Outdoors · Arts & crafts

Ice dye T-shirts

Pile ice on scrunched T-shirts, sprinkle dye powder on top, and let the melt create watercolour patterns.

  • Ages 6–12best for 7–12
  • 1–2 hoursabout 30 mins of prep
  • Prepare days aheadplan below
  • $20–$50about $35
  • Backyardon a hot day
  • Adult-ledhigh mess

Plan it

Good planning makes a good day. Tick things off as you go.

1Days before

2Day before

3On the day

0 of 4 done ·

You'll need

From home

  • Old cooling rack or tray
  • ice
  • rubber bands
  • buckets
  • plastic sheet

To buy

  • Ice dye or tie-dye kit (includes dye and gloves)
  • white cotton T-shirts
🪄 Wizard's tip

The big reveal is next morning. Write names on the tags with a laundry marker first so nobody fights over who made what.

How to do it

  1. Soak the shirts as the kit instructs and scrunch them onto a rack over a tray.
  2. Cover with a thick layer of ice.
  3. Sprinkle dye over the ice (adult, with gloves).
  4. Leave until the ice fully melts, usually several hours.
  5. Rinse in cold water and wash on its own.

Younger kids: Use a ready-made kit; adults handle the powder and kids scrunch the shirts.

Older kids: Plan patterns: spiral, crumple or stripes, and design colour placement.

⚠ Safety Wear gloves; dye stains skin and surfaces. Adults handle dye powder and don't let kids breathe it in.

Builds CreativityFocus & patiencePlanning & organising

Clean-up 20 minutes, plus a separate wash.

Make it a bigger day Wear the shirts on a beach day or family outing.

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Ice dye T-shirts