DIY Fabric Marbling

How amazing is this DIY Fabric Marbling technique? Fabric marbling is such a unique method and an awesome way to create a cool pattern you can somewhat control and transfer to other surfaces. We had a blast creating these cocktail and dinner napkins to use for parties or events! The process was timely, but so much fun. Once you actually see the paint adhering to the napkin, it’s totally worth it!! We wanted to marble every fabric item around us. It was pretty awesome and worth a try! Directions below and happy marbling!

Supplies:
Alum, Methocel for Marbling, Ammonia, Golden Acrylic Polymer, Acrylic Paint in whatever colors you want, white dinner napkins, white cocktail napkins, large shallow storage bin that allows napkins to lay flat when marbling, bucket of water to the side to rinse fabric once marbled, whisk, measuring cup, small cups for paint, wooden sticks.

Directions:
1. The trick to adhering the paint to fabric is presoaking the fabric in alum. You can do this the night before. Mix 3 tablespoons alum per 1 quart of hot water. Let the alum dissolve, then soak the fabric for 20 minutes. Hang to dry completely before marbling.

2. In the large flat bin, prepare the marbling base by mixing 4 tablespoons Methocel and 1 tablespoon Ammonia per gallon of warm water. Whisk until it’s completely mixed and then let it sit for 1-2 hours until the mixture is thick and most of the bubbles have dissipated.

3. While you wait, prepare small jars of Acrylic Paint. Squeeze about 2 tablespoons of paint into the jar and slowly thin using Golden Acrylic Polymer until it’s a milky consistency.

4. Iron your dried and prepared napkins.

5. Once the bin mixture is set, go through and pop any bubbles that are still remaining. Then drop the paint colors on top of the mixture using popsicle sticks or skewers. You can layer paint colors, place different colors on top of each other, etc. Some paints will spread out more and others will go on a little thicker and that’s okay.

6. When you’re satisfied with the colors you’ve placed, take the fine tip of the skewer and drag it through the paint to create a marble pattern.

7. Once the pattern is ready, place the napkin flat down on the surface. Make sure every inch of the napkin fits flat inside the bin. Whatever the napkin touches, will be transferred to the fabric. You can see the pattern adhere from the backside.

8. Take one side and lift towards you, pulling the napkin up.

9, Transfer the napkin to the clean bucket of water next to you and rinse. Then hang to dry or lay flat on a towel. Enjoy this super fun project and stay charming!