Greeting Card Project: Tie Dye Peace Symbol

Greeting Card Designed by Ann Rismiller

What you need

• card stock - black - 10" x 7" folded to make a 5" x 7" card blank
• mulberry paper - white or fairly light-toned and fairly thick - 7" x 7"
• water-based dye inks or dye-based re-inkers - blue, yellow, red
• several pages of newspaper
• rubber gloves
• string - one yard
• spritzer bottle with water
• peace symbol stamp and black ink
• clear matte acrylic spray
• spray adhesive or glue stick
• metal ruler or straight edge

How to do it

Step 1

Using the spritzer, spray water on the 7" x 7" mulberry paper. Get it fully wet but not dripping. Pinch the center of the paper at twist as if creating a pinwheel shape. Continue twisting until the paper is in a compact round shape. Refer to the 4 photos below.

Step 2

Wrap the string around the roll of mulberry paper in all directions and tie in a knot.

Step 3

This step is messy - wear rubber gloves and work on a surface that won't be ruined by the ink. We used about 10 layers of newspaper.
3a - With the first color of ink, saturate 1/3 of the roll. Turn the roll over and saturate the same 1/3 from the other side to ensure the ink penetrates from one side to the other.
3b - Using the second color, use the method in step 3a to ink another 1/3 of the roll.
3c - And finally, apply the third color in the same manner to the final third. Set aside to dry for about 30 - 60 minutes.

Step 4

Untie the roll and lay it out flat. Extra time will likely be necessary to allow to dry completely. Apply clear matte acrylic spray. Let dry.

Step 5

You're going to tear out a 4 1/4" x 6" rectangle from the tie dyed paper, so choose the area of the paper that most appeals to you. Using a metal ruler or straight edge, tear on the desired line as shown in the photo.

Step 6

Using either spray adhesive or glue stick, glue the 4 1/4" x 6" tie dyed paper to the front of the card blank.

Step 7

Using black ink, stamp the peace symbol as shown in the photo.