How to Paint T-Shirts with Sponges

Sponge painting on T-shirts brings out the artist in everyone. This is truly a craft that all ages can participate in and enjoy. Painting sponges come pre-cut in all shapes and sizes, or grab a pair of utility scissors and a kitchen sponge and make your own design.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• T-shirt
• Iron
• Clothing paint
• Large piece of heavy cardboard or an old box
• Thumb tacks
• sponges
• Styrofoam plate or paint palette
• Paper towels
• Rubber gloves
• Utility scissors

Prepare a T-shirt For Sponge Painting

1. Buy a shirt in at least one size larger than you need, for shrinkage. Wash and dry the shirt on low heat to reduce shrinkage. Iron the wrinkles out of the entire shirt.

2. Use utility scissors to cut a piece of heavy cardboard to fit the shape of the body of the T-shirt.

3. 

   Use thumb tacks to secure the shirt to the cardboard so you have a stable base for painting and the paint won't bleed through.

Techniques for Sponge Painting on T-shirts

4. 

   For this craft you will need fabric paint. Tulip makes a great fabric paint that comes in every color imaginable and with or without glitter. Fabric paint is easy to find at Michaels, Hobby Lobby, or any of the major craft chain stores. For this project, I used Tulip Soft fabric paint with pearl finish in Shamrock Green and Lilac. Sponge painting on T-shirts takes a good deal of paint, so consider using a separate paper plate for each paint color you are using. Pour some fabric paint on one side of the plate or palette; not too much at once as you can always add more.

5. Put on rubber gloves and grab a piece of sponge. Now the fun starts.

6. Soak each sponge shape in clean water, then wring out until damp.

7. Put the sponge in the paint so as to cover the entire bottom of the sponge design. Move the paint around on the plate for better sponge coverage. Add more paint if needed. Don't completely soak the sponge in paint or the edges of your design will be fuzzy. If too much paint is applied to the sponge, blot on a paper towel.

8. 

   Spread newspapers on a table and lay the T-shirt flat on top. Holding the sponge directly over the top of the shirt, bring the sponge down and set it where you want the design. Use the sponge like you would a stamp. For a more dappled effect, use less pressure on the sponge when stamping out the design. No need to let dry when changing colors of paint; sponging on all colors at the same time gives more of a blending effect.

Tips & Warnings

• This is a great craft to have kids help make their own clothing styles.
• Experiment with paint amounts, colors and sponge texture on an old T-shirt first.
• Rinse sponges in cold water immediately after use and hang to dry for repeated use.
• Always supervise young children when using paint products.