We love a good color changing secret message around here… and there are lots of plants that will change color depending on pH levels. One of them is the Blue Butterfly Pea flower which turns from a beautiful deep blue to bright pink in the presence of an acid. The pink is perfect for a secret valentine!
Color Changing Blue Butterfly Pea Valentines
A fun and easy way to make valentines or valentine’s day art with plants!
Materials:
- a handful of dried blue butterfly pea flowers
- boiling water
- watercolor paper
- foam brush
- matte acrylic medium (you can also water down white glue a bit, but it will be shiny)
- a lemon
Method:
Pour just enough boiling water over the blue butterfly flowers to cover them. Let them steep until cool and then strain out the solids and reserve the blue liquid for use.
Paint the blue dye evenly over a sheet of watercolor paper. Let if dry completely, then coat again until you have a nice rich even blue. Dry completely.
Cut your paper into heart shapes (or whatever shape you want) big enough to write your message on.
With a small paintbrush and the matte medium, paint you message onto the hearts. You can also draw a picture. The medium will turn the paper very slightly greenish which is helpful because you’ll be able to see where you painted. (It is because the medium is more basic as opposed to acidic) It’s barely visible once it dries though so don’t worry about it. If you don’t have matte medium you can add a little water to white glue, you want it to soak into the paper not sit on top. (Which is the reason for the water) Allow to dry completely.
Give your valentine to it’s recipient with a half of a lemon (You could also use lemon juice or watered down vinegar with a brush) or do the color transformation yourself! Rub the cut side of the lemon over the heart and watch as it instantly turns bright pink and anything that you painted with the medium stays blue.
Happy Valentine’s Day!