DIY Skull Shirt

Design your own skull shirt.

There is no reason to spend unnecessary money on a skull shirt when you can custom create one yourself. Whether you want several skulls outlining the shirt, or one in the center, you can do it yourself in less than an hour using materials around your home. Skulls typically have large head with the outline of the eyes, nose and mouth. If you are artistic you can use your own design to create the shirt, or you can upload one from your computer.

Things You'll Need

• Skull photo
• Transfer paper
• Ironing board
• Iron
• Freezer paper
• Craft knife
• Fabric paint

Instructions

Iron-on Transfer

1. Upload a skull photo to your computer through the computer memory, or use one you find online. Use your "Print Preferences," located within the print screen, to reduce or increase the size dimensions of the photo. In addition, you will also need to select, "Flip, Mirror or Rotate" prior to printing the picture. The photo will need to be reversed when you print so it looks correct on the T-shirt.

2. Insert the transfer paper into the printer. Press "Print."

3. Lay the shirt on an ironing board and heat the iron to the cotton setting; this is typically the hottest setting on the iron. Do not set the iron to steam. Smooth any wrinkles from the shirt with your hand or use the iron.

4. Remove the backing on the transfer paper and place it on the shirt where you want the image. Press down slightly to stick the paper to the shirt. Keep one hand on the transfer and use the other hand to press down in the center of the transfer for 20 seconds. Pick up the iron and move it to the another part of the transfer and press down for another 20 seconds. Repeat picking up the iron and moving until the transfer begins to adhere to the shirt.

5. Glide the iron over the transfer once it starts to bond to the shirt in 15-second intervals. Press down along the edges of the transfer to ensure they bond to the shirt tightly. Remove the transfer paper to reveal your new shirt.

Freezer Paper Stencil

1. Draw a skull design on the dull side of a square piece of freezer paper. The size of the square will vary depending on the size of the skull you want to create, and the size of the T-shirt. If you are not artistic, you can print an image from your computer and trace it onto the paper.

2. Lay the freezer paper on a flat surface, and cut the outline of the skull out of the paper with a craft knife. When cutting out the skull, follow along the line you drew of the outline of the skull. You should only cut an outline of the skull from the paper; do not cut the freezer paper into a skull shape. When complete, the freezer paper should still be a square shape, with the outline of the skull cut out of it.

3. Lay the shiny side of the freezer paper over the center of the shirt. Hold the paper while you iron the stencil onto the shirt. Press down slightly around the cut edges to prevent paint from seeping under during the paint application.

4. Apply fabric paint with a brush or sponge over the skull outline within the freezer paper stencil. Dab the paint into the outline cutout where the T-shirt is exposed. Wait for the first layer of paint to dry before applying a second coat.

5. Remove the stencil when the skull is painted. You do not need the paint to be dry before removing the stencil.

Tips & Warnings

• Use photo-editing software to create your own skull graphic for the T-shirt.

• Do not iron the shiny side of freezer paper; this will cause the paper to bond with the iron.

References

• MCG Paper: How to Make Iron-on Transfers for White Fabrics
• Elle Girl; DIY: Make Your Own Graphic Tees; Jaclyn Palazzolo; July 2011
• Frugal Upstate; DIY Freezer Paper Stencils; February 2011