Sharpie Tie Die Spring Banners

This activity makes a beautiful Mother's Day Gift!

You will need:
white or off-white fabric
colored permanent markers
rubbing alcohol (adult supervision will be required)
spray bottle or plastic dropper
dowel or stick
ribbon
hot glue and glue gun or thread and needle

We used two types of fabric cut into a rectangle.
The white fabric is cut with straight scissors and frayed on the edges by pulling at any loose threads.
The off-white fabric was cut using fabric pinking shears and has zig-zag edges.

Tape down the fabric onto a piece of cardboard to stabilizes the art surface.
The cardboard will absorb the ink and rubbing alcohol later.
Draw a picture. We drew spring flowers with stems.

You can either use a dropper and wet the fabric with rubbing alcohol or a spray bottle with rubbing alcohol.

We used two methods.

In the banner with the off-white fabric, we placed the spray bottle nozzle in the center of the flower- resting against the fabric and pressed the trigger creating a pool of rubbing alcohol which spread out from the center.

In the banner with the white fabric we sprayed it across wetting the entire surface of the fabric.

Experiment to see which look you prefer.

You might even try using a little friction the nozzle head or an old toothbrush to gently distribute the color into the pool of rubbing alcohol.

When working with younger children, have the children watch as the adult applies the rubbing alcohol.

Rubbing alcohol only applied to ink areas.

Rubbing alcohol applied to entire surface.

Allow your artwork to dry on the cardboard undisturbed.

When it is dry, place a line of hot glue along the top and fold over, creating enough space for your stick.

Older children may enjoy sewing the flap with a threaded needle.

There is a science aspect to this activity, permanent marker ink is not soluble in water but it is soluble in alcohol.

Happy Mother's Day!