You’ll need:
- Heavy weight paper, like cardstock
- Laundry starch (or make your own, see instructions below)
- Food coloring or acrylic paint
- Toothpicks
- Newspaper
- Plastic tub, ex. shoe storage box
To make starch:
- Add 4 cups hot water. Cook in microwave until thickened. (2 minutes, stir every minute)
- Mix ½ cup corn starch with ½ cup cold water.
- Let cool. Thin with water.
Instructions:
- Pour ¼ to ½ inch of liquid starch into your plastic tub
- Float dots of food color on the starch. OR Add drops of liquid acrylic paint, make sure your paint is thinned with an equal amount of water
- Gently swirled the paint colors into patterns with a toothpick.
- Lay paper on the surface of the starch. Press slightly to make sure that the marbled design transfers to the paper evenly and there aren’t any air bubbles.
- Rinse off starch under a faucet and lay paper flat to dry.
- Use a strip of newspaper to clean off the surface of the starch and start again!
To flatten the marbled paper: After marbled paper dries, press between two books, or iron between two sheets of paper.
What else will you marble? Bookmarks, gift tags, birthday cards, paper chains – paper, cardboard, wood, canvas. The possibilities are endless!
NOTE: Acrylic paint is permanent; protect your work surface and clothing! Cover your work surface with a plastic tablecloth or other protective covering.