Homemade natural wood paints/stains..

[skeegan23]

Does anyone have any ideas for painting/staining wooden toys with things around the kitchen?? I made a few toys for christmas gifts and had the thought of trying to color them with things like beets, curry, coffee... lol... am I crazy or would that work?? I'd love to try it. Anyone ever done this and know where to start? I know the colors will probably come out very subtle, more like a stain rather than a paint but I'm fine with that. TIA.

[70toes]

I'm doing this exact thing right now! I think all of your ideas would work really well! Whatever you choose to use, just make it heavy and not too watered down. I'm using watered down tempera paint and it's turning out great. Another idea is Kool-Aid. I don't know if you just have that lying around, but I think it's pretty cheap. But like I said, don't add too much water or it won't work.

[Pumpkincat]

I too have been wanting to do this. I wonder how you coffee dye, i am looking for info on that. Do you know how?

[Amila]

My friend just started a business: tickitackitoys, on etsy. She uses beets blueberries, coffee, etc and finishes it with flax oil and beeswax.

[amandaleigh37]

My friend just started a business: tickitackitoys, on etsy. She uses beets blueberries, coffee, etc and finishes it with flax oil and beeswax.

Wow those are so pretty!

This site has some different ideas for natural toys.