Tissue Paper Bleeding Art – For Beginners

Tissue paper bleeding art is an easy and fun craft for all ages. It’s simple, cheap and super cool!

I love painting with paints, but when I came across some gorgeous tissue paper bleeding art, I was blown away and had to try it out.

I loved the tissue art technique so much I made 3 projects. I’ll provide instructions on each,  since they were done slightly different.

If you’ve never heard of tissue paper art before, your in for a treat. Here’s the basics…

What is Tissue Paper Bleeding Art?

You know that tissue paper you use in gift bags? Well, you take those colorful pieces of tissue, place them on a wet canvas and like MAGIC, the dye’s from the tissue transfer to the canvas!

Your canvas will have a cool watercolor-like design that so easy to do and my favorite part, hardly any cleanup!

Thisis also a great activity/craft to do with the kids -instead of the quote they can doodle any drawing they want over top, or just leave it as is!

Tissue Art Project #1

Materials

1. Tissue paper. I got mine from Michael’s ( “Celebrate it!” Brand). I tried the Dollarstore kind but it didn’t bleed. If you buy online I have heard this particular brand works well.

2. Canvas board

3. FREE Printables at the end of post.

1. Transferring words/designs onto canvas (or many other materials) without a fancy machine or stencil is actually very simple. On the BACKSIDE of your printout go over your design with a pencil, like in the images below.

Transfer deer design onto canvas

Transfer quote design onto canvas

 

2. Now flip paper over and position the quote over your canvas where you want it to go. Take a sharp pencil and trace over the letters/design -JUST the outline.

Transfer quote onto canvas by outlining the letters

Transfer design onto canvas by outlining the deer

 

3. Remove the printer paper from canvas. The canvas should now look like this:

 

 

4. Take your Sharpie and fill in the design on the canvas. A gold leaf pen would also be cool, haven’t tried it but I want to one of these days!

5. Once Sharpie quote is dried, lightly wet your canvas with water (not too much water, otherwise your colors wont be as vibrant).

Take your desired colored tissue  (I used dark pink, orange, yellow and purple), tear them into random pieces and place them over wet canvas. Try not to think too much in this part and lay your tissue in random places. This was my favorite part of the project!

Lightly wet the canvas with water

Place torn peices of tissue paper on the wet canvas

6. Let the tissue dry a minimum of 5 minutes before removing them. If you wait until they are completely dry that would be ideal ( most vibrant color). I didn’t and just waited 5 minutes and I was still happy with the pastel-y outcome.

 

  Tissue Art Project  # 2

Materials

1. Tissue paper that bleeds

2. White Oil based Sharpie marker

3. Canvas board

4. Stencil

Tissue Paper Art Technique

1. Take your white Oil based Sharpie and color in your stencil onto the canvas board. It’s important you use the oil based Sharpie , since the tissue paper color will resist the Oil and the white color of the marker

It might be hard to see the white Sharpie on the white canvas board, just do your best – doesn’t have to be perfect.

2. Like in the previous project, wet your canvas lightly with water.

Take your torn up tissue paper pieces and put them on your wet canvas.

To make sure the tissue paper is evenly wet, lightly wet the top of the tissue paper once on the canvas ( with a brush or paper towel)

3. Let the tissue paper dry at least 5 Minutes ( completely dry to get the most vibrant color).

4. Once tissue is dry , peel off the tissue paper and your left with a cool tissue bleeding resist art. The pattern/ stencil work with your white Sharpie is now visible.

There you you have it, 2 easy peasy tissue paper bleeding art projects for you to try.

If you liked this tissue paper art step by step guide, please pin it.

Until next time time, stay Nifty!