Dyed Newspaper Eco-Art

by Renate Added 9 mos ago

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Just cut out super large letters from dyed recycled newspaper and you have a bold statement for your walls. It says "I ♡ the Earth" by upcycling yesterdays bad news into a positive message.

Step 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.

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

- 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

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

Step 2:

- 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.

Step 3:

- 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.

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

- 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.

- Then just frame it up!

Step 4:

Some template letters, if you like!

Step 5:

Step 6:

I used a star punch on the inner "V" to jazz up this one a bit.

Step 7:

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Details

Category:Home Decor Odds and Ends Paper Crafts

Origin:The Rit Team

Difficulty:Easy

Techniques:Dyeing Paper

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Materials Used

- 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

Primary links

Dyed Newspaper Eco-Art