Spring Bouquet

Jump-start the season by making your own colorful blooms with this flower-dyeing project.


CRAFT MATERIALS:

White flowers
Food coloring
Vase

Time needed: Under 1 Hour
1. Start with white flowers. We found that roses, carnations, and daisies work well. If none are growing in your area, pick some up at your local florist.

2. Prepare a colored solution: we used 20 drops of food coloring for each 1/2 cup of warm water.

3. Cut the stems to fit your vase, removing at least 2 inches, then set them in the tinted water. You'll start to see results in less than 24 hours.

How it works. Freshly cut flowers continuously draw water up through their stems, as through a straw. When the water reaches the petals, it evaporates through tiny pores, leaving the dye behind (dye cannot evaporate). Over time, it builds up, coloring the tips of the petals.