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Friday, September 18, 2015

Tie Dye Trio!






































I waited for the perfect day - one breezy, warm and sunny - to experience this happy craft with my grandkids. Everybody's fascinated with this unpredictable art, even grandmas like me who will dye (but probably never wear!) a shirt exploding with vivid tied and dyed neon color. I just love the twisting and tying and waiting in wonder to see what we've got after fabric has dried and anxious fingers tug and pull to open bands, revealing joyful, one-of-a-kind splashes of excitement.

My high school students looked forward to this ancient art every year, even though I led them through a maze of authenticity. We experimented with vegetable dyes alongside a selection of bottled colors. The results were spectacular and well worth departure from the gimmicky kit I'm using today. It's different working with young kids, though. They don't want to wait, dipping repeatedly for saturation, or bothering to come back a second or third day for additional colors.

I carefully considered the merits of many commercial kits before deciding on this one. I have no doubt that everything on the shelves at the three major craft stores would work, but I found my favorite locally at Hobby Lobby alone, or here on page 13. Some sets called for an eight hour wait before opening the bands. Sorry! We're seven and five years old over here. Do we look like we want to wait for anything (except bedtime)? Other kits required the traditional water bucket dye and rinse bath. Yeah right. That too. No thank you! I settled on this product mainly because the dye is sprayed directly on fabric, allowing maximum control. No rinsing needed. Air dry, open, then set with a short spin in a hot clothes dryer. Perfect!



This isn't a sponsored post. I buy up a storm at the stores I like and then rant about exactly what I think of my purchases. Just ask grandpa if you don't believe me!













Now back to the art studio!

Grandma tightly twisted rubber bands on each shirt, but the kids did the rest. Shirts dried in an hour. Once they were opened and admired, it was time to twist and spray again. This product allows kids to just freestyle it - bold and bright splashes of everything!










I probably should have titled this post "Tie Dye Trio and a Half." We also made a pint size t-shirt for Marshall, Sae's normally friendly little pet. My fingers are "dying" to type that the little guy was "purr-fectly" happy with his stylin' new look, but that would be a departure from what really happened when we pulled it over his furry little head!




"Sorry, humans. Totally. Not. Amused."

26 comments:

  1. Hello, I just love your grand in their cute tie-dyed shirts. They are adorable and I am sure they loved making their own shirts too. Now, you are brave to be pulling one of those shirts over that cute kitties head. You are the best grandmother! Wonderful post! Happy Friday, have a great weekend!

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  2. I almost choked on my breakfast pancake when I got to the cat! Totally unexpected and hilarious!!!

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  3. Love the tie dye look, sure your grandkids do too...their faces give that away.

    I would include the cat as a whole, not a half, then you cold title the post

    "Tie Dye Four"

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  4. What a fun project for the grandkids. I remember making tie-dye t-shirts in my youth!
    I can just imagine your cat wouldn't be impressed with his t-shirt even though it looks so cute on him!

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  5. Oh my! the cat picture left me in hysterics! Looks like you are one cool Grandma to do this with the kids.

    Thanks for sharing on the #HomeMattersParty. I hope you will join us next week too.

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  6. Marshall looks pissed! Looks just like Twiggy or Twursula would look if I tried such an outrageous thing. Cats have huge egos and do not like being made to look foolish!

    Now the kids on the other hand looks amazing and I can't believe how quickly they are growing.

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  7. Those shirts came out awesome!!!! Love them. Pinned.

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  8. How cute!! They loved doing this for sure. I remember doing this growing up and some of my grandchildren have done it. You have it organized the best way!!!

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  9. I always love having craft ideas for my 3 oldest granddaughters and these shirts are so cute! Even on the cat :)
    Thanks for passing along this idea.

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  10. ADORABLE ADORABLE....I will put this on the list of things to do after this post with the grandkids. Blessings, Laurie

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  11. CUTISIMOS!! And that includes the cat too. ; ) Here from the GRAND SOCIAL and will keep that product in mind for my next visit with The Grands. BB2U

    p.s. totally agree with your buy and the why. especially with children under 10.

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  12. Cute shirts, and what a joyously fun project. Love the results - even the one for kitty.

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  13. hehehe....I love the cat, my friend :)

    It looks like the kiddos had a blast creating their shirts. I think my son and I need to make some of these :) Thanks for sharing with Roses of Inspiration. Enjoy your week!

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  14. Hahaha, poor Marshall. He looks so cute. Tie dying sure has become easier than it was when I was a kid. Your grandchildren looked like they were having a ball - I think they would have especially liked spraying the colour on. My oldest is four so I think I'll wait a year or so to do this with her.:)

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  15. Ah, kids love tie dye! Sweet pics. We use tie dye for a craft every VBS. Love the cat photo. So funny! Also just noticed the Grand award. Congratulations!

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  16. What a delightful blog post! Love unpredictable art myself! The grandkiddies are so cute and LOL at the kittie wearing a tie-dye T-shirt too! They all look fab - so bright and colourful!

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  17. Oh how fun! And oh my, my new grandcat would totally agree with your cute kitty! But how adorable he looks anyway. :)

    Tie dye has been on my brain this month too - but in my case it was tie dyed FLOWERS - which actually could be another fun project for you and your grandkids! :) I put the link to my Pinterest board - KayeSwainRE - with a video someone made showing how in the link :) Enjoy!

    Have a blessed and beautiful week,
    Kaye

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  18. Oh how this looks like fun- even for someone of my age! My granddaughter is 3. We will certainly be doing this. Great idea- thank you!

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  19. Ha - totally love the look Marshall's face! Bet that shirt would be more appreciated on a stuffed animal friend, lol!

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  20. Great project! Thank you for sharing with the Clever Chicks Blog Hop! I hope you’ll join us again next week!

    Cheers,
    Kathy Shea Mormino
    The Chicken Chick
    http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com

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  21. Marshall looks super (but also super annoyed!). Great fun for the kids, and it looks like it was THE perfect day for outdoor crafting. Love the pics or your adorable bunch, as always.

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  22. You are always so creative. Your grandkids are the luckiest!!! thank you so much for sharing on our bowdabra Saturday crafty showcase!

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  23. I've always loved tie dyed shirts but besides all the fun you had, it is really the three beautiful children in the first photo smiling and appreciating having a cousin that really made me smile. And, the cat - well, the cat looks totally annoyed and that caused a real chuckle from me while I thought about you getting that shirt on. :-)

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  24. Thank you so much for sharing this at my Grandma Ideas Sharing Time link party. The pictures of the shirts (and your darling grandkids) turned out great. I've used that dye before and have really liked it! Too bad the cat didn't like his shirt! :-)

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  25. EVERYTHING you do shInes shines shines J! one time i had a party for the luds and they made tie dye shirts for a groovy peace party and most of them came out black! Lol :>O

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