InkoDye Review

Here in the UK the summer holidays have started. I am looking forward to some time with my six year old exploring various creative products.

InkoDye experiments

This week my daughter and goddaughter had fun exploring the properties of InkoDye. The intention was to create fabric pieces to either make cushion covers out of, or framed pictures for bedroom walls. We followed these great instructions over at Sheknows.

However we made lots of errors!! We learnt the following:

• that InkoDye stains clothes and carpets,
• it very quickly changes colour when outside, and very slowly inside,
• it’s extremely easy to nudge the items (buttons, leaves, etc) if you decide to put the paint and objects on inside then carry it outside
• flat objects are better for gaining clear crisp lines
• we may press/dry leaves and flowers first to make them flat and not three dimensional

Fabric 1 – first attempt in darkened room, with 3D items, opening the curtain to expose the fabric to light.

Fabric 2 – second attempt, flat object gave crisper lines, painted fabric in dining room with low level roof light light, after some time carried fabric outside to increase exposure to light.

Fabric 3 – third attempt. Painted fabric inside, once items placed carried outside for exposing. Hence stronger colours gained.

We improved as we worked – but have decided it’s a work in progress and are looking forward to improving our results next time. In the meantime, the idea of continuing to have fun with the light sensitive paint with a 4 year old and 6 year old will be continued outside. It could involve some kind of temporary tent flung over the washing line for applying paint and objects to create a shaded area, which is then lifted off to expose to the light (avoiding InkoDye anywhere near carpets!).

InkoDye is a great product, but I guess to gain the best results it may not involve small young children who can’t help but nudge the board with excitement!!

Lots more creative activities are planned, why not check out my Pinterest Board to see some of our ideas. I would love to know what your favourite craft activities with children are:)

Have a great creative week, I’m off to checkout what other people have been making this week over at Handmade harbour.