I love tea towels. In fact, I’ve been known to collect them when I travel. I think they make the best souvenirs and gifts. They can be both functional and beautiful. This easy craft uses simple household refuse, either a paper towel or toilet paper tube, to stamp whimsical dandelion heads on to a plain cotton tea towel.
I spied the idea to stamp dandelion heads on canvas to make art – like this tutorial. But I really wanted to make something that I could use in my kitchen this spring. And I love dandelions!
First, gather the following materials:
Second, protect your worksurface with a vinyl tablecloth or newspaper. Lay out a blank tea towel and find the rough center. This is where you will place the dandelion design.
Next, cut a length of tube that is about 3 in. Then, cut strips about 1-3/4 in. high and 1/4 in. wide. Press the cut parts up to create a round stamp. This creates the dandelion “fluff.”
Squirt a little fabric paint onto a paper plate. Now, use a larger paint brush to apply paint on the stamp.
Be sure to work quickly, as the fabric paint seems to dry fast. Stamp as many dandelion heads as you please, although I personally think odd-numbered groupings of items are the most appealing.
Continue adding details to the dandelions. I added seeds, stems and blowing fluff to mine.
Next, allow the tea towel to dry for 24 hours. The paint that I purchased instructed that after 24 hours, to use a cool iron and a rag to set the paint in place.
Love dandelions like we do? Be sure to check out this previous post, where Barbara Baird whips up some delicious dandelion muffins.
Jackie Baird Richardson is an interior designer, editor at The WON and avid junker. Watch for her design tips and occasional crafting ideas, bringing the outdoors indoors. View all posts by Jackie Richardson
Beautiful and fun craft!!!