40 Tie-Dye Projects to Color Your Summer

Add at least one of these tie-dye projects to your summer plans. Kids and adults love this messy craft and this list has something for everyone.

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Making a tie-dye tee-shirt was a must-do summer camp activity in the 80s and 90s. It’s easy to add this fun, kid-friendly craft idea to your backyard summer camp plans too.

You can find tie-dye kits on Amazon and most stores that sell craft supplies. They are so much easier and less messy than the way we used to make them!

And there’s so much more you can do than a simple spiral on a tee shirt. Try different color combinations, different patterns, and even a few creative techniques beyond just dye. Tie-dye works best with cotton and natural materials. You can color headbands, shoes, towels, and more.

We collected all our favorite tie-dye projects below. There are enough to make one every week of summer if you want to!

Tee-shirt patterns

Tulip tie-dye company has a great introduction to how to create about 2 dozen different patterns, from spirals and folding to stripes and galaxies.

Patriotic stripes

Make a patriotic striped tee shirt using a special tying technique from Doodlecraft.

Tee shirt headband

Upcycle a shirt into a headband and give it a colorful new look at DIY Candy.

Tote bag

Make a tote bag to carry essentials this summer with The Crafting Chicks.

Hammock

Tie-dye a hammock to add color to your backyard with Morena’s Corner.

Watermelon shirt

A different technique can be used to make a dyed watermelon shirt, via Sweet Lil You.

Squirter dye

Fireflies and Mud Pies shares how to use kids’ water squirters to create tie-dyed shirts.

Tube socks

Tie-dye socks following tips from Sugarbee Crafts.

Swirled crayons

Upcycle old crayons to make new ones with One Mama’s Daily Drama. The colors swirl together and look like tie-dye.

Personalized beach towel

Tie-dye a beach towel personalized with each child’s name like Kids Activities Blog.

Bookmarks

This technique for making pretty swirled paper bookmarks from Happy Hooligans looks just like tie-dye.

Tissue paper

Kitchen Table Classroom shares how to dye tissue paper. Then use the paper for other crafts!

Sugar dye

You can use sugar from your pantry in this dying technique from Stockpiling Moms.

Swirl pattern

DIY Beautify shares how to make the classic swirl pattern for dying a shirt.

Reverse tie-dye

Instead of adding colors, take them away with reverse tie-dye, from The Tiptoe Fairy.

Paper towels

You can tie-dye paper towels following instructions from The Craft Train, then use them in other summer projects.

Coffee filters

Add color to coffee filters and use them as suncatchers, via Artsy Momma.

Heart shape

This creative tying method from Happy Go Lucky creates a tie-dye pattern around heart.

Ice dye

Use ice for dying any project via Bre Pea.

Face masks

When your kids need to wear one, tie-dye face masks from 5 Little Monsters are pretty cute.

Sneakers

Make canvas sneakers magical with this idea from A Pumpkin and a Princess.

Baby wipes butterflies

How cute are these baby wipes butterflies with tie-dye wings from I Can Teach My Child!

Seashells

Turn seashells into colorful works of art using markers to imitate tie-dye, via Color Made Happy.

Coasters

Use markers on tile following this tutorial from Anne’s Entitled Life to make cute summer coasters.

Tent

Turn a sheet into a tropical tie-dyed play tent for your backyard, via I Love to Create.

Finger knit tee-shirt yarn

This project from I Love to Create is 2 in 1: dye a tee-shirt, then cut it up into yarn for a fun finger knitting project.

Watermelon skirt

This watermelon dip-dyed skirt from Cutesy Crafts is a summer essential.

Macrame plant hanger

Turn a tie-dyed tee-shirt into a macrame plant hanger for festive decor at Pink Stripey Socks.

Salt resist

Learn how to use salt to create resist art in your tie-dye projects, from Fave Crafts.

Symmetric designs

You can create a single center design that’s symmetrical, following instructions from Jedi Craft Girl.

Turmeric tie-dye

Use a natural product like turmeric to tie-dye, from High on DIY. Their DIY turmeric pillow would be so cute for slumber parties!

Embroidery thread

You can tie-dye embroidery thread, just like I Sew Cute. Then use it for summer crafts, like friendship bracelets.

Hair extensions

If your kids want to dye their hair for summer, but you’re hesitant, try doing tie-dyed hair extensions. Crafty Chica makes it look so easy – and your kids can wear them whenever they want.

Ombre tunic

Dip dye a tunic to create a gradual color change with this technique from Ideas for the Home by Kenarry.

Bubble dye

Kids love blowing bubbles and they can use the same technique to make this creative tie-dye project from My Very Educated Mother.

Scrunchie

Are scrunchies still cool? Make a few to keep your hair up in the summer, via Rit Dye.

Nature resist

Resist art is perfect for adding unique shapes and designs to your tie-dye projects. The Pinterested Parent has a great idea for using leaves and other natural elements.

Rainbow arc

The rainbow arc technique from The Neon Party is really fun! (Find it about 1/3 the way down the page.)

Bandana

The House That Lars Built shares a few techniques for making tie-dye bandanas – and a couple of different ways to wear them when you’re done.

Bleach bags

Try dying drawstring bags and bleaching designs into them, via Mad in Crafts.

Even the best tie-dye projects are messy! We recommend you craft outside, wear clothes that can be stained, and protect your hands and other areas. Even then, you’ll probably still need to do some cleanup.

Once you’ve made one of these colorful craft ideas, you’ll probably want to make more. Add a few to your backyard summer camp plans.

More fun ideas from Backyard Summer Camp:

• 30 Outdoor Summer Activities for Kids at Home
• 30 Popsicle Stick Crafts to Make All Summer
• 25 Cute Garden Crafts to Make With Kids