How to Make a Fashion Leaf Print Tee Shirt

This is a great way to decorate a tee shirt and spend some quality time with your kids and nature. It can be easily accomplished in a day. It's fun to do and oh yes remember your kids' tee shirts you were going to throw out because of those little stains, you can print the leaf designs on the stains and your tee shirt will be as good as new.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• leaves
• acrylic paint
• textile medium
• 'coated-type' paper plate
• Tee shirt (or any fabric you want to print on)
• an Iron
• Newspaper (to protect your work surface)

1. Pre-wash and dry your tee shirt or fabric but don't use softener in the rinse. This will help the paint to stick where you want it.

2. Go out for a walk. Look around for leaves, look for interesting shapes that you like. Fresh leaves that have veined backs usually make the best prints but any leaves will do, even dandelion leaves look beautiful!

3. Ok, now that you are back home gather the leaves together and decide which ones you are going to use. Spread out your newspaper on a flat work surface. Then spread your tee shirt out flat. What I usually do is place a folded newspaper inside the shirt to keep the back surface free from paint.

4. On your paper plate mix your paint with textile medium, using 2 parts of medium to 1 part paint. Use enough paint and medium to coat the back of your leaves. Use a different plate for each color if you are going to use more than one color.

5. This is the fun part a little messy, but a lot of fun. Working one leaf at a time, dip the back of the leaf into the paint getting just enough paint on it to 'stamp' the leaf design onto the tee shirt. press the painted leaf onto the shirt, making sure not to move it around. You just want to press it with the palm of your hand lightly so the shape of the leaf and the veins are imprinted, be careful not to move it around. Then lift it straight up. Let that print dry for a little while if you are going to print multiple leaves on your shirt.

6. When you are finished printing, following the instructions on the textile medium, let the paint dry for 24 hours, then heat set. Ok this is for the adults to do. To heat set, set the iron for as hot as your fabric will take without scorching, using the steam setting, lightly press, NOT rub the iron on the print for about 15 seconds making sure to go over all the surfaces that were printed on.

7. When the shirt is cool, put it on. You've just made your one of a kind work of art tee shirts. You will be the envy of all your friends!

Tips & Warnings

• ADULTS only for the ironing part.
• Most paints are easily washed with soap and water when still wet.
• When washing your beautiful new tee shirt, turn it inside out. This will protect the design.

[alltrails]

on 8/29/2009 Good article. I'm going to try this. 5 stars - thanks!