How to Paint a Spring Chick On a Child's Tee Shirt

Colorful t-shirts are the perfect canvas for the self expression of young crafters. This tutorial will show you how simple it is for you and your child to paint a colorful design on a t-shirt. A painted design brings new life to any shirt it's painted on... just look for the glow on the face of the child who's doing the painting! All that's needed is a few basic painting supplies, the proper paint and the time it takes to paint up a happy memory or two. Oh, and the best part? If you follow the manufacturer's instructions, painted t-shirts are machine washable. Painting t-shirts is a win-win crafty activity for kids, and the folks who love 'em! Are you ready to give it a try? Great! Then, let's get started!

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• White Cotton T-Shirt
• Acrylic Paints
• Textile Medium
• Fabric Brushes
• A Printed Copy of The Baby Chick
• Wax Paper
• Foam Plate for Palette
• Masking Tape
• #2 Pencil
• Sharpie Pen
• Fabric Transfer Pen
• Optional: Fabric Markers, Glitter, Rhinestones
• Not Optional: A hefty dose of good humor for everyone!

1. 
   Press

   * Prepare Your Shirt For Painting
   Press your freshly laundered shirt.
   Tape a piece of wax paper over the printed pattern.

2. 
   Pattern under shirt

   * Place the pattern inside the t-shirt, and position it where you want to paint the design, leaving the wax paper taped on top of the pattern. Trace the pattern onto the fabric with a #2 pencil. The wax paper will prevent the paint from bleeding through to the back side of your shirt.

3. 
   Basic tools for painting

   * Basic tools for painting

4. 
   Trace the design

   * Transfer The Pattern Onto Your T-Shirt
   If the fabric is too thick to be able to see the pattern, you will need to use a fabric transfer pen to transfer your design.

5. 
   Transfer pens

   *Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for proper use of the transfer pens.

6. 
   Fabric brushes

   * Paint Your Design
   Use fabric brushes to paint your design. Begin with a base coat of your entire design, then when the paint is completely dry, you can fill in the outline and details with a Sharpie pen or Fabric Markers.

7. 
   Textile medium

   * Textile Medium
   The textile keeps the painted fabric soft and pliable, as well as washable.
   TextileMedium

8. 
   Add textile medium

   * Mix two parts paint to one part textile medium, blend well; then paint as usual.

9. 
   Pocket

   * Continue to paint your design with your chosen color palette.

10. 
    Keep painting

    * One Step At A Time
    Work in small areas until your design is completely painted.

11. 
    Used palette

    * A Penny’s Worth of Paint
    As you can see, it doesn’t take much paint to create your design. Painting your own t-shirts is not only fun, it’s also good for your clothing budget!

12. 
    Sharpie for details

    * Add Details
    Fine details come to life when outlined with a Sharpie pen.

13. 
    Shading

    * Shading
    Shading is an advanced technique that adds depth and dimension to your designs. What's that? Why, certainly... I'll be happy to write that tutorial for you! Just keep an eye on my list of articles so you will know when it is completed.

14. 
    See the light?

    * See The Light?
    Hold your shirt up to the light to make sure the paint has fully penetrated the fabric. A sunny window will let you know if your design is fully covered. If you can see the light through your design, you need some more paint!

15. 
    A Baby Chick For DJ

    Your design will need to be heat set once you have completed the painting. Allow the shirt to dry for AT LEASE 24 hours, then press with a hot iron. DO NOT PRESS DIRECTLY ON THE PAINTED DESIGN! Cover the shirt with a good quality paper towel, and press with a dry iron. Use light pressure, but be sure to press the entire design. That's it, now your shirt is ready to wash and wear... not necessarily in that order, of course!
    I hope you enjoy painting this cute little shirt as much as I have enjoyed writing the instructions for you! Thanks for visiting, Clara and I will see you again soon. ~Connie~

Tips & Warnings

• TIPS: It's important to have a clean work surface, so be sure to launder your shirt before you begin painting. Washing your shirt will remove any oily residue or finishes that may prevent the paint from penetrating the fabric. For a smooth work surface, use a steam iron to press the wrinkles out of your shirt. Remember, neatness counts!
• CAUTION:
• To achieve the best results, be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions when using textile medium.
• Always provide adult supervision when using a hot iron.
• Once you have finished painting, be sure to allow sufficient "curing" time so your design won't get washed away on laundry day!

Resources

• Introduction To Crafting With Kids
• Guide To Artist's Paintbrushes

[roseanne09]

on 10/3/2009 Excellent article with very well written steps and pictures. Thanks for sharing. 5*