By: Dianne Giancola

Materials Needed:

• RIT Powdered Dye: Sunshine Orange, Purple, Golden Yellow, Kelly Green
• Unfinished wood picture frame
• Unfinished small wood pieces: palm tree, butterfly, teardrops (large and small), and small circle
• Glass measuring cups, measuring spoons, and metal spoon
• Rubber gloves
• Fine sandpaper (#220) and steel wool
• Tack cloth
• Tacky glue
• Clear polyurethane
• Brushes: 1" foam, 1" chip, artist brush
• Painter's tape
• Plastic wrap
• Small cloth, paper towels
• Plastic drop cloth
• Optional: Jelly jars for storing dyes

Instructions:

1. Cover work surface with a plastic drop cloth.
   
   
2. Remove glass from picture frame and sand wood lightly. Remove dust with tack cloth. Repeat for small wood pieces.
   
   
3. Powdered Dye Preparation: When ready to use a dye color, pour dye into a glass measuring cup and add 2 cups of boiling water or very hot tap water. Stir until dye is dissolved.
   
   Note: When staining wood, keep dye hot for better absorption. Dyes can be stored in jelly jars and reused several times. Stored dyes must be reheated in the microwave before use. Cover with plastic wrap and heat on high for 2 minutes or until steam is created.
   
   
4. Prepare Sunshine Orange dye and brush on front and back of picture frame.
   
   
5. Prepare Golden Yellow dye. Dip teardrops and small circle into dye until desired color is achieved. Remove and allow to dry.
   
   
6. To create Chartreuse color for palm tree: measure 1 cup of previously prepared Golden Yellow dye into a glass container. Prepare Kelly Green dye in separate measuring cup. Measure
   1 tablespoon Kelly Green and add to Golden Yellow dye. Mix together. Dip palm tree into dye to stain wood. Leave for several minutes until desired color is achieved. Remove and allow to dry.
   
   
7. Prepare Purple dye. Dip butterfly into dye until desired color is achieved. Remove and allow to dry.
   
   
8. Glue wood pieces into picture frame. Allow to dry.
   
   
9. To seal the dye-stained wood, apply one or two coats of polyurethane. Rub lightly with steel wool between coats.
   
   Please see our Frequently Asked Questions for additional dyeing advice.