creates a fabulous texture, and the darker papers that were dunked in coffee look like leather.
Then I played with some of my mists and sprays. I dried them in the oven too. I cant tell you the exact recipe for these colours. They were a little bit of this and that. I used Dylusions melted chocolate, Lindys Boogie Boogie Gold, Perfect Pearls heirloom gold, and Java walnut ink - I will probably never be able to recreate the exact colours again!
If you want to dye your own ribbon or paper , it is very easy.
Boil the jug.
Pre heat the oven to a moderate heat.
In separate bowls steep various tea bags.
I used instant coffee for the above picture.
Let everything soak until you get the colour you want. The more teabags (or coffee) the richer the colour.
When I was happy with the colour I lightly scrunched it in my hand and dried it on an oven tray.
I kept a close eye on the oven. Do not leave it unattended.
The tags were dunked in the solution while the seam binding was drying and then into the oven for a few minutes.
The paper was splattered or soaked in the solutions and then also dried in a single layer in the oven.
Take extreme care - the paper gets very hot and do not get distracted while the paper is in the oven.
Let me know if you have any questions - next time I will take pictures of the process and the state of the kitchen after!!
I made enough to share. If you would like the above seam binding leave me a comment below and I will send it out to someone lovely in the next two weeks!
If you have any other techniques or tips for dyeing paper and ribbon I would love to hear them!!
Have fun playing
xx Michelle
