How to Create a Prom T Shirt
Prom committee and class members serving as ushers or waiters on prom night often select lightweight T-shirts as part of "staff" attire, because they consist of breathable fabrics--a must under hot prom lights. In addition, the shirts can be customized with matching prom colors and a prom logo to help locate prom staff in a crowd. With the art skills of classmates or an art teacher, art supplies and, possibly, the services of a custom T-shirt printer, members of the prom committee and class can easily make a prom night to remember with custom created prom T-shirts.
- Difficulty:
- Moderate
Instructions
Things You'll Need
- Prom committee and class members
- Custom T-shirt prices
- T-shirt design
- Cotton T-shirts
- Laundry detergent
- Silk screen printing materials (optional)
- Store-purchased stencils
- Tie-dying fabric dyes (optional)
- Fabric paint
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1
Hold a meeting of the prom committee and class members participating as staff on prom night, and decide on a T-shirt color (white, solid or tie-dyed) based on the prom's theme and colors. If any participating members have allergies to dye, paint or other sensitivities, consider using white or light-colored T-shirts instead of solid dark colors or tie-dye.
You should also decide on a T-shirt printing method, such as self-printing, ordering the shirts from a professional T-shirt printer, or using a company like Zazzle.com or CustomInk.com.
Finally, if the committee has not previously gathered custom T-shirt prices, ask the committee treasurer or the advising teacher to collect estimates and schedule another meeting to make the final decision on a printing method.
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2
Create a design for the T-shirts based on the prom theme and colors. The design should incorporate the prom name with a theme logo. If someone on the committee or in the class is a member of the school's art club or is a graphic design or desktop publishing guru, ask that person to help draft or make the design based on committee or class input. If your class has enough money to purchase stencils, you can save time by creating a design based on existing stencil designs.
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3
Take the completed design to a professional T-shirt printer or upload it to a custom T-shirt company website, if the members of the prom staff chose the professional printing option. If you are using a website, position and edit the design on the T-shirt template provided, and ask all prom staff members and the advising teacher to approve the image on the screen before making the order.
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4
Purchase cotton T-shirts, if self-printing, and wash with a mild, scent-free laundry detergent.
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5
Ask a member of the school's art club or an art teacher to help make a silk-screen stencil or purchase text and graphic stencils from a retail craft, art or department store.
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6
Schedule a T-shirt printing day with committee and class members and print the shirts. If using tie-dye, follow package instructions and dye the shirts a background color or colors. Wait until completely dry and then use the silk-screen or purchased stencils and fabric paint to apply the prom design.
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7
Allow the paint to set. If washing the T-shirts after printing, "test" wash one finished T-shirt following the instructions provided on the package of the specific dye or paint used. Depending on the brand of dyes or paints used, fading or peeling can occur with washing. If the test T-shirt fades or peels, wear the T-shirts on prom night without the extra wash.
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Tips & Warnings
Always use a mild, scent-free laundry detergent to wash any T-shirts, as a member of the prom committee or class may have allergies.
Always dry cotton T-shirts on a low setting to protect against fabric shrinkage.
