Colorful Chemistry: Tie Dye Magic with Permanent Markers

Today we are doing tie dye with markers! Kids of all ages will love this science experiment and craft as they will be making tie dye with markers. They will have colorful and fun shirts they can wear once they finish. It is such a cool, fun, and educational activity. You can do this tie dye with markers activity at home or in the classroom.

Tie Dye With Markers

I love tie dye. It was one of my favorite things to do as a kid. And it was all the rage. Remember the tie dye Barbies and other toys? And so that’s what we are doing today, but with a twist. We will be using science!

Who knew permanent markers and rubbing alcohol would allow you to make colorful and fun tie dye shirts. We’ll talk about how to do tie dye with markers, and then talk about the science behind it.

Make sure you do this craft in a well-ventilated area. The fumes between the marker and the alcohol can be dangerous. Parental supervision is a must.

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Related: History for Kids: Fun Tie Dye Activity

Supplies Needed To Do Tie Dye With Markers

How To Do Tie Dye With Markers

Step 1

Put a piece of tin foil inside your shirt. It will help keep the spots of color from bleeding through.

Step 2

Using your Sharpie markers color on the fabric of your shirt. The permanent marker should show up nice and bright. Draw pictures, dots, make a flower pattern, add spots of colors here and there, add anything you want. You just want awesome artwork and colorful designs.

Step 3

Put the goggles on. Safety first.

Step 4

Fill your spray bottle with the rubbing alcohol.

Step 5

In a well ventilated area or outside, spray the alcohol on your shirt and watch as the colors change and bleed.

Craft Notes:

Spray over the white T-shirt once and then spray more on different areas to make the color spread.

Step 6

Let your T-shirt dry fully.

Step 7

Wash with colored clothing or towels because the ink will slightly wash out and you don’t want the colors to transfer to other clothing. We used cold water to wash.

The Science Behind This Tie Dye With Markers Craft

Permanent markers have ink. That ink is color pigments mixed with surfactants. That helps the ink be fluid and spread. They also have resins or varnishes which helps the ink stay on different surfaces like cotton items for example.

Because the permanent marker ink is made up of those 3 components, you can’t wash them off easily. That’s why soap and water doesn’t really work.

However, you can break down the permanent marker ink down with something. It’s called a solvent. A solvent will break the resin bond down which helps the ink be free.

So, when you spray the permanent marker on your Sharpie tie dye shirts, the color literally bursts which helps make different shapes and colors look awesome and makes that beloved tie dye style. Cool, huh?

Our Experience With This Tie Dye With Markers Activity

I said it before and I will say it again. I love tie-dye t-shirts. They’re so cool. And I’m glad my kids were excited to make them. You can essentially tie dye anything. We used pre-stretched cotton shirts though. But you could do crazy things like socks too.

My kids made so many different shapes and used so many different colors and now they have cool shirts to wear for school! And I like the science behind this activity.

Arts and crafts are fun and educational on their own. But sometimes it’s nice to sneak a little science in there. Either way, I hope your family had as much fun as mine with this tie dye craft.

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Did you enjoy this tie dye with markers activity? How did your shirts turn out?