Dyes

• Dye shirts, socks and totes with dandelions. The dandelions used should be at their brightest. Chop the dandelions and boil them in twice as much water. Once it reaches a boil, simmer the ingredients for at least 60 minutes. Put the fabric to be dyed in a large pot of 8 cups of water and 1/2 cup of salt. This mixture will increase how much dye the fabric absorbs. Simmer the fabric for at least 60 minutes. Rinse well and set aside. Drain the dandelions through a colander. Add the fabric to the dandelion liquid and allow it to soak from a few minutes to overnight, depending on how intense you want the color to be.
  
  

Prints

• Sunprint paper can be used to transform images of dandelions to paper using the sun. Purchase the small, square sheets of paper at a local crafts store. Place a piece of construction paper on your work surface. You will also need two pieces of clear acrylic. They should be the same size as the sunprint paper. Put an acrylic square on top of the construction paper. Place a piece of sunprint paper on the center of the sunprint paper. Place the dandelions on top of the sunprint paper and then top it with the second acrylic square. Place the paper in a sunny spot. No shade should touch the paper. Leave alone for no more than five minutes. Remove the flowers and squares from the sunprint paper. Place the sunprint paper in a bowl large enough so the paper sits flat on the bottom. Let the sunprint paper soak in the bowl for a few minutes. The water alters the paper to reveal the print of the dandelions.
  
  

Jewelry

• Dandelion jewelry is a simple craft even kids can make. A single dandelion can be a ring in a few steps. Pluck a dandelion. Use a toothpick to slice a tiny slit just beneath the blossom. Have the child push the end of the dandelion through the hole and tie a knot.
  
  To make a necklace or bracelet, first make a ring. Then send the end of another dandelion through the center of the ring and make a slit in the second flower's stem just under the bloom. Tie a knot underneath the second flower. Continue until you have the right length for a bracelet or necklace.
  
  

Jams

• Make delicious, dandelion-infused jams. Prepare jam containers according to the manufacturer's instructions. You want to make sure the jars are clean and ready to use for jam. If they are not prepared properly, the jam will not be suitable for consumption. In a saucepan add 2 cups of dandelions and 1 1/2 cups of water. Set on high heat and, when boiling, reduce the heat to medium low for about 10 minutes. Strain the ingredients once through a colander and then through cheesecloth. Add the liquid to the saucepan again. Set the heat to medium high. Stir in 2 cups of sugar, half a box of pectin powder, and the juice from half a lemon. Continue stirring as the sugar dissolves. Funnel the jam into containers. Do not fill all the way to the top of the jars. Secure the lids and refrigerate.
  
  

Syrup

• Fresh dandelions can be used to create syrup. Be careful when picking dandelions yourself. They can be surrounded by poisonous plants you should not eat. Visit a florist or dandelion farm to find fresh, edible dandelions. Avoid dandelions that could have been sprayed with any chemicals. When in doubt, do not use the flowers.
  
  You will need 2 cups of dandelion flowers. Remove the stems and leaves. In a saucepan, place the dandelions, 2 cups of water and the juice of half a lemon. Bring to a boil on high heat, then turn down the heat, cover and let simmer for 60 minutes. Turn off the heat. Let the dandelions steep overnight. Remove the dandelions and place the pan back on the stove. Set the heat to high and stir in a pound of sugar. Continue to stir until it reaches a syrup consistency, at least 60 minutes. Remove from the heat and funnel into a clean, dry jar. Refrigerate.