Cover work area with plastic table cover and have paper towels handy to protect against any possible spills. Gather supplies.

Fill a medium sized bowl with very hot water.

Shake dye bottle before pouring. Wearing rubber gloves, add 1 to 2 tablespoons of your favourite shade. For this project, we used Purple. Stir well.

Test the colour by dipping a scrap piece of paper directly into the dyebath. If the color is too light, add more dye; if it is too dark, add more water.

Dip the watercolor paper directly into the dyebath. It will dye within a few seconds.

To create an ombré effect, dip the whole card in quickly and then pull the card out slowly, allowing the bottom portions of the card to spend a few more seconds in the dye. The longer the card stays in the dye, the darker it will be. A few extra seconds should be sufficient. Keeping the paper card in the dye bath too long could warp the paper.

Remove the menu from the dyebath.

To create the washed effect, use paper towel to blot.

Try dyeing the menu cards at different angles. We dyed several lengthwise, horizontal and on an angle.

Lay menus out flat on clean, dry paper towels until completely dry.

If the paper is wrinkled at all, place them under a heavy object (like a big book) to even them out.