Tye dye is like the fashion trend that always seems to stay in style. And you don’t have to spend a fortune. Just grab a white t-shirt and try it out. You’ll be surprised how easy it is. Here’s five easy and awesome tye dye t-shirt techniques that you and your kids can do at home today.

I’ve always been intimidated by tye dye projects as if they were too difficult. But when my oldest wanted to do a tye dye t-shirt, I figured let’s give it a try. We had a lot of fun and I realized that it’s super easy! Here’s five different techniques that you can use.

Gather your tye dye t-shirt supplies

The easiest way to start your first tye dye project is to just purchase a kit online. It gives you all of the instructions and it makes it super easy. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Fashion Tie Dye Kit (includes dispensers with dye, rubber bands, gloves and instructions)
• White cotton t-shirts (make sure you buy them one size too big because they will shrink in the wash)
• Garbage bags
• Water

Technique #1: Ombre

This is the easiest technique and my favorite. Choose one dye color of your choice and apply a liberal amount on the upper 1/3 of the t-shirt. Make sure there is no white showing. Then, dilute the dye with water and apply more dye on the middle 1/3 of the t-shirt. Finally, leave the bottom 1/3 of the t-shirt white.

Technique #2: Crumple

Crumple is exactly what the name implies. Just crumple the shirt up by starting with a pinch in the middle and slowly add more pinches until it’s a ball. Then add an combination of colors sporadically over the entire t-shirt. Add as little or as much as you want.

Technique #3: Sponging

Fill one end of a clean household sponge with your chosen dye color. Wipe the sponge across the t-shirt or use whatever pattern you would like. Be generous with the dye because it will turn out very light-colored when it dries if you don’t use enough. Dip the other end of the sponge with another color and apply another design if desired.

Technique #4:

Locate on your t-shirt where you want sunbursts. Then, pinch each area and bind with a rubber band. Soak the tip of fabric above the rubber band with dye. Continue this with the other areas. Then soak the remaining areas of the t-shirt with as little or as much dye as you would like with the color of your choosing.

Technique #5: Rainbow swirls

Decide where you want your rainbow swirl to be on the t-shirt. Then pinch the fabric and begin twisting into a flat spiral. You should end up with a clump-like flat ball. Bind it together with three rubber bands creating six wedge shapes. Apply a different color on eat wedge defined by the rubber bands. Be sure to apply the dye deep into the folds.

What other tye dye t-shirt techniques do you recommend? Leave your comments below.

Related link: DIY popsicle stick catapult

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If you’ve ever painted rocks with your kids, you know how much they love it. But don’t stop there! Check out these fun and creative ways to get started today.

My boys love crafting. That’s why painting rocks is such an easy and inexpensive ways to spend time together. You’ll need a few supplies to get started (listed below). Then choose one of the following activities and go to town!

• Rocks for painting
• Paint marker pens
• Sealant

#1: Tic-tac-toe painted rocks

#2: Picture magnets

#3: Cactus Pet Rocks

#4: Garden Markers

#5: Hide and seek rock game

You can buy Hide and Seek Rock Painting Kits online that include everything you need to get started. Or just try it at home on your own.

#6: Counting made fun

#7: Story stones

#8: Alphabet Rocks

#9: Pocket Worry Stones

#10: Stacking stones

#11: Glow-in-the-dark Monster Rocks

I hope you like these ideas for painted rocks. Do you have any other ideas? Leave your comments below.

Related link: 3 awesome crafts using polymer clay

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We finally decided to jump on the slime bandwagon. After discovering this super easy three-ingredient slime (glue, contact solution and baking soda) we were sold! It’s so easy, fun and inexpensive. So here’s how you can make some too.

The thing about slime is that it’s fun for kids and adults alike. Everyone’s a winner. Plus, three-ingredient slime makes this craft a snap. It almost sounded too good to be true. Then we tried it and we were hooked.

Gather three-ingredient slime supplies

Slime is so popular nowadays that sometimes you can find all the ingredients on the end caps in grocery stores. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Contact solution or saline solution (just make sure it contains boric acid)
• Baking soda
• Elmer’s clear glue, white glue, glitter glue multi-pack

You don’t have to go crazy on the contact solution or the baking soda. A little bit goes a long way. I bought the gallon-size glue however so we can do a lot more slime crafts down the road. Or if you want to take the easy route, just buy one of Elmer’s Celebration Slime Kits that includes everything you need.

Just dump and mix

Next, just add 1/2 cup of glue, 1 tablespoon of contact solution and one teaspoon of baking soda into a bowl. Mix slowly with a spoon. Then, dig in there with your hands. At first it will be really sticky but as the ingredients combine, it forms the perfect slime. Feel free to add more contact solution if it’s too sticky.

You can add lots different ingredients to make your three-ingredient slime just your taste. Here’s a few options:

• Glitter
• Food coloring
• Foam balls
• Slime ad-ins kit

Just a word of caution. Slime is pretty darn messy. It can ruin clothes and carpet. So, keep an eye on your little whipper snappers. They might leave their slime on the carpet or in their pocket. You can also buy some pretty sweet slime jars that will keep all of your slime locked away nice and safe.

Check out these other fun slime ideas

I couldn’t believe all of the creative things you can do with slime. Here’s just a few for you to pick from:

• 25 Ooey gooey slime recipes
• 12 Edible Slime Recipes
• 20 Christmas Slime Recipes

What other slime ideas do you have? Leave them in the comments below. If you want more easy craft ideas, check out my “Crafts for Kids” idea list.

Related link: Kids paper plate string art for every holiday

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What is diamond art?  Diamond art is so easy and fun, anyone can do it. I was hesitant myself, but once I started I was addicted. Here’s a quick guide to get started on this fun hobby.

What is Diamond Art?

It’s a fun, new craft where you place tiny plastic diamond-like facets onto a pattern to create beautiful frameable pictures and designs. Unlike many crafts such as cross stitching and embroidery that can takes months and even years to complete, diamond art can be completed in a manner of days if not hours (depending on the project). My haunted house picture took about a week to complete.

How do you do it?

Although, diamond art is so simple that it’s basically self-explanatory, I’ll give you a quick tutorial:

1. Choose a color: Using one color at a time, choose one color from the facets provided in your kit
2. Find it on the key: Match the number indicated on the facet color that you chose with the number indicated on the pattern key.
3. Touch facets to the tool: Using the quick point pen, lightly touch the tip of the pen to the top of one of the facets. It should stick. If it doesn’t, you can used the pink clay square to provide adhesion.
4. Place facets: Place the tip of the pen onto an applicable number for the color you are using. The areas on the pattern with numbers should have a sticky film on it, allowing the facet to remain in place.

Check out this video I made too for a quick tutorial.

Where do you buy diamond art kits?

I bought my kit on Amazon and they have some flipping cute ones out there. Here’s a few of my favorites:

Landscape forest sunset
Puppy
Diamond Art Coasters
Kids Mosaic Stickers
Eiffel Tower

You can also visit Diamond Dotz where they sell diamond art in stickers, magnets, bracelets and pillows. Lots of cute stuff. You can also check out DIY Diamond Art too.

Have you tried this new craft?  What did you think?  Leave your comments below.

Related link: DIY Heat String Art

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