Inspired by the blog post here <http://ourcreativeday.blogspot.com/2011/08/rainbow-batik.html> on Our Creative Day blog, I set out to teach the campers at Walden how to do this super awesome craft.

It ended up by far being the most fun art project with the most stunning results if you ask me.  For the most part, I think that the campers really liked making them.  It was beautiful to walk out to the clothes line and see a bunch of these all hanging together.

The process is pretty simple really.  
You begin with a piece of material (we used white bandannas) and you use Elmer's blue gel glue.  YES, it has to be the blue gel glue.  We used the clear and it did not work nearly as well.  Anyhow, you simply draw your desired design onto the material with the glue.  
Then, let the glue dry completely. completely.  Overnight is the best bet.
Once the glue is completely dry, use slightly watered-down acrylic or fabric paint and paint the bandanna.  For best results, paint within the glue lines as in a coloring book.  
Once this has completely, completely dried (again, over night for best results), soak the bandanna in warm water for about 15 minutes (or longer).  Once it has been soaking, the glue will soften and you can use your hands to rub the bandanna fabric together and rub off the glue.  The areas where there were glue will be white!

TA-DA!!!

At the end of each session of Camp, we have an art show with as much camper's artwork on display as possible.  At this time, the campers and staff are able to come in and view the artwork as if in an art gallery and enjoy provided snacks.
This art show is a lot of work to set up and is exhibited for only one evening, but it is so rewarding to see all of the wonderful projects hanging up and watching the campers walking through experiencing pride in their creations!

Glue Batiks:

Portraits:

Assorted Printmaking and Op-art

Chalk Pastels:

Watercolor of YUPO paper:

Assorted collage, drawing, and pastels:

Ceramics:

Assorted Ceramics and Collage:

Tie-Dye oh Tie-Dye, how I love thee...
The most typical, and most fun of camp projects!
I discovered this past summer that what makes tie-dying truly rewarding is using good quality dyes (Grateful Dyes---> http://www.bestdye.com/fabric-dyes.php ) and having proper instruction.

My mom and dad came to visit me at camp one day, so I taught them how to tie-dye: