Egg-dye Paper Doily Garland

My biggest tip I have
is to wear gloves or else you'll have fingers like mine

The other night I couldn't fall asleep so I started thinking (the way little housewives do) about the super important stuff in life like decorating. Recently I've been trying to dream up ways to use Easter egg dye for uses other than coloring eggs. It hit me about 3am in the morning...paper white doilies! I was so pumped over this idea that sleep was lost for another hour as I mentally planned my next home sweet home project. Ummm, yes. This is how a housewife rolls. I was already in {double} love with the popular trend of using doilies as garland. But dying the doilies for spring was my PERFECT answer to my question on how to use egg dye.


Soon after my sleepless night, I saw that others have already dyed paper doilies. Are you kidding me?! So, I'm not really a super star starter of this cool idea?


Crushed.


"There is nothing new under the sun..." I got over it and got to work anyways! {wink} The other way of dying doilies is with regular RIT dye. I used egg dye and it worked really well too.




A lot of you know that I have this issue with the word craft or even crafty or crafting. It's always bothered me, who knows why. My awesome husband knows to ask me what "projects" I'm working on, not "crafts". It's serious stuff. But anyways...I confess, this particular project is a true craft.

Here's the down low on creating your own springtime doily garland
for under $2.00.

Use a 40% off Michael's coupon to buy your pack of doilies in the baking isle.



Prepare the Easter egg dye tablets with vinegar as stated on the box directions.

When you mix the dye, use large mixing bowls for an easier experience. Gently immerse the paper into the dye and let sit for a few minutes.

If you want a more distressed, worn look, ball up your doily a lot before soaking into the dye.

Carefully dry on a wire rack. Ideally you can hang them to dry on a clothes line. When removing from the dye, "unstick" the balled up doily while it's still immersed under the liquid so it won't rip.


Patiently wait FOREVER for them all to dry...then...ta da!! So so super pretty! This girl's in love.


You can create your garland by stringing thread through the gaps and leaving them in circle shapes or you can do it by folding them in half as I did.



I used a glue stick to attach them to a thin ribbon. I left the bottoms open, without glue, to make them more flirty. :)

Ask a little guy to help you hang it anywhere in your home sweet home.

My husband found the perfect spot for our spring garland, right near our entryway. I wanted the sunlight to shine through all the tiny doily windows so this spot was ideal!

I couldn't capture the TRUE beauty of this garland with my camera. It is MUCH more beautiful in real life. I have backlight from every angle. :( Any real photographers out there please help!





What most intrigues me with these beautiful new ways to use paper doilies is the fresh creations that are made from the outdated and tacky paper doily. BUT they are absolutely gorgeous when used in the new ways I've seen lately: wedding invitations, signs, banners, garland, and even dainty envelopes! {swoon}

Taking old styles
and transforming them into modern beauty
is creative innovation at it's best!
And that is one of my favorite things about blogging mamas.

This post is linked to: Under the Table & Dreamin, Flamingo Toes, It's a Blog Party, Think Pink Sundays LambAround, DIY Showoff, DIY Living, Seasonal Sundays, It's so Very Cheri, Strut Your Stuff at Saturday Mornings, Met Monday, Making the World Cuter, Motivate Me Mondays, Market Yourself Mondays, A2Z Tips & Tutorials, Lettered Cottage How To, Tasty Tuesday, Tempt My Tummy, Tuesdays at the Table, Topsy Turvy Tuesday, Tip Junkie, Get Your Craft On, We're Organized Wednesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Swing into Spring, Works for Me Wednesday, Show and Tell, Whatever Goes Wednesday, Blog Hop Thursday, Transformation Thursday, Tablescape Thursday, Show off Your Stuff, Strut Your Stuff, Friday Favorites, VIP Party Show and Share Day, Foodie Friday, Frugal Friday, I'm Lovin It, Tickled Pink, Be Different Act Normal, Funky Junk Interiors, Weekend Wrap Up