Edie's Room Makeover#6: Dyed Newspaper Eco-Art

wall art

July 8, 2011

Edie's Room Makeover#6: Dyed Newspaper Eco-Art

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Welcome back for the finishing touches on my room makeover. It's time to decorate my walls with some fun artwork in my new fave colors and, boy, am I LOVE'ing it!

Today's pièce de rèsistance comes from Renate, fellow Rit blogger and consummate eco-crusader. Always thinking how to reuse and upcycle everything within her grasp, she decided to dye up some of the ubiquitous newspaper that seem to stack up all around us to create this hip, typographic pop-art style wall art.

By just cutting out super large letters from dyed paper and displaying them in their own square picture frame, it's a fab, colorful way to shout out your life philosophy. I love the newspaper texture and how the pics and type become part of the overall design. So super!

Come see how it's done!

SUPPLIES:

Rit Liquid Dyes: Cherry Red, Fuchsia, Purple, Violet, Aquamarine, Cocoa Brown, Lemon Yellow
10+ Sheets of newspaper
4 12"x12" picture frames
Mod Podge matte glue/sealer
1 gallon rectangular plastic container
Measuring spoons
Large mixing spoon
Exacto knife
Cutting mat
1" Brush
Rod or dowel to hang drying paper
Rubber gloves
Plastic dropcloth

INSTRUCTIONS:

1) This method of dyeing paper is very easy but it is important to cover your work surface as this step can be a messy one. The dyeing was done in a bathtub but if you have an outdoor space that would be ideal.

2) Line the bathtub with plastic dropcloth to protect the tub from staining.

3) Wearing rubber gloves, shake, measure and mix the dye in a 1 gallon rectangular plastic container. Mix only one color at a time and dye one page at a time. You will need 2 sheets of newspaper in each color.

Here are the dye recipes:

For Green - 3Tbsp Lemon Yellow + 1½ Tbsp Aquamarine + 2 quarts hot water
For Phlox - 2 Tbsp Purple + 2 Tbsp Violet + 2 quarts hot water
For Honeysuckle - 2 Tbsp Fuchsia + 2 Tbsp Cherry Red + 2 quarts hot water
For Brown - 3 Tbsp Cocoa Brown + 1 Tbsp Lemon Yellow + 2 quarts hot water
For Aquamarine - 4 Tbsp Aquamarine + 2 quarts hot water

4) Prepare the newspaper by folding each sheet of newspaper in 2" accordian folds.

5) Submerge the folded paper into the hot dye bath. As you remove the paper from the dye bath, hold it from the top, letting it unfold and making sure the dye travels across the paper. You can redip if needed but be careful not to leave in dye bath too long as paper can tear if oversaturated. Hang on a rod or dowel over the plastic drop cloth to dry. No rinsing is necessary. Repeat with the other colors.

6) Once you have all your paper dyed, it's time to start cutting. Print out full page letters in a bold font. Working on a cutting mat, lay the first letter on your choice of dyed newspaper. Cut out just the outside perimeter of the letter. Next place the letter on a second color of dyed newspaper and cut out the interior details.

7) Align the letter layers and glue together using Mod Podge with a 1" brush, taking care to smooth out any wrinkles in the paper.

8) Cut a 12"x12" square in a third color of dyed newspaper. This is your background. Glue the laminated letter in the center of this square again using that all-versatile Mod Podge.

9) Then just frame it up!

EDIT NOTE: After making this project, some people have been asking about using dyed newspapers for other applications which is absolutely doable. Just make sure you seal the paper with Mod Podge or similar sealant. Artwork behind glass has very little chance of coming in contact with water but it's a different story if you're making something like upcycled jewelry or gift wrap. The sealant will also make the paper more durable.

You can choose your own style of bold letters and print out them out or try these letters if it's easier.