Things You'll Need:
- Alphabet stencils
- Fabric paint
- T-shirt (any light color)
- Seamstress chalk or a pencil
- Masking tape
- Heavy cardboard
- Paint brushes
- Paint sponges
- Newspapers or drop cloth
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Step 1
Wash the t-shirt before painting. Make sure that you start with a clean t-shirt by washing it in a mild detergent in cold water. Tumble dry on low, making sure that it doesn’t shrink up with the heat of the dryer.
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Step 2
Insert the cardboard into the t-shirt. By placing the cardboard inside of the shirt it will reduce the chance of paint going through to the back and it will also give you a flat surface for you to paint letters on the t-shirt. Pull the sleeves around to the back and securely fasten with masking tape; this will make the t-shirt tight enough to paint your letters without smudging the paint.
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Step 3
Visualize where you want the letters and mark it with seamstress chalk or a pencil. You can use a ruler to measure the size of the letters from the stencil and get a more precise placement of the letters. Space them out evenly, making sure that all of the letters will fit in the area where you want them.
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Step 4
Position the stencils onto the t-shirt where you have made your marks. Use a small amount of fabric paint in a dish to dip your sponge in and dab a couple of times so that the paint isn’t too gloppy. Holding your stencil steady, dab the paint filled sponge directly on top of the stencil area where the t-shirt is visible. Continue with each of the letters on your t-shirt.
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Step 5
Add any designs that you would like to after the letters are finished. You can use the sponge to make an abstract print or dab it around randomly to make a one of a kind fashion statement. Let the paint dry for 24 hours before wearing your new custom made t-shirt.
