| It is fun and rewarding to make your own t-shirts. That | | | | Fabric paint: |
| goes for adults and it certainly goes for children too. | | | | Painting is another great way, but of course, now |
| They love it. It's an easy activity for the family to do | | | | we're heading into some messier territory. With this |
| together on weekends, at home or at the cottage. | | | | method your children can really feel like artists. They |
| Your kids could invite friends over and make t-shirts as | | | | can do it freestyle with brushes, rollers, fingers, |
| a group on a rainy day. It's a fabulous activity for | | | | commercial stamps or homemade ones made from |
| parties and sleepovers. Depending on the methods | | | | potatoes or whatever, spray, splatter....you name it! Or |
| you decide to use and the age of your kids, | | | | if they want a more polished and neat look, they can |
| homemade t-shirts can be a terrific distraction that | | | | lightly draw it on first with pencil and fill it in with fine |
| requires little supervision, and it doesn't even have to | | | | brushes, or use a stencil. |
| be super messy. In this article, I'll outline the best | | | | Stenciling: |
| methods for making tees with tots. | | | | That brings us to our next method which is stenciling. |
| Make your own t-shirts online: | | | | This is low-tech and inexpensive, but the part of cutting |
| The least hands-on way is by going to one of the | | | | out the stencil can be time-consuming. For young |
| many online businesses where you can upload a photo | | | | children, the parent should probably do the cutting, as |
| or graphic, and they will print the shirts for you and | | | | you'll need to use a sharp knife. I recommend a very |
| send it by mail. It's not much of a craft project, but your | | | | simple image to start with. If your kids are older, they |
| kids can have unique t-shirts with a picture or drawing | | | | can try designs that are a bit more complicated, and |
| on it that's personal and special to them. | | | | can carefully cut it themselves. For instructional photos |
| Iron-on: | | | | or videos, you can buy books or DVD's, or search |
| If you want a real arts and crafts project to do at | | | | websites like Youtube, or for free tutorials. |
| home, one easy way is iron-on transfers. This is not | | | | Silkscreening: |
| messy at all, but the kids can still feel like they've made | | | | Screen printing is the most complicated and labor |
| their own very unique article of clothing. And of course, | | | | intensive, but if your kids are old enough, they might |
| they can use a drawing that they've made, artwork | | | | really enjoy it. It'll take more research on your part, and |
| from their favorite movie or record, or words with | | | | you'll need to buy more supplies to do it, but it could be |
| song lyrics, jokes or messages. It's best to scan it into | | | | a great thing to do with teens. |
| a computer first so that you can reverse the image in | | | | Sewing: |
| a photo editor. This is especially important if there is | | | | Also if your kids are over about nine years old, or if |
| any text. If the image works equally well forwards or | | | | you think they have the patience and coordination for |
| backwards, then you don't have to worry about | | | | sewing, you can cut and sew shirts together, put on |
| reversing it. Some printer software will give you the | | | | patches, sew on beads and sequence, fun fur, charms |
| option to choose transfer paper, and it will | | | | or whatever other fun thing your imagination can |
| automatically print the reverse image for you! | | | | conjure up. Make something wild, for everyday wear |
| Fabric Markers: | | | | or for dress up. |
| Another not so messy and very easy way is with | | | | Have fun with whatever methods you choose for |
| fabric markers. The kids can literally draw or write | | | | your family to make your own t-shirts, and be sure to |
| directly onto the t-shirt. It needs to be set briefly with a | | | | supervise any potentially dangerous parts of the |
| hot iron and then you're good to go. | | | | process (sewing, cutting, or ironing)! |