Se7en Brilliant Batik Bikes…

What with Bastille Day and The Father Person glued to the Tour de France. I must say I just love watching the French country side fly past the bikes and I would love to stop and visit some of their beautiful spots… but the rest of my family are firmly fixated on the bikes!!! Meanwhile I have wanted to do flour batik for the longest time with my kids, so Brilliant Batik Bikes it is…

 

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Let’s Meet The Players:

  • Plain cotton fabric, wash it before you begin else the fabric paint/dye won’t “stick”. (Trust me on this!!!).
  • Plain flour.
  • Water.
  • A Ziplock Bag.
  • Fabric Paints or Dyes.

And Let’s Play The Game:

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Step 1: First we washed our fabric. Then we cut it to size and sketched some bikes…

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Step 2: Then we made a thick paste from flour and water, about 3 parts flour to one part water.

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Step 3: We tried syringes, but the paste was too thick and they were quite tricky for little hands… to get a smooth flow.

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Step 4: A cut off ziplock bag, filled with the flour mixture, worked so much better. And we traced over the bikes with the flour mixture.

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Step 5: We left the bikes to dry overnight and they were crispy dry. Once they were dry, out came the fabric paints. And we splished and sploshed. And then we waited for the paint to dry completely.

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Step 6: Once the paint is dry then you pick the flour mixture off – all of it!!!

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Step 7: Then we ironed the bikes to set the paint. You have to heat the fabric paint to set it. And we had a heap of Brilliant Batik Bikes…

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And then my friendly seamstress whipped them into cushion covers!!!!

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And our entrance way has a new lease on life:

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That’s it!!! I don’t know why I took years to do this!!! It turned out to be a really easy project and I am sure we will do it again!!!

31 Replies to “Se7en Brilliant Batik Bikes…”

  1. hey there 🙂 commented earlier, but seems to have got lost. Just wanted to say that this is such fun! It has inspired me to do the same again in our home. We did something similar last year – we made ancient Eygptian collars using batik and fabric paint. Loads of fun! 🙂 You can see it here: http://www.hayesfamily.co.za/blog/?p=4831 By the way, you can pop your flour paste and painted fabric in the tumble drier for 1/2 hour to set the paint. Then just soak the fabric in warm water and the flour paste comes off quite easily 🙂

  2. What a great idea. I love that their art was added to a cushion. I’m bookmarking this activity, ready for the holiday.

  3. Hahaha Cheryl… I was looking and admiring cloaks as you were commenting over here!!! I just love your owl costume and I know a few folk over here who would die for a cloak!!! Have a fun week!!!

  4. I LOVE THIS! Every step of the project sounds like fun for little hands and the results are gorgeous. I can’t wait to try this out!

  5. I have never done flour I will have to give it a try! I have done the same with the blue Elmers gel glue. Once the glue dries you paint, then dry the paint rinse the glue out…… much smoother lines and details….

  6. I use to do this every year with my kindergarten class and it was always a favorite of both kids and parents. The kids even liked picking off the dried flour.

  7. Hi there Mday… Thanks so much for commenting!!! We have never used Elmers glue for batiking – I have visions of people and t-shirts and everything… well stuck together!!! But it is a great idea to try with my older kids!!! Hope you have a great weekend!!!

  8. Oh Bonnie!!! I have to smile, I think my kids liked picking off the flour more than anything!!! Hope you have a fun day!!!

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  10. Hey Buddy

    What a great idea. I love that their art was added to a cushion. I’m bookmarking this activity, ready for the holiday.

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