Cheat Silk Screened T-shirts - a tut

This summer was my first time working the two week camp our Montessori school has for 4 to 8 year olds.   Each year the kids make a shirt as a keepsake.  My daughter Jocelyn showed me this technique.

SUPPLIES:

• T-Shirt
• Embroidery hoop
• Sheer fabric
• Hard coat Modge Podge
• Fabric Screen Printing Paint
• A squeegee like you would use in the shower.  Make sure it will fit within the hoop.

DIRECTIONS:

1.  Decide on your design. I used the words 'Discover, Observe, Explore in a circle using Word.  Print out your design.  

2.  Place the fabric in the hoop and pull the fabric tight!

3.  Place the design under the fabric in the hoop and using a pen trace the design on the fabric. 

                                       

4.  Now take a paint brush and paint all the areas except the parts where you want the paint to come through.  You can hold it up to the light to see if you've missed any area.  Go all the way to the edges and you'll have to do a couple of coats. 

                                       

5.  Place a piece of cardboard inside the shirt to protect the back. Place the hoop down where you want it on the shirt.  Spread some paint along the top of the project area and take the squeegee and pull the paint straight down over the fabric.  You only need to do this one time. Carefully remove the fabric/hoop. Sorry I don't have a picture of that. I took them but apparently I lost them in cyberspace.  It took me a couple of tries so practice on paper first.  You can wash the hoop when done and reuse it.

6.  Once the paint dries iron the back of the front to set the paint.

I made almost 30 shirts. The kids and parents really liked them. We had the kids put their handprint in the center and then they used their fingerprints to make a few bee's flying around.

Thanks for stopping by.  I appreciate you and your comments!

Blessings,