DIY Dip-Dyed Stationery

Oct 19

Written By

whitney hussong

When I send handwritten letters to loved ones, I don’t just want my words to be the only thing expressing what is in my heart. I also wish for the design of my stationery to help convey my deep affection for the person by showing them I took a little more effort with them in mind. Sometimes designs are just small doodles that fill the pages with something other than words. While other times I get into adding lots of embellishments for a more decorative-looking letter.

Dip dying paper is one of my favorite ways of making do-it-yourself stationery. It is both simple to do and takes only a few supplies. It is also easy to create a professional-looking design using this technique. One can easily get caught up in attempting different patterns when using this technique, which in part, is what makes it so fun.

Dip dying is a simple process of taking your chosen medium, such as paper, fabric, wood, ceramic, hair, etc., and dipping it into a dye to make a colorful design. This dip-dyed effect can be achieved with one color or multiple colors. It is also a great project for little kids to join in on the fun!

Needed Supplies:

Watercolor Paper
Rit Dye
Warm Water
Container
Stirrer
Drying rack or line
Apron, old clothes, and table protection

Note: Although this is not an overly messy project, it is good to know that the dye might cause your tools or clothes to become stained. As a result, consider using tools and wearing clothes you don’t mind possibly getting stained. Also, consider covering your table or countertops to protect them from drips or spills.

The Basic Process:

1. Cut the Paper - Cut your paper to your preferred size. There is no specific size that needs to be used for this project. When considering your paper size, be sure that your container with the dye is large enough to allow you to dip your paper into it.

2. Prepare the Dye - Mix the water and dye in your container. Play around with how much water-to-dye ratio you need to create your desired color. The more colorant you use, the darker the shade will come out. If you want a lighter color, add more water. I have discovered two cups of warm water to half a packet of dye tends to be a good balance.

3. Dip the Paper - Once you have the dye to the desired shade, you can start dipping your paper into the water. This is where all the fun and creativity take place. You don’t have to follow any specific rules. Experiment with how long you keep the paper in the water, where you dip it, or even how many colors you use. It is all up to you!

Some tips/ideas to get you started:

The longer you hold the paper in the water, the darker your color will get.
You can dip the paper in a straight line. You can also submerge the stationery further into the water in certain areas for more variety in design and color.
You can create an ombre design by dipping the paper in the water at different depths. Once your stationery has dried, try dunking it again to the depth of your darkest color to darken it even more.

4. Let the Paper Dry - Once you are done dipping your paper, place it on a drying rack or pin it to a clothesline to let it dry. After it completely dries, you are ready to write your love letter. It is that easy!

Get creative with your colors. Rit Dye offers an extensive selection of colors. They also provide a variety of color recipes on their website that can assist you with creating different colors if you are looking for something specific.

With a pack of 30 pages of watercolor paper (9.5 by 12 inches) and one package of dye, I usually can make up to 60 cards by cutting the paper in half horizontally. Given what I paid for the pad ($8.00) and what I paid for the dye ($2.00), 60 cards come out to be a little less than $.17 per card. In addition, I still have half a packet of dye left to do more. What a deal!

Have fun experimenting with multiple colors, a variety of paper sizes, and different dipping techniques. Don’t just stop at stationery; use dip-dyeing to make bookmarks, place cards, gift tags, recipe cards, and so much more. This simple and cost-efficient do-it-yourself project has endless possibilities. Most of all, just have fun with it!