Tie Dye Birthday Party Party Ideas
How to throw a Tie Dye Birthday Party
Nowadays it is expected for every party to not only have a theme but some type of project or activity to be done with it. Well tie dying is not only a fun theme but has a built in project. Versatile and affordable this activity is messy but loved by the patrons.
First thing to do is to find invitations with a tie dye theme. These can be found almost any where but if not in you local area try sites like Oriental trading.com where they have not only invitations but full party sets, but almost every party store carries invites, plates, napkins and such with a tie dye theme. An important thing to write in your invite is that the guests will get dirty. Tie dying is not a clean activity and you do not want guest showing up in pretty not to be stain clothes to do a project with the intent of staining clothes.
Second item of business will be to buy supplies. Tie dye kits can be found online atwww.orientaltrading.com, orwww.dharmatrading.com/, which not only has all the supplies you could or would need but a section to learn how and tips for tie dying. This is also the time to figure out how much money you wish to spend and with that what you would like to tie dye. Any cotton cloth product can be tie dyed, so you can choose to do shirts or bandannas, bags, pillow cases, socks or even dresses and scarves. These items can range wildly in price so get what ever you feel fits your budget. Sites like these often have idea and instruction sheets that can be printed off and used at the party.
Another important thing to decide is where you plan to do this party and how you plan to dye the projects.. Tie dying it's self is a project better done outside as the dye does what it is intended to do and stains everything. If not doing it outside it is a good idea to do it where staining is not an issue such as in a basement. For large parties dip dying is a good option as larger vats of dye are left for the guest to dip their projects into. For smaller more controlled parties using squeeze bottles is another great option.
Once the party starts, it is time to bring out the cloth items and the rubber bands. Let everyone go for it and tie up their shirts and what not how they please. Having the printed off ideas and directions for those ideas is a really helpful to first timers. Setting up separate sections helps to keep things organized. Have a table set up with the items to be dyed separated in sizes if needed. This is a good place to leave a permanent marker so that initials or names can be put on tags or items themselves. Then have another table set up with the rubber bands and idea sheets. Well off from the other sections have an area to actually dye the projects making sure there is a box of rubber gloves for all to use , if you can have a wash up station near this point even if it's just wipes and paper towels, but the sooner the dye is washed off skin the lighter the staining will be. Also have plastic bags, reusing the plastic shopping bags from the food store is a perfect option, to put the wet projects in to sit for a while.
Once everyone is done dyeing, it is a good time to have cake or what ever food you are serving first. Once the projects have set for an hour or so it is time to rinse them out. Either set up a hose or a basin with water in it so that the shirts can get a good rinse out. Hang the items up on a fence or on hangers and leave to start drying for the trip home. Have games and or free time set into schedule, as well as cake and what not. Send home projects in clean plastic bag with a printed out sheet on how to care for tie dyed clothing or items, remembering to warn folks that tie dye colors can still bleed during the first couple washings. These bags can be added to or be the actually party favor.
Foods can be made to fit the theme as well White icing on a cake can be easily turned into "tie dye" by placing a few stray drops of food color around surface and using a tooth pick swirling the color around. Cupcakes can be done in the same fashion as can pudding cups. Cup cakes and pudding cups in fact add the option of another project as kids and other guests can "tie dye" these as well. This technique can be used on dips that will be served as well.
Tie dyeing is simple and fun. It makes both a great theme and project to do during a party. Have a great party!
