How to Dye Paper With Beet Juice

Vibrant magenta hues are often the outcome of using beets as an environmentally friendly paper dye. Natural dyes made from plants have been around for thousands of years and can still be inexpensively created at home. Due to their common presence in grocery stores, the strength of the stain they produce and their quick preparation time, beets can be a way to introduce yourself to the world of creating homemade dyes.

• 1

  Create a workspace where you can get messy. Remove anything from the area that could be ruined with dye splatter. Spread out a few sheets of newspaper and tie back any dangling hair or clothing. To keep your clothes and hands stain-free, wear your apron and latex gloves.

• 2

  Wash the beets thoroughly. Cut the leaves off the beets and dispose of them. Chop the beets and stems into small chunks and put them into the blender. Add 1 cup of water, tightly push the lid on the blender jar and liquefy the beets so they become a nice smooth pulp.

• 3

  Pour the beet pulp into the cooking pot and add 1/4 cup vinegar. The vinegar will help seal the dye into the paper fibers and make the color last longer. Place the pot on the stove and bring the mixture to a boil on high heat while you stir it with a large spoon.

• 4

  Place a lid on the pot and turn down the heat once it starts bubbling. Let the liquid simmer for about one hour. After simmering, turn off the heat, stir the mixture and let the dye cool.

• 5

  Pour the dye mixture through a mesh sieve into the plastic tray. A clean litter tray is ideal for most paper sizes, but any large, shallow container will work. If the dye is too thick, add 1/4 cup water.

• 6

  Slide a piece of white paper into the tray. Try to use heavy papers or card stock for dyeing, as the moisture may cause more delicate papers, like tissue or rice paper, to fall apart. Make sure the dye covers the paper completely. Wait 5 to 10 minutes for a light tone to your paper. Wait overnight for a richer shade.

• 7

  Pinch the top corners of the paper between your thumb and index fingers. Gently lift the paper out of the dye, letting the excess drip into the tray. Lay the paper on a towel and put another towel on top of it.

• 8

  Sandwich your dyed paper and towels between the two wood planks. Tie the planks together tightly with rope or by setting various weights on top, such as bricks or books. This will keep the paper flat while it dries, which may take several days, depending on how many layers of dyed paper and towels you have between the wood planks.