Decorating a T-Shirt is easy when you do it like this.  All you have to do is make a simple stencil & paint it in.  You can make it anyway you want it.  You’re only limited by your imagination.

I did this step by step tutorial for a very dear friend who wants to make a T-Shirt for her first granddaughter.  (that’s why this tutorial is so packed with pictures) She’s still on the fence about becoming a crafter.  Once she tries this, I’m sure she’ll go on to many more.  (it really is that easy)

Here’s what you’ll need:

T-Shirt (pre-washed, no fabric softener, and dried)

Freezer Paper

Small Scissors (I used cuticle scissors)

Pen

Small piece of scrap paper (to cut your heart shape from)

Green Fabric Paint (I was out, so I used Acrylic Paint & Textile Medium)

Paint Brushes

Iron & Ironing Board

Fabric Glue

Green Glitter

Foam plate or Plastic Lid (I like using plastic lids, they’re washable & reusable)

With your scrap paper, fold it in half & cut out a heart shape. (just like you did in grade school)  On the dull side of the freezer paper, trace around the heart 3 times to form the Shamrock.

                           

Add a tail/stem to the shamrock.  Using small scissors, cut out the shapes.

                      

You’ve made your stencil.

Now you need to decide where you want the shamrock to go on your T-Shirt. (It’s your shirt.  Put it where you want it)  Then press it lightly into place on the T-Shirt (shiny side down).

                           

Gather your supplies together. (don’t worry about Textile medium if you’re using fabric paint)  If you’re using Acrylic paint, you’ll have to mix it with the Textile medium)

                       

Paint in your Shamrock Stencil, starting on the paper & working the paint in towards the fabric.  This will keep the edges crisp.  Fill in the shamrock.

Apply a second coat if needed to touch up any areas that you might have missed.  Let it sit for a few minutes, then peel off the freezer paper.  (I don’t know why this picture turned out so light but you get the idea)

If this fits your shirt, go on  to the glitter section towards the bottom.  I thought this shamrock was too small for the T-shirt.  It needed more. So I made some more stencils to add more shamrocks.

I used the original stencil to make 2 more additional stencils.  Just trace inside the original stencil.  I repeated the pattern for one stencil & then  I flipped it over to make the shamrock’s tail face the other way for the second stencil. (Cut the stencils into manageable pieces.)

Cut these stencils out using the small scissors. Place them where you want them on the T-Shirt & press them lightly into place. (just like you did with the first one)  Paint them in the same way that you painted the first one.

Peel off the stencil after letting the paint set up for a few minutes.

It actually looks very nice as it is.  But I just can’t leave well enough alone.  (the glitter was calling to me)

Gather up your glitter supplies:  (fabric glue, glitter, paint brushes, & a plastic lid or foam plate)

Paint in the shamrocks with the fabric glue.  Pour the glitter on to the fabric glue areas. Repeat for all of your shamrocks.

Let the glue dry.  I usually let it sit for about 1/2 hour.  Then using a soft, dry brush I gently brush off any excess glitter onto a folded, then opened sheet of paper.  The fold makes it easy to pour the glitter back into its container.

I usually take the T-Shirt outside and give it a good shake or two to make sure the excess glitter is gone.  (I’m sure my neighbors think I’m a little nuts)

Pour the excess glitter that’s on your paper back into its container.

And your shirt is done!  It’s really easy.  You can do it.   Make it your own.  Add words, more shamrocks, what ever suits your fancy. Most importantly, Have fun with it.