Waldorf Hand Kite with Natural Dyes

This is one of the most loved toys in our house. My twins loved this when they were babies but they still run around with them now at 2 years old. They also love the process of making and painting with natural dyes, so they enjoy making them as well!

Avocado – Pinkish Purple 
Collect the stones from inside the avocado. When the avocado is fresh you will get the pinkest dyes, but you can also freeze them, refrigerate them, or let them dry. Mine were stored in the fridge for a long time so that gave them some purple hues. To extract the dye, boil the avocado stones briefly, then let simmer. I let this simmer on low with a lid for a couple hours, then let it sit overnight since I was making a large dye bath. For something as small as this, you may only need 2-3 stones. Experiment! You can store the dyes in the fridge for later use. 

Paprika – Orange 

Shake some paprika into a glass with water. Shake it up and soak the ribbon. The dye takes effect immediately with no heat. This is a good one to involve the kids in! 

Matcha Tea – Green

This one required a little more experimenting. I whipped the matcha in a glass of water with no heat. I got a stronger dye when I added a splash of white vinegar. 

Turmeric – Yellow 

This is the same process as the paprika. Shake the turmeric in a glass of water and you’re done!

Let the ribbon dry before tying them onto your ring. That’s it! I think this would be a great baby shower gift. Since all of the dyes are natural, it is 100% non-toxic.