How to make dyes from natural source like plants

When we talk about dyes, we refer to a color which is produced especially by soaking in a coloring solution. Dyeing is a process where colors are imparted on a product, may be food, textiles or cosmetics or for any industrial application. Dye or Dyestuff is a colored substance which imparts more or less permanent color to other materials.

Many dyes are available and they are formed by different ways and used in different applications depending on the manufacturing process. Dyes can be formed by using artificial means like using chemicals, acids etc. However, dyes can also formed in a natural way. Though it might sound strange, but it is a fact that natural dyes can be found right in your own garden. Your own back yard is a great source for natural dyes. The various parts of a plant like flowers, roots, nuts can be used to get many colors. To use the plant material for dyeing, you should remember that the flowers should be in full bloom, the fruit should be ripe and the nut should be mature. So you should be careful while choosing the plant material. The plants bring out vibrant colors that create a palette that is compatible and blends with each other.

Colors derived from various plants

Shades of orange / yellow from Bloodroot, Onion skin, Carrot ...
Shades of brown from Wild plum root, Oak bark, Walnut, White Birch, Coffee Grinds. Tea, Beetroot...
Shade of pink from Strawberries, Cherries, Raspberries, Roses .
And many more

How to dye naturally?
When gathering plant stuff for dyeing, never gather more than 2/3 of a stand of anything in the wild.

To set the color on the fabric, you should place the fabric in a color fixative such as salt water (1 part salt to 16 parts water) or a vinegar bath (1 part vinegar to 4 parts water). Keep the fabric for about an hour and allow it to absorb the fixative mix. After removing it from fixative, wring it out thoroughly.

Make the dye solution by chopping the plant material into small pieces. Place it in a pot, add water in it, double the quantity of water to plant material. Next, boil the water with the plant material, then simmer for about an hour. Strain. Now add your wet fabric to be dyed. If you want a stronger shade, allow the fabric to soak in the dye overnight. This is called dye bath. Rinse the material and squeeze out excess. Rinse in cool water . The color of the fabric will be lighter when its dry.

Do note that Cotton, Silk, Muslin, and Wool work best for natural dyes and the lighter the fabric in color, the better is the dyeing. Always wash separately naturally dyed fabrics in cold water .

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Resurrect your favorite old record albums

A lot of us still remember the days of playing our favorite vinyl record albums on a turntable, and can recall the anticipation of bringing that album home from the record store to give it a spin and play our radio favorite again and again. Here is a classic way to resurrect one or two of those old record albums and show them off in an artsy way and protect them at the same time.

 

I was inspired to create this decorating project when I came across an album shaped hanging frame with a glass cover to protect the front of the album jacket. That of course is the part that holds the record itself. The frame was designed to display album covers on a wall as decorative art. Throughout the decades of modern music as we know it, specifically the time period from the psychedelic 60s to the present time, the design and artwork that would go in to an album jacket cover, and the more current CD covers, at times has resulted in phenomenal and historically significant art. So, when I discovered this frame designed to show off some of those more artsy album covers, I was immediately drawn to the idea and started to make a list of the old albums I had that might work well displayed on my walls.

 

Then, like that proverbial light bulb flashing over my head, I had a revolutionary idea that had me jumping through the ceiling with excitement. What if I took an old record album or two, great musically speaking, but lacking in artistic interpretation on the cover, and used that same frame I found to display the vinyl record itself. Of course you’re asking me, “What is so original about that idea?” Well, pull up a chair and I’ll show you how to make that dark vinyl disc a work of art.

 

First let us look at the supplies you will need for this attention drawing project:

• Square album frame with glass cover: (12 ¼” X 12 ¼”);
• An album, without the jacket cover
• Scrapbooking theme paper, theme wrapping paper, or any artistic paper that projects the message or theme of the album itself.
• Thicker cardboard cut in to the square dimensions of your frame (this should match the shape given above that is intended for an album cover to fit inside)
• Adhesive glue stick or artist spray adhesive  

To put this framed art project together, you are simply taking an old record album and showing it off on your wall in the same way that music artists are awarded once their recordings reach a certain level of sales. Whereas their successfully selling record albums are represented in gold or platinum, our framed records will be the actual albums themselves with a decorative theme border surrounding them.

 

Step 1: You may have a square piece of the thick cardboard included with your frame. However, if you do not, just cut a square piece of cardboard in the dimensions listed above from an ordinary cardboard box. Test fit the cardboard inside the frame before going any further. Once you have a fit, set your cardboard on a flat surface safe for cutting upon. Now, take your album of choice, and place it exactly in the center. A perfect way to find the true center is to first measure your square and make a pen mark at that point. Then, simply lay the album over the cardboard and line up the hole in the middle of the album with that pen mark. Bet the inventor of the record album never realized the center hole had a dual purpose, did he? Once you have marked your place, take a sharp utility blade and slowly score the cardboard along the circular edge of the album. Once complete, remove the album and cut completely through your scored cardboard to remove the inner circle. You are now ready for the next step.

 

Step 2: You will now want to take your scrapbooking paper or wrapping paper of choice, and cover your cardboard using an adhesive glue stick. Make sure the paper is flat against the cardboard without any bubbles, and then cut out the center circular portion where the album itself will be inserted. Once the paper is dry, place it inside the album frame, insert your album, and place the protective backing that came with the frame back in place.

 

 That is it! Your artsy framed old record album is ready to be hung on the wall and admired. Have fun with it.

 

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