richly colored mini clothes clips for your inspiration boards , mini banners, or for clipping your messages onto handmade cards + tags
{supplies + directions below}
Gather Together:
jar with a tight fitting lid (size depends on how many clips you will dye at one time)
paper towel + spoon + old plate or dish
1. Add a tbsp or 2 of walnut ink crystals to your jar. Fill about 3/4 full with warm water + stir (there will be bubbles).
2. Add the mini clothes clips, replace the lid + let sit.
3. Check your clips after an hour (photo no.5) and see how the color is coming along. The longer you leave them the deeper the color. Photo no.6 is after 3 hours has elapsed.
4. Remove from jar with a spoon and drain on a paper towel, blotting off excess ink. The ink WILL stain so do this step on a tin pie plate or dish that you no longer use for food.
5. Allow to dry for several hours before using.
6. Keep your leftover walnut ink in the lidded jar and store in a dry dark place to use again. It will keep indefinitely.
I often let the clips sit overnight in the jar---this results in a wonderful deep dark chocolate brown. Do keep in mind that water will cause the wood to expand if left too long.
This is a great way to dye tiny wood items like clips, hangers + dollhouse furniture.
{if these look familiar, that is because we used to sell these the first year that we opened--and this is how we dyed them}
