Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Freezer Paper Stencils Tutorial

I posted awhile back about my friend Sarah at Rum Tum Crafts gifting me with shirts she made with Freezer Paper Stencil designs. I loved the look and easy idea, so I finally took the time to try it out last night.

I bought a couple 100% cotton American Apparel shirts on Amazon.com, picked up some freezer paper at the grocery store and a few fabric paints at WalMart. Shirts & Supplies: $20.

I did a clip art search for images and decided on an elephant profile, since we like elephants in this house. I also pulled a kitty cat image from the Robeez Coloring Pages to match her shoes. I printed the images on regular paper to scale for her shirts, but I read you can run the freezer paper directly thru most printers (print on the matt side.) I just taped the design behind the freezer paper then used an Exacto knife to cut out the image.

I put the freezer paper, shiny side down on the front of the shirt. I put a second piece of freezer paper in between the shirt layers to prevent the paint bleeding through and ironed it all in place with my iron on the cotton setting.



Then I used a brush to paint in the image. I used Polymark flat fabric paints because they came in a big selection of colors and are only 95 cents a bottle.





After the paint dried, about an hour, I pulled the paper off to check it out.




I left them to finish drying overnight, then turned the shirts inside out, backed the image with a dry paper towel, and ironed the shirt to heat set the image. Done and ready to wear!



It was just as fun and easy to do as Sarah said it would be! I'm already thinking of other designs and colors to use to make more. The boys really like them, too, and asked for mom to make them shirts.

6 comments:

Beverly said...

I LOVE those shirts! You did such a great job! I will have to try to make some for Noah! Thanks for sharing the idea!

Brandie said...

Ella's shirts turned out great! Thanks for sharing this idea. I love making shirts for my girls, we'll have to try this.

My name is Sarah said...

OH very cool. I love them.

Sarah said...

Yay!! You tried it!! Told you it was easy. Now, be warned... it is addictive. Seriously.

Happy New Year!!

JennyH said...

Those are so cool.

Course, Ella looks super in them!

Granny Bear said...

Thank-U SO VERY MUCH for showing us this "Freezer-Paper-Stencil-Paint-on-Shirts Method"!! Yr Step by Step detailed explanation, with accompanying Photo's, to show people {like me¿} HOW it's actually done, is GREAT!! I am MOST Sincerely grateful, &....if I manage to source the "Requirements" here, in UK, I shall definitely give it a go & let U know!! :-) I have 6 little Grandchildren who'll be VERY happy if I manage to be successful!!
With BEST Wishes to U & yr Family, Kindest Regards~ ALWAYS!! :-{} xxx♡