Merriest Wishes Card

Step 1:

- Protect work area with newspapers or plastic when dying.

- Pour a small amount of Teal and Petal Pink dye into separate bowls. Note: For deeper colors, cover the dye with plastic wrap and heat on high for 30 seconds in the microwave.

- Wearing latex gloves, dip one piece of string into Teal dye, making sure the string is saturated with color.

- Carefully lay the string onto a piece of watercolor paper, swirling the string into designs as you lay it down. Lay a piece of wax paper over the string and gently finger press to transfer the dye onto the watercolor paper. Repeat the process until desired affect is achieved. Repeat by dipping same string into Teal dye and creating a design on a second sheet of watercolor paper. (Petal Pink will be added to this sheet later.)

- Immerse the grosgrain ribbon in the Teal dye. Poke the ribbon or use a spoon to make sure the ribbon is completely colored.

- Drying in the microwave: Line bottom of microwave with paper towels. Place the dyed paper and ribbon in the microwave and set on high for 1-2 minutes. Drying in the microwave helps the dyes penetrate the fibers. Or, use a Heat Tool for drying.

- Remove paper and set aside. Gently rinse ribbon under cool running water (this takes away the stiffness and removes excess dye). Let dry. Note: Paper can also be rinsed to remove excess dye and dried again in the microwave, but colors may be lighter.

- Dip second piece of string into Petal Pink dye. Make one pink string design on sheet of watercolor paper. Repeat by dipping same string into Petal Pink dye and creating a design on one of the Teal designed sheets, combining the 2 colors.

- Pour excess dye back into bottle. Wipe out dye bowl with a paper towel (this dyed towel will later become the “blue snow” underneath the trees. Tip: For a lighter shade, rinse the paper towel in water then dry in microwave.

- Cut out three triangles (one from each sheet) to create the trees. Each tree should be slightly smaller than the other two. Edge tree shapes with gold marker. Cut snips of Teal ribbon and glue to bottom of each tree, as shown.

- Stamp “Merriest Wishes” sentiment in upper left corner using black ink pad.

- Tear thin strips of the Teal dyed paper towel and glue to bottom of card front.

- Glue the three trees to the card front, as shown.

- Affix 3 gemstones to each tree, as shown.