Home Tie and Dyeing has been around for the longest time. Its amazing to see the transformation of materials with the use of this technique. Well, most of the time this method produces different and interesting results, there are basic procedures one should follow for the best results. Tie and dye is playing with patterns and colours. Doing it with a certain technique can produce beautiful artwork.

What kind of a paper is needed for Tie and Dye:

Any paper which are absorbent. The beauty of Tie and Dye can be achieved only if the paper absorbs colour well. Depending on your design more or less colour can be added. Some papers like Tissue paper, Baking paper, paper towels. Making it on a very professional level handmade paper also absorbs colour quite well with bright results.

Ways to use Tie and Dye paper:

1. Gift wraps – Wrap up the gift box or use it as a wrapping tissue paper. Tie and dye gift wraps leave an incredible effect.
2. Apply it on coaster using some Mod Podge. Brighten your basic coasters with tie and dye prints and some Modge.
3. Add creative lettering and use it as a photo frame for a photo wall. Bring out your artist side.

I have loved Tie and Dye since I was a kid, my sister would make beautiful silk tops from handmade Tie and Dye effects. Everytime we would dip a piece of cloth into different buckets of colour I would be awestruck with the patterns it would form naturally. The colours would make their own artwork and it was a complete treat for my eyes.

After trying tie and dye on paper a lot of times, today I will be sharing all the different ways on How to make Tie and dye on paper with their exact proportions. Again, this technique is so much on trial and error that sometimes the results will look like Picasso and the other times like Poop. 😉

For more inspirations on handmade paper check How to make Marbled paper? post we shared a few days ago. Don’t forget to see our creative gift wrap ideas using brown paper for this festive season.

Step 1:

Pick your materials

1. Food colouring
2. Sandwich paper / Tissue paper
3. Water
4. Dropper

Step 2 :

Select your colours and take about few drops of each and add them separately in each container. If you are working on a few sheets of paper, 3 to 4 droplets of colouring is enough. For larger quantities more food colouring is needed.

Step 3:

Add few droplets of water to the food colouring. This ratio will give the best results. Look below to see the tie and dye versions with use of more water or no water. For intense colours add a little more drops then the lighter colours.

Step 4:

Create pattern with folding paper and keep them ready. Here I have folded then alternately. Different patterns :

1. Spiral

Starting in the middle of the paper twist it into a spiral shape. Use 3 to 4 rubber bands around the paper to create about 6 to 8 slices of equal size.Add different colours to each slice and do it on both sides.

2. Crumple.

Starting from one side Scrunch up the paper. Messier the better. Now add colour to the paper. Make sure not to add too much colour, it may lose the purpose of Tie and dye technique in the process.

3. Bullseye

Pick a centre and use a chickpea, coin or anything circular and tie and rubber band around it. Tie your rubber bands at equal distance and drip some colour on each band.

4. Patterns

Fold your paper into different patterns and dip it into colour.

Step 5:

Dip the folded paper into the colouring. Let it absorb the colour for a few minutes. You can dip the other side into another colour.

Step 6:

Let it dry for 24 hours. After it is completely dried open the folds of the paper with light hands. If the paper is smaller in size you will see the colour being absorbed by the paper deep, When the paper is of bigger size use more colour for it to reach the inside of the paper pattern.

Gorgeous Tie and Dye patterns on paper in 10 minutes. Even kids can participate in this art activity.

Look at the below Tie and dye patterns I achieved using different proportions on colour and water.

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Tie and Dye paper add value to normal gift wraps and takes it a level up. Adding monograms personalizes the whole gifting experience. Any queries related to “How to make Tie and Dye paper” feel free to leave it in your comments and I will be happy to help.