Tips for Trying Tie Dye at Home

Tie dye has come back in a BIG way in 2020! If you’ve looked online or shopped at stores recently you’ve probably seen lots of tie dye merchandise to buy. Instead of buying it pre-made, why not get crafty and create your own tie-dye at home? Read below for some tips for creating awesome and unique tie dyed garments!

 

1 – Think about what you want to tie dye. Is it a t shirt or a pair of shorts? Either way make sure that the material is cotton so the dye will adhere to the fibers of your garment as best as possible. Also, choose a white garment so your colors will stand out.

 

2 – Purchase your fabric dyes individually or purchase a kit. Stores like Michaels, Target and Amazon are selling kits that come with everything you need. If you don’t use a kit, you’ll also need some squeeze bottles, plastic sheets, plastic wrap, plastic gloves and rubber bands.

 

3 – Bullseye? Sunburst? Polka Dots? Decide which tie dye pattern you want to try. Click here for a great list of patterns with detailed instructions on how to achieve each look. Fold or roll your garment and place your rubber bands accordingly.

 

4 – Set up your work station outdoors to limit the mess. Lay out your plastic sheet and get your fabric dyes in the squeeze bottles. Make sure to wear your plastic gloves so you don’t tie dye your hands! (if you do get dye on your hands you can mix baking soda and water together to create a paste. Scrub it on your skin and wash away with soap and water.)

 

5 – Have fun and unleash your creativity! Choose fun color patterns and don’t be afraid to be bold. You won’t know how the garments will look until they’ve dried and been washed.

 

6 – When your garments are done wrap them in plastic wrap and let them dry overnight. When they’re ready to be unwrapped, wash them outdoors with a hose or in a laundry sink to remove the excess dye. After you’ve washed them throw them into the washing machine (without any other clothes) for a quick rinse and then dry.

 

7 – Enjoy your new tie dyed creations! Make sure to wash them separately for the first few washes to be sure the dye doesn’t bleed onto other clothes.

5 DIY Valentine’s Day Decorating Ideas

Love is in the air!

Are you hosting a Valentine’s Day party or dinner at your place this weekend? You don’t need to break the bank to decorate with rose petals. Check out these fun and easy DIY projects that will make your home look decked out for Valentine’s Day!

 

1 – Pucker Up Balloons – All you need is red lipstick and some white balloons for this one!

photo courtesy of studiodiy.com

 

2 – Candy Heart Garland –  Grab some construction paper and some baking twine to create this garland the kids are sure to love!

photo courtesy of Tell Love and Party

 

3 – Candy Heart Bouquet – The vase of water is hidden underneath a pile of conversation hearts in this cute Valentine’s centerpiece!

photo courtesy of Smart School House

 

4 – Heart Branch Tree – Some twigs from the yard, twine, paper and a little spray paint and you can create this adorable heart branch tree for your Valentine’s party.

photo courtesy of The House That Lars Built

 

5 – Heart Balloon Backdrop – If you’re an Instagram lover, this balloon heart will make the perfect background for your Valentine photos!

photo courtesy of The House That Lars Built

5 Tips for Wrapping Holiday Gifts

It’s time to pull out the scissors, tape and ribbon and start wrapping those holiday gifts! If you’re feeling overwhelmed or uninspired, read these tips before you start cutting that wrapping paper!

1.If you prefer using gift bags over wrapping with paper, make sure you have enough. Count the items you have and measure their sizes before heading to the store to purchase your bags. Don’t forget the tissue paper!

via boxandwrap.com

2. Now is a good time to create a gift wrapping storage solution if you haven’t already. Plastic bins or even garment bags make for great storage. Put your paper, scissors, tape, tags, ribbon and a pen in the bin or bag so you know where everything is.

via theorganizedmom.com

3. Rather than buy a bunch of different wrapping paper patterns, try using brown craft paper to wrap your gifts. Add color and patterns by choosing different colored ribbons to your brown packages.

via eighteen25.com

4. Try adding some unique additions to your packages like bells or greens. Tie them onto your ribbon for a fancy and impressive touch on your packages.

via makeanddocrew.com

5. If you purchased wrapping paper on rolls, put empty toilet paper or paper towel roll around your roll to avoid paper rolling open and getting ripped.

via thecheesethief.com