Apparently concentrated Kool-Aid can be used as a pretty effective leather dye.
I was making a drink while cutting the snaps off some new straps for my pauldrons and I got curious, so I tried it, thinking, “ok even if this works, it will just wash out.”
Nope.
It took the “dye” (undiluted) in about 3 seconds. After drying for about an hour and a half, it would not wash off in the hottest tap-water. It would not wash out after soaking for 30 minutes. It did not wash out until I BOILED it, and even then, only by a tiny bit and it gave it a weathered look that was kind of cool. Add some waterproofing and I’d wager it would survive even that.
That rich red is only one application too. Plus it smells great, lol.
So there you go, cheap, fruity smelling leather dye in all the colors Kool-Aid has to offer.
WELL THEN!
this may be important to some of my followers *and certainly not just getting reblogged because of my costuming and my boyfriends desire for leather armor*
When I was in middle school we used to use it to dye our hair. Potent stuff.
If you’re dying anything with kool-aid it’s best to use SUGAR-FREE ones otherwise the thing you’re dying might get all sticky
the flavor only packets where you are supposed add sugar are the best. they will dye any natural fiber: leather, wool, cotton, hair, flax, jute, silk and so forth. heat the dye water so it is more potent. let dry then rinse excess out in cold water. there’s a whole system to this.
Oh my god
This will prove very useful for any future cosplays I wanna do.
(goes back to fretting about cost of all the bills suddenly piling up again because two cars to pass inspection, vet bill for Rona, and the extra costs on structural repairs on 2nd floor, wheee panic. Anyone who wants to still help contribute to the Fundraisening so there is continuous moar fic: paypal.me/flamethrower )
Tansy. It’s lovely, and forms a neat clump, and then seeds itself around your garden with about seven million tiny seeds, 150% of which germinate. Please help, I’m drowning in tansy over here.
Iris. Old fashioned iris, to be specific. Orris root, dried, is used to fix perfumes in potpourri and perfumery.
Soapwort.
Many old-fashioned roses, which will sucker all over the place into an impenetrable thorn hedge. (My Goal around the yard, and why I planted Hansa, which is doing a lovely job of it. Also, tasty hips and flowers.)
Zucchini. Any squash, to be fair.
Daylilies.
(All parts edible, buds and root bulbs particularly tasty. Form neat clumps and will outlive you, your house, and possibly the human race)
Hollyhock. Decorative and edible. Ground root is a good dress for bruises, swellings, and ulcers.
Ostrich fern. Loves shady damp spots like Genghis Khan likes conquering, and the fiddleheads in spring are absolutely delicious.
Wild grape.
Chives.
Wormwood; similar situation to the tansy. Please send help.
Fennel and dill, which, if you let go to seed, will seed themselves like tansy.
Violets; delicious and indestructible.
Yarrow.
Cucumbers ARE a squash, btw.
Note to self: plant chives in the center of the garden this year.
(Because I don’t know what to do with some of the rest, it’s a low garden and all food stuffs, and squash are not this year damnit after last year’s too many cucumbers to eat them all. Also, yarrow is a little bastard that is never allowed in my garden again because around here it outcompetes mint, and I already have a very persistant enemy in the ground ivy.)
Pet peeve relating to documentaries: refering to a predator hunting for food as sinister or using other words with similar connotatations in describing something that isn’t a herbivore, and thus painting any non-herbivore as inherently some level of evil simply for wanting to eat. Especially common if the predator in question isn’t a mammal, and/or tends to ambush/trap its food rather than chase it.
(Today’s iteration of it involves glow worms, and silk threads covered in mucus. Just because they’re pretty doesn’t mean that the hungry little bug on the end is evil.)
Having ADD [or ADHD] makes life paradoxical. You can superfocus sometimes, but also space out when you least mean to. You can radiate confidence and also feel as insecure as a cat in a kennel. You can perform at the highest level, feeling incompetent as you do so. You can be loved by so many, but feel as if no one really likes you. You can absolutely, totally intend to do something, then forget to do it. You can have the greatest ideas in the world, but feel as if you can’t accomplish a thing.
Hey guys. I hate that I have to keep asking for help, but right now I’ve got 13$ in my account after paying for school things. School starts Monday April 9th. I’ve got four days to scrape together the bare minimum.
I need in order:
100$ application fee. I can set up a payment plan, but I do not have ANY of it right now. I’m gonna be getting some cash from a job soon, but for now? I’m broke.
I’m going to need to get TO and FROM school. That’s 4 days next week, 15$ a day with bus and train fare both ways. That’s also 60$ I don’t have.
As for eating, I’m gonna have to figure that out. I have some lunch things at the house, and some food stamps renewing soon, but for right now my income is still zero, not including food stamps.
Anything helps guys. Y’all have already been amazing, and THANK YOU for everything you’re doing to help out. I’m looking at crowdfunding options for this, but also I’m in the process of taking out further student loans. I’m also looking for a part time job that’s going to pay me enough to scrape by.
Until then, much as it GALLS me, I do need your help. I wouldn’t be this far if it weren’t for this awesome community, and I’m hoping y’all can help me get a little farther.
I’m over halfway to my personal goal for April, short of rent! Anything still helps mind, and I’ve managed to get a hairpin comission from the front desk lady, but I’m still trucking along on your awesome donations.
To the person who donated 100$: THANK YOU! You paid my admissions fee all at once. I cried when I saw that show up in my paypal. Holy shit dude.
There’s a job fair April 30th. If I can make it that far, I’ll be good. I’ll have a chance at an industry job after that, and I know that it’s gonna be easy as fuck to get a salon receptionist job with my experience, just my area is tough I’m hoping that I can end up as an assistant colorist in six to eight months.
You’ve literally saved my life everyone. I can eat, I can get to and from my next career education, and I’m almost to the point where I can finish April without screaming. I’m almost there!
I’m hoping that I can end up as an assistant colorist in six to eight months.
There's a Mirror on the Wall 