Streamers are a lovely way to bring an event from everyday to celebratory. They are the standard expected at birthdays, sort of an international sign to party! They have even recently made themselves up for a few gorgeous showings at weddings (see here and here).
I am loving the new trend of using streamers for everything. What I don’t love is the sad color selection found at most stores. I wanted to use differing shades of pink to liven up our summer picnic, even online I had a difficult time finding any shades I loved.
Paint dying my own seemed to be the only avaliable option and I am pleasantly surprised to share today how easy they are to make and how much I love having custom color streamers. Now the options are truly endless for their use!
To make the paint dyed streamers you will need a pack of streamers, water color paints, mixing supplies, hangers and a place to dry the dripping paper (I lined my garage floor with sheets).
First combine your paints into the color format you are looking for. I wanted a gradient of color so I used one drop of paint mixed with cup water for the first bowl, three drops for the second and five drops for the third bowl. Any color combo you would like to see will work for these, that is the joy of paint dying yourself!
The next step is dipping your streamers in the paint mixtures. I found the best way to get full coverage was to layer the length back and forth to make a streamer stack. Dredge the entire stack in the bowl making sure it is entirely covered. Carefully lift the painted wet streamers out of the bowl. Very carefully! The paper gets more easily breakable while it is wet. Hang you streamer stack on a hanger and leave alone to dry for about 24 hours (longer if you live in a humid climate).
If you want even more color options you can run the painted streamers through the process again or even three times for a deep color application, doing this is how I was able to get many different colors from three bowls of paint (LOVE!).
After the paint has dried completely, take the streamers off the hangers and unfold to revel in your very pretty colors. Each streamer will have a bit of difference to the overall paint texture which I just adore.
What do you think? Would you use these for a wedding or other event? I think they would be insanely pretty in multiple shade of white or gray lining the ceiling of an aisle.
Photography by Jackie Wonders for a subtle revelry.
blessings.
What a great idea. I am doing a workshop on natural dyes this weekend and so excited about the whole dying process.
Hope you have a wonderful day.
Wow Victoria, these are beautiful! And since you say it’s easy, I’m believing you ;)
WOW! I could not possibly love this idea anymore. Just perfect!
Gorgeous! I never would have thought you could dye such thin paper- but these came out beautifully!
I love it! I love the idea of gray and white streamers for a wedding. My cousin is trying to figure out her wedding color scheme and after asking me, I suggested olive green, gray and mauve. Inspired from these shoes: http://www.bhldn.com/the%2Dshop%5Fshoes/agave%2Dpeep%2Dtoes (that is am going to attempt to DIY using my old wedding shoes).
I will show her your post and see what she thinks of dying and using streamers. Love!
You have me dreaming about a streamer lined aisle-how gorgeous!
i would definitely use these! I had streamers at my last party! though, i’m not sure i’d have the patience to handle with care. i’d need heavy duty streamers to be sure they didn’t rip!
Streamers are so the new bunting!
LOVE this idea!! I’ve been sewing up streamer ruffles for awhile and thought I had alot of possibilities with the colors available…can only imagine where this will take me!! :)