Page 5

Experiments with Rit Dye powder

May 26, 2008

These are the experiments I've done

so far using powdered dye.

Paper strips were taped to the top to round out the head

An index card, with the corners torn off was taped to the bottom and strips of newspaper were mache-ed to the bottom for a platform. Brown pulp with a mixture of the 3 colors of dye was applied over the platform.

Greenish pulp with green dyed glue/paste mixture was applied to the body, then orange to the head. A wooden craft stick was used to sculpt the face.

These took just a pinch of dye since the batches of pulp were so small. I haven't decided yet what type of arms he will have.

The picture on the right shows him about half-way dry. He doesn't really lean this much, it's mostly the surface he's on. Once I do the bottom of the platform, he should stand up straighter.

Not really sure what this will be, but I had a sign that didn't work out so I used the back to practice.  I'm curious to see how much the colors may bleed or run into each other since this will stay moist for quite awhile. It could be a fun effect or add to a folk art look. We'll see when it's dry.

This is about 10 minutes after I finished it. Just took long enough to wash my hands. My camera is already multi-colored.

The outside has some yellow in it, that was mixed into the pulp, the middle has just a bit of green that was added to the glue and the orange was some leftovers from the head of the JOL above. The faces are of the same yellow mix as the edge. 

Some things I've learned so far:

Adding the dry dye to the pulp before adding

paste/glue gives a mottled look as the dye expands in ways you don't anticipate.

The color of the pulp will have an effect on the finished color, too.

These are pieces with various combinations of green and yellow dyes.

 

On the left is a silly horned mask that has about a 50/50 mix of green and yellow dye with grey pulp.

 

Middle top is a hedge piece that will hide lighting in a tabletop village. It only has more yellow die than green and the pulp had more white paper in it than the others.

 

Middle bottom are some hedge/foliage type stuff for the village that is all green and turned out wa-a-ay darker than expected.

The mask to the right was made from the same batch as the hedges.

 

The blob in the upper right will also be a hedge to hide lights. It was made with leftovers from everything else all smooshed together. (smooshed is a technical term)

Back to the Bottle Jack

May 28

Mixing dyed glue and pulp

click on images to see larger ones

Dye is sprinkled over glue.

After a few seconds, it's already started to spread

Mostly mixed in.

Adding a little more dye

The grey-green pulp

Mixing together

Index card cut in half for sleeves and armholes trimmed. A skewer cut down for arms.

Skewers taped to centers of sleeves.

Sleeves wrapped around a thick knitting needle and taped into tubes.

Hot melt glue holds them to the body

Dyed yellow pulp added to sleeves, collar and hem.

JOL Ornaments

Thoughts of Halloween trees are taking over my life. There

are so many types and themes and I want to do them all.

This will be the start of a folk art tree.

After stirring for a minute.

Not very dark, so adding a bit more dye

Oops! A little too much added.

Mixed in. This should get VERY orange.

All the pulp I have right now is this color. That's fine; it will add to the folk art look.

Mixed in for a few minutes. Still have lumps to get out.

See how orange it got? More than I'd planned, but okay.

Adding glue and paste to leftover pulp.

Yellow dye added.

Mostly mixed

Somewhere between all of the above is the perfect pumpkin color. But overall, I likes.

Halloween Stacker 2012