Dyeing Paper

My next "Junk Journal" will be full of color so in order for that to happen, I needed to make some colored papers.  I bought some Kool-Aid packages (non-toxic!) and searched the Internet to find out how other paper artists were using this product.

Here's the recipe I used:  2 packets Cool-Aid, 1 cup water, 1 cup vinegar.

The papers turned out to be more pink than purple so next time, I will add one more packet of grape Kool-Aid to the mix to see if that gives me a deeper color.  But I liked the results on both copy paper as well as card stock.

I made the circles in the card stock by simply dripping the dye onto the papers from my gloved hand after the papers had a chance to dry a bit.

I got the crinkled paper by dipping the copy paper into the dye and then scrunching it up into a ball.  Then I laid it out flat onto some newspapers to dry.

This was fun, economical, quick and easy, non-toxic, and made my studio smell like Kool-Aid!  A good change from coffee and tea dyeing.