How to Dye Your Own Wooden Toys for Art and Play
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Do you love wooden toys but don’t have the budget for them? I’ve been there. When my children were small and we were just beginning to dabble in the world of loose parts and wooden toys, I made my own.
Today, I am going to blow your mind with how to dye your own beautiful, colorful materials for art and play. It is so SIMPLE and EASY.
WHAT YOU NEED:
Unfinished Wood Parts (selection linked in the shop section below)
Various wide-mouthed jars and bowls for dyeing in
Old rags or paper towels
Dropcloth to protect your space
How To:
Want to go from natural and unfinished to deep hued and enticing? SO. EASY.
Put your unfinished beads (or people, letters, etc.) in a shallow jar.
If you want vibrant, deep color, squirt liquid water color directly on to the wood. Shake it or mix it around until everything is covered.
If you want more muted tones, add warm water and a few squirts color to a jar or bowl and soak wood toy in the color for a few minutes.
Pour the colored beads onto a towel or rag and spread them out to dry.
Repeat with different colors in different jars.
THAT’S IT!! See the photos below for a step by step.
Once dry, the color will not rub off. If you want to, you can seal the materials with a natural wax like this one, but you absolutely do not need to do this step.
It is so simple and satisfying to make these beautiful materials and it is much easier on your wallet than purchasing premade wooden toys.
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I hope you enjoy this fun art project! ! If you want to keep up with more Workspace for Children content, follow along on Instagram by clicking HERE.
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