Just a Little Dye Technique

This is a really easy technique that I should have shared at Easter, but it got lost in the shuffle. I'm writing about it now because of my card for the June CCC:

The ribbon I used is super cheap bias tape that's been opened up and ironed flat. The bias tape was originally white, but I dyed it using leftover Easter egg dyes. I did a whole bunch of these after we finished with the eggs, and it's really easy.

All you have to do is make the dye according to the packet instructions and then start to play.

Some things you can do:

• Straight-up dye job using just one color - the longer you let the ribbon soak, the darker it will become.
• Multi-dipping. (What I did above). You dip a portion of the ribbon into one color, then you dip the next couple of inches into another color, etc. You get a nice variegated look. (Make sure you squeeze out the excess water before going to the next dipping color.)
• Go for a tye-dye look by bringing rubber bands into the picture.

Squeeze out all the excess liquid when you're finished dying. You can either hang your ribbons up or lay them flat - just make sure you put down newspaper first. 

After the ribbon dries, I like to press it with a hot iron. I don't think this sets the dye - I just don't care for limp bias tape! For added body, use iron-on fabric stabilizer. (The card above uses just plain bias tape without stabilizer.)

Although Easter egg dye packets are not currently available, you can get them again next Easter (and if you wait until the after-Easter sales, you'll get them for a fraction of their already cheap price). You can also use Ritt dyes - which are available all year long at places like Walmart and JoAnn's. And if you really want to get radical, make your own all-natural dyes.

IMPORTANT: Use all-natural fabrics as dyes don't work well with synthetics. 100% Cotton, silk, wool and linen take dyes like buttah. (I'm not sure how well synthetic blends of these fabrics will take dyes, but you can give them a try to see how well they work.)

Hope you try it and have a good time!

CARD SUPPLIES:

Paper: Bazzill, ColorMates; Ink: Memento, ColorBox, Copic Markers, Hero Arts S5433 (background) ; Other: gems, bias tape; Tools: Fiskers border punch, corner rounder.

Comments

[Heather Maria]

Great, fun card Deborah! Love the colours and the pig is brilliant! Your ribbon turned out beautifully - thanks for all the info on how to dye ribbons!

[Alice W.]

that is a super duper cute card, Deborah!!! i LOVE that happy little piggy! thanks for the tips on dying ribbons!

[Jo]

I loved this card when I saw it yesterday Deborah! I have never dyed ribbon but might just give it a go. I love that piggy stamp - where did you get it, it's just outrageous???? Hugs, Jo x

[Sarah M]

Love it, Deborah! What a cute stamp and I love your ribbon!

[Agata]

You're a genius girl!!! Hopefully I still have some egg-dyes in my cupboard. The bias white ribbon is another story...

[donna mikasa]

Love your card...especially the sentiment! Thanks for the ribbon dyeing tips--must give it a try.

[Dawn T]

Wonderful Deborah. I wonder if reinkers for dye inks would work as well? - Dilute it a bit with water... might try that as we don't have egg dyes here in NZ and the other stuff makes too much dye ( and too expensive!!!)
Your card is super cute and the ribbon looks awesome