How to Make Paper Bleed

Tissue paper comes in many colors.

As a fun activity on a rainy day, tissue paper bleeding can be performed by even the youngest child. He only needs to be able to hold a paintbrush. The color from the tissue paper bleeds onto a white sheet of paper, which seems like magic to a young child. Buy the type of tissue paper without the dye fixative on it so that the color will bleed when water is placed on it.

Things You'll Need

• Newspaper
• Tissue paper in various colors
• Scissors
• Jar of water
• Small paintbrushes
• Sheet of white paper

Instructions

1. Cut tissue paper of different colors into 4 inch by 4 inch squares, using sharp scissors.

2. Place a few layers of newspaper on a table. Place a sheet of white paper on top. Place a jar of water on the newspaper and a small paintbrush.

3. Place pieces of tissue paper over the white paper to create interesting designs. Overlap some pieces to create different color combinations.

4. Dip the paintbrush into the water and "paint" the water onto the tissue paper. It should be wet, but not so saturated that the paper disintegrates.

5. Wait 10 seconds and take the tissue paper off. The color from the tissue paper will have bled onto the white paper.

Tips & Warnings

• Tissue paper can be torn instead of cut with scissors.

References

• Avalon Arts Studio for Children: Paper Art