To Dye For

Bleach & Paint Accents

Use the templates at right and a pencil to trace six large and six small leaf patterns onto freezer paper.

Using a craft knife and cutting mat, cut out the leaves along the inside of the traced lines (4). Save the centers of the large leaves.

Position the leaf stencils on the brown segment where desired; press with a hot dry iron until adhered. Place the leaf centers inside the large leave stencils; press (5).

Pour a puddle of bleach paste onto a square of tinfoil. Use a sponge to apply the paste to the stencil open areas (6). When the paste is almost dry and the brown color is bleaching out, remove the paper stencils.

Wearing gloves, dip your fingertips into the bleach paste and then flick the paste over the fabric. When fabric is bleached, hand- or machine-wash in cool water. Dry in a warm dryer; press.

Pour a puddle of the soft fabric paint onto a square of tinfoil. Dip the paintbrush into the paint, brush off the excess on a paper towel and roughly swipe strokes over the brown fabric just enough to add a hint of color (7).

Start the flow of the 3D fashion paint on a paper towel, applying even pressure on the bottle for a smooth line. Loosely outline leaves with 3D fashion paint (8); let dry.