I went to the craft store and bought some wood pieces and sisal rope so that I could start working on making toys for my inivisible bird (still havent found out when its happening). I read about some people using Wilton's cake dye. Well, because I am cheap and this is the first time I am doing this-I bought the dye for dying candy. It comes with 4 different colors and was only $4--which was a lot less expensive than the Wilton's cake stuff.

I dont know if it worked yet, but I do know that my hands are very colorful at the moment. I am never cautious when it comes to getting things on my hands. Anyways, I will let you guys know if it works okay. If so, it is definately a cheaper alternative to Wiltons.

And make sure you show us pictures when it is done.

A friend of mine has a toy business and they use the Wilton Cake Dyes. I know their hands are always very colourful! I believe others here have used Koolaid...

Have fun toy-making!

I've used several products...But to get the vibrant colors I like I found Wiltons to be the best...others have used koolaid.. but it didn't work well enough for me in the quantity that I was making up...

You know, if you'll spend a few bucks on a box of latex exam gloves, your hands won't get messy....

But it doesn't really matter what type of dye you use as long as its food quality...

Alright, I assembled it this evening and had my husband hold it up for it's picture. I dont think that I would recommend the candy dye now that I am finished. It doesnt like to mix well with water. So I decided to paint it on and let it sit for several hours. Now, I dont know how well it works with Wiltons but with this dye I had to do a lot of wiping off the colored, waxy residue left on them. There are a couple of things I would have done differently, but its done.

Yeah, I actually gave away a bunch of latex gloves that I had, but everytime I go to do a craft project I wish that I would have kept them. I painted something with spray paint the other day and got it all over my hands (not realizing that it was CAR spray paint). I was left with silver hands and no amount of water or soap got that stuff off!

I wasnt able to attach the picture so here is a link

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w150/absster/DSC_0936.jpg

Very nice...

Wiltons doesn't leave a residue... But you can use easter egg dye as well or just plain ol' food coloring like for making frosting for cup cakes etc...

Good job, it looks great!

(and for future reference, you just need to click on the button that says add picutre and paste the link in there. )

I am definately going to try a couple of differnt methods because I bought $30 in wood parts today . I figure I will try the different ways of doing it too see which ones seems to work the best.

I tried to do the attach picture thing but I kept getting an internet explorer error. It might just be something cooky going on right now.

Very Good Job!! (Was hoping to see the colorful hands that matched too) That is going to be one spoiled birdie!

Wow!! For a first time job, I am very impressed!!! And the colours look great! Very even throughout.

If you're looking for toy making ideas, there are a couple of yahoo groups that do this for birds. I have a g/f who is in one and she makes some fabulous stuff!!! Very high quality and I would be totally willing to purchase it from her (but she sends me free stuff instead ).

I make bird toys and we have soaked wood in koolaid and i have also use childrens water paint they are non toxic

I think I am going to try the kool-aid technique next time.

And I am, also, going to check out the place that Carrie Anne mentioned. I love new ideas!! It gives me a personal challenge.

Does the coloring normally come off when you wash dyed wood? Mine is doing that and I was just wondering if it is normal.

yes some of the dye came off our toys when we washed them.

alrighty-thanks

That is a really great toy. Wish Morgan would get into toys. All he is into is building.

awwww.thanks!!!!! building stuff is fun, too