Craft with the sun: 3 ways to harness the sun for stunning patterns on paper and fabric
Summer sunshine warms both body and mind, but it can also be put to work creating beautiful patterns on fabric and paper. Try three fun techniques that let the light do all the work!
1. Dye your textiles
Give your old tablecloths, kitchen towels, and other cotton textiles a fresh look with sun dyeing. Simply arrange plant motifs on fabrics treated with a dye solution, then let them dry in the sun. Check out the instructions and inspiring ideas for sun dyeing!
2. Expose blue artworks
Cyanotype is an old exposure technique where a ferric salt solution reacts to sunlight and turns deep blue. The covered areas stay light, producing a silhouette-like pattern. This technique works on both fabric and paper. If the weather is clear, the exposure is quick. Take a look at the instructions to create your own cyanotypes!
3. Paint with the help of the sun
Sun printing is a fun and easy technique for all ages, requiring only paper, paint, and light. First, paint a sheet of paper, place leaves or flowers on top, and let the sun do the rest. As the paint dries, it recedes from beneath the plants and forms beautiful patterns. Check out the instructions for sun printing!
