Dyeing watercolor paper cards has been one of my favorite dye projects. This is a process that welcomes splatters, spills, and inconsistencies, as those produce the most unique results. The materials are typically very easy to source, and once the dye bath is complete, the cards can be finished in a few minutes.

Materials Needed:

Acid-free watercolor paper
Baking or washing soda
Towels for drying
Baking sheet (optional)
pH test strips (optional)
Dye bath (s)
- Here’s a simple tutorial on making your own dye bath!

The Process:

Create a drying space by laying out towels with enough room for the cards not to overlap. Clothespins and clothesline can also work, but might bend the paper.
In order for the dye to stick best to the paper, the dye bath needs to be very warm. In a wide pot, saucepan, slow cooker, or whatever you are using for the dye bath, heat the liquid to about 100 degrees F. Do not let it boil, as the color will fade and the paper fibers will be damaged.
The dye also needs to be high pH for the most vibrant colors. If you have pH test strips, add baking or washing soda until the strips read 10-11. If you do not have test strips, just add about a tablespoon of baking/washing soda per dye bath.
Begin to dip each card into the hot liquid. You want the paper to be saturated, but not to the point of falling apart.
Lay the card on the towels or baking sheet and let dry.
- Note: yellow dyes, like onion and eucalyptus, do NOT like to dry in the sun; they bleach out immediately. Dry them inside or in the shade.
- However, dyes like avocado seeds and skins turn a gorgeous terracotta when left to sun-dry.