How to make a Creative Valentine’s Day Wreath using Tea

Follow this easy step-by-step tutorial on how to make your own DIY Valentine’s Wreath using tea-dyed fabric just in time for Valentine’s Day!

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and I have been working on some fun new projects to get ready to celebrate the holiday of love. I wanted to create a neutral wreath and came up with the idea to make a Valentine’s Day Wreath using tea-dyed fabric.

Dying fabric with tea is a natural, inexpensive and non-toxic way to change the color of your cloth. You can even use already-used tea bags to prevent waste. For example, I first made some iced tea, then used tea bags to create the dye. Also, I love the variation of neutral colors created when dying fabric with tea.

Follow the easy steps below to make your DIY Valentine’s Day Wreath using tea-dyed fabric.

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Supplies needed for the Valentine’s Day Wreath

The essentials:

• Cotton Muslin – You’ll need about 1.5 yards of white and ivory-colored cotton muslin fabric (cotton absorbs the tea the best).
• Lipton Tea Bags – I used the Extra-Large size Lipton tea bags they sell for Iced Tea.
• Heart-Shaped Wire Wreath Frame – You can purchase one here.

Additional items needed to make your Valentine’s Day Wreath

• Containers for dying and storing fabric strips
• Tongs
• Strainer
• Scissors
• Ruler

Optional:

• 2-4 tablespoons of table salt
• ¼-½ cup white vinegar

How to Make a Valentine’s Day Wreath

1. Prepare Fabric

Begin by tearing the muslin into strips. Cutting the fabric will also work, but I prefer the raw edges left by tearing, as it adds texture to the wreath. Remember you want to purchase the cotton fabric.

2. Make the tea

Boil water, add the tea bags, and let steep for a few minutes.

Different types of tea will give you different colors of dye. I went for basic, neutral tones and found that good old Lipton tea gave me the color I was looking for. I used my tea to make iced tea and then used the bags again to dye the fabric. You can try different kinds of tea for different color results to make your Valentine’s Day wreath extra unique!

Tea is rich in tannins which bond well with natural fibers, which means that it doesn’t require a mordant (a substance used to bind the dye to the fabric).

Optional: Add table salt and white vinegar to your tea before dying your fabric to help set the color. This is mostly needed if you are going to be washing the fabric.

3. Dye the fabric

Add the dry fabric strips and let them soak up the tea until it has reached the color you like. The longer you leave the fabric in, the darker it will get.

It’s important to remember that the fabric may look slightly lighter after drying, so take that into account when gauging how long to keep your fabric in the dye. I wanted an assortment of neutral tones, so I dyed different batches to get a variation of colors.

4. Let the fabric dry

Once you’ve achieved the color you are looking for, remove the fabric strips from the dye. I recommend completing this step cautiously; the tea might still be hot! I used tongs and a strainer to help with this process.

Next, take the fabric strips outside to dry. I hung mine over a gate to dry in the sun.

5. Cut the fabric into strips to make your Valentine’s Day wreath

Once the fabric is completely dry, cut the fabric strips into pieces that are 6 inches long.

Here you can see the color variations I got by using two different colors of muslin, white and ivory, and dying the strips in different batches.

6. Assemble the Valentine’s Day wreath

Time to grab your heart-shaped wreath frame and start assembling your Valentine’s Day wreath!

Take a fabric strip, fold it in half, and place the loop end of the fabric under the wire and up the other side.

Repeat this process around the entire wreath, varying the colors as you go.

Make sure the fabric is on the wire tight and that you have covered all parts of the wire.

Trim any necessary pieces of fabric if needed.

7. Hang and enjoy!

For the final step, find a perfect spot to hang your Valentine’s Day Wreath, and enjoy!

Where to Hang Your Valentine’s Day Wreath

This wreath would look great hanging in any room of your home, but here are a few ideas if you are wondering about the best place to hang yours:

• Hang on your front door or entryway to welcome your guests during February.
• Create a festive display over your mantel with this beautiful heart wreath as the centerpiece.
• Dress up a window, mirror, or framed artwork for Valentine’s Day.
• As a festive focal point, hang it above your bed or in a guest bedroom.
• Beautify a cozy reading nook or lounge area.

No matter where you hang it, this easy and fun Valentine’s Day Wreath will make a beautiful addition to your February home décor!

Bonus Project: Tea-Dyed Paper

If you enjoy dying fabric with tea, you can also try dying paper with tea. Tea-stained paper creates an antique look that would be interesting to use in many projects.

To dye paper with tea, you can use a few different methods:

1. Dip a paintbrush into a cup of tea and brush it on the paper. You can drop droplets down onto the paper, paint it fully, or paint the edges.
2.  Fill a pan with a small layer of black tea and soak the paper for about three minutes or longer. The more time it is in the tea, the darker it will be.
3. Check out this Tea Stained Paper DIY from My Vintage Porch for more tips!

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