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Plants are the backbone of life on Earth, and are essential sources of food, medicine and shelter. Important as they are, plants can also be a source of fun, especially in do-it-yourself projects.

Until the mid-19th century, plants were the only source of dyes. However, when scientists discovered that they could produce pigments from synthetic chemicals, dyes from plants became somewhat of a lost art.

Courtesy of onlinefabricstore.net

Today, we’re reviving this art that can be enjoyed by yourself or with family and friends. By using pigments from plants, you save on cost while ensuring that your dye is safe and all natural.

Here are some of the plants that can be used in making your own coloring:


Courtesy of Google Images

• Avocado and beets for red/pink/purple dye
• Turmeric, onion skin and celery leaves for yellow dye
• Grapes for purple dye
• Spinach for green dye
• Coffee for black/brown dye
• Chili powder & carrots for orange dye

Project #1: Coffee Hair Colorant

Materials:

• 3-4 tbsp of any kind of coffee
• ½ cup of hair conditioner
• Apple Cider Vinegar (optional)

Step 1: Mix the ingredients together until the coffee dissolves.

Step 2: Put a towel around your shoulders to avoid stains.

Step 3: Using a brush, apply the mixture by spreading it evenly on your hair, starting from the roots.

Step 4:  After an hour, add 1 cup of apple cider vinegar into the pail of water then rinse your hair, the vinegar helps the hair color lasts longer.

Step 5: Dry your hair and style it.


This dye darkens white and light-colored hair. If you want to achieve a darker tone, repeat the procedure until you get your desired color. But if you don’t like the way your hair color turned out, the coffee will fade after a few washes in the shower.

Project #2: Spinach Fabric Dye

Materials:

• PH-neutral soap
• 8 tsp alum (tawas) per pound of clothing
• Spinach
• Stockings

Step 1: Wash the fabric with the PH-neutral soap.

Step 2: Fill the pot with water then add alum.

Step 3: Fill stockings with spinach and add to the boiling water.

Step 4: You can tie the fabric with rubber bands for a tie-dye design. Add it to the boiling water and let it simmer until desired color is reached.

With the help of PH-neutral soap and alum, the green color lasts longer. To keep the color from fading, use gentle soap when washing your fabric.

Project #3: Paint it Hot Pink!

Materials:

• Egg
• 1tsp vinegar
• 1stp water
• 1tbsp sugar
• Pigment (beets extract)

Step 1: To make your hot pink dye, separate the egg yolk from the white.

Step 2: Mix the the egg yolk with a bit of water, sugar, and vinegar.

Step 3: Add the beets extract (you can get this from by the beets) for the pink color finish.

Step 4: Mix all the ingredients until reached the expected texture of the paint.

Step 5: Pour it in a mini jar for a cute presentation.

You can use this on paper, wood and even bricks! Because of the egg, the paint will smell a little.
But after a few days, the smell will go away.

Try this project at home and make it a bonding activity with your family. When you experiment, that’s where the fun comes out!

By: Panahon.TV Intern – Beatrice Hernandez

 
Now that the rainy season is in full swing, sudden power outages are possible amidst raging storms. Though we all should have our supply of flashlights, candles, matches and other emergency items, there is still a chance that a power outage can catch us unprepared. If this happens, here are some hacks that will save you from the darkness.
 
Crayon candles
No candles? No problem. Try rooting around the house for some crayons.
 
crayon (1)
Courtesy: www.kidsdiscover.com
 
Light the tip of the crayon with a match or a lighter. Don’t remove the paper because this will serve as the wick.
crayon1 (2)
 
When the tip of the crayon is partially melted, slightly melt its bottom and allow it to stand in a glass jar or something that will keep it from making contact with flammable things.
crayon2 (2)
 
One crayon can last for 10 to 15 minutes. Crayons are made primarily from paraffin wax that allows it to burn slowly like a candle. If you want to make the light more luminous, bunch 2 or more crayons and tie it up with a string. A note of warning though: this emergency candle may cause an unpleasant smell and a lot of smoke because of the burning wax and paper.
 
Orange peel candle
If you don’t have a crayon, but do have an orange and some cooking oil, you can also make your own candle.
 
Cut the orange in half and gently separate the fruit from the peel, leaving the peel and the wick (the center part of the stem) intact.
 
orange
Courtesy: http://www.deliacreates.com/orange-candles/
 
Pour the cooking oil, making sure to fill the peel just below the wick because if you fully douse it, it won’t light. Use a lighter or match to light up the wick. Observe the cooking oil consumption, refill while there is a flame.
 
The cooking oil will serve as your fuel and the orange as your wick.
This orange may last up to 30 minutes to 7 hours depending on the size of the wick (the longer the better) and the type of the orange (I recommend Sagada oranges because it has a longer wick)
 
If you don’t have an orange, you can also use butter. Just cut a stick of butter into half, tear a square of toilet paper and roll it until it becomes a wick. Put a hole in the butter using a toothpick or screwdriver, insert the toilet paper and light it up with match or lighter.
 
butter (1)
Courtesy: www.mnn.com
 
So the next time you find yourself in the darkness without candles, remember that you can make your own! Stay safe this rainy season!
 
 
Sources:
www.deliacreates.com/orange-candles/

How To Make An Orange Peel Candle


https://youtu.be/Ge1O9rH__5Y

 
 
— By Sean Kyle Tongko
PanahonTV Intern from Bulacan State University