# Fold and Dye Tissue Art > Fold a paper dinner napkin into a small triangle, dip its edges in liquid watercolors, and gently unfold it to reveal a colorful shibori-style pattern. Every fold, napkin size and dip gives a different design. - URL: https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-for-kids-fold-and-dye-tissue-art/ - Ages: 4–8 yrs · Difficulty: easy · Mess: medium - Time: prep 10 min, activity 30 min - Works for: one-on-one, small group, whole class - Skills: fine-motor, colors, absorption, patterns, folding - Cautions: food-dye ## Materials (one batch) - 3 piece High-quality colored and white paper dinner napkins - Liquid watercolors - Small bowls or a divided tray for the colors (household) - Rubber bands (optional) (household) - 1 piece Scissors (optional) (household) - Masking tape (optional) (household) ## Substitutions - Instead of liquid watercolors: Undiluted food colors (Listed in the post as an alternative to liquid watercolors.) ## Safety - Liquid watercolors and undiluted food color can stain hands, clothes and surfaces. Cover the table and wear old clothes or smocks. - Supervise so kids don't put the dyes or wet tissue in their mouths. - If you cut folded strips, an adult supervises scissor use. ## Before you start - Cover the table and pour a little of each liquid watercolor into its own small bowl. ## Steps 1. Set out the napkins and the bowls of liquid watercolor. 2. Fold a napkin back and forth, accordion style, into a long strip. 3. Fold the end of the strip into a triangle. Keep turning the strip over and folding so you always have a triangle. 4. If the tissue keeps opening, wrap rubber bands around the edges. 5. Dip each of the 3 edges of the triangle into a color. Let the tissue gently suck up the color without drenching it. 6. Lift the triangle out and look at the colors soaking in. 7. Gently open the wet tissue to reveal your design. 8. Lay the tissue flat to dry. 9. Tape the dry art to a window or wall, or pop it in a frame. ## Tips - Gently let the tissue suck up the watercolors. Too much liquid just drenches the tissue without much of a design. - The design depends on the type of folding, the size of the tissue and the amount of color, so every piece is unique. - Ideally you wait after dipping, but with young children (and an even more impatient mother) we opened ours right away with so much excitement. - The folding is a fine motor workout. An adult can help younger kids with the accordion folds. - They look gorgeous against the sun, so try them as sun catchers. - Cut the dyed tissue into ovals (or dip in oval shapes) for eggs, have kids weave a paper basket and add Easter grass for Easter art. (from readers) ## The original post by TurkeyMom (2014) Have you heard of Shibori Art? Well I hadn't heard of that particular name although I was familiar with the actual technique- the process of dip dyeing. Then I came across this awesome **[arts and crafts book](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0023708603/?tag=blmemo-20)** in the library which has so many wonderful **art activities for kids**. One such project was this fold, dip and dye art project. I also came across a similar post on [**Things to make and do.**](http://www.things-to-make-and-do.co.uk/paper-and-card-projects/tiedye-tissue/tiedye-tissue.html) Materials - **[Sargent Art Watercolor Magic](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005V9W9RM/?tag=blmemo-20)** - or Undiluted food colors - High-quality colored and white dinner napkins I helped my 5 year old fold the tissue accordion style { Fine motor workout} Once we got a long strip paper, we started folding the edge into a triangle. Continue folding by turning over the strip making sure you always are left with a triangle. If you feel you need more security for the tissue, you can always add rubber bands around the edges to keep the tissue from opening. Then it is DIPPING time. We dipped the 3 edges of the tissue paper with our super vibrant liquid watercolors. Based on the amount of liquid water colors you let the paper suck in, you will see various designs. I'd strongly suggest just gently letting the tissue suck the water colors since too much liquid watercolors just drenches the tissue without much of a design. Ideally people wait after dipping and dying. Since we are working with young children ( and an even more impatient mother) we opened our tissue paper with so much excitement. Gently open the wet tissue paper to reveal your design! Tada! The design will be so unique. You don't have to do the same accordion style folding. We did regular triangle folding. Based on the type of folding, size of the tissue paper, amount of water colors we were left with stunning pieces of colorful art on tissue. This art activity was a lot different than many other [**art activities for kids**](https://www.funlittles.com/category/art-projects/) we do around here. This one in particular was done by cutting an accordion folded strip into half. Looks like paper chain dolls? They look gorgeous against the sun.. This shot gave me an idea for a sun catcher craft! They also looks awesome as wall art. I just need to pop these beauties in frames and I'd have kid-made wall art for our home. **NOW for the big announcement!** I'm so excited to be a part of an amazing collaborative effort - Introducing the Rockin' Art Moms (RAMs). We are 10 bloggers who are very passionate about art, design, art for kids, art for the entire family art in everyday lives and art education. Phew! that was a whole of art in one sentence. We love art and we believe art should play a big role during a child's early years. Here are the fabulous ladies I'll be working with. Stephanie from **Two-daloo** Ana from **[Babble Dabble Do](http://babbledabbledo.com/)** Meri from **Meri Cherry Blog** Jeanette from **[Artchoo](http://artchoo.com/) and [Tiny Rotten Peanuts](http://tinyrottenpeanuts.com/)** Asia from **[Fun At Home With Kids](http://www.funathomewithkids.com/)** Kristen from **Art History Mom** Gina from **[Willow Day](http://www.willowday.com/)** Bar from **[Art Bar](http://www.artbarblog.com/)** Melissa from **[Green Owl Art](http://greenowlart.blogspot.com/)**