Halloween: Cardboard Stamped Spooky T-shirts

Up-cycle a t-shirt with this D.I.Y. stamping method!

This post was featured on The Crafty Crow! Check them out for more Halloween ideas!

http://www.thecraftycrow.net/2014/10/7-great-pumpkin-crafts-for-kids.html

you'll need Materials

• T-shirt
• Fabric paint
• Cardboard
• Scissors
• Pencil/ eraser
• Paint brush (Whoops! We forgot to include it in the photo!)
• Glue gun
• Smock

• If you want to change your t-shirt into a bag you will need a sewing machine/thread, fabric scissors and a bowl or plate.

Directions

• Sketch out the shapes you want to make into stamps on your cardboard (for example, triangles for jack-o-lantern eyes or ovals for a ghost face). Have an adult cut them out (as cardboard can be tricky to cut!).

• Have an adult glue gun a two small rectangles of cardboard onto your stamps to make a little “handle” or glue them with craft glue and allow to dry overnight.

• Don your smock.
• Put a larger piece of cardboard into your bag so as to prevent the paint from seeping through from one layer of the fabric to the next.

• Apply a bit of fabric paint directly onto the stamp and spread it out evenly with a brush. You could also put some paint in a tray and use the dipping method.

• You can apply layers of the paint (as we did below), allowing them to dry in between. (We used a pencil eraser for the wort stamp!)

• Carefully remove the cardboard insert once your paint is completely dry and enjoy your t-shirts! (Beware: Scary faces included!)

Halloween T-Shirt Bag

We ran into a little problem in that our black vampire t-shirt was too big for the kids and too small for the adults in our family so we tried this idea that we saw on the Martha Stewart site:http://www.marthastewart.com/266942/t-shirt-bag, adding a spooky twist. This would make a great bag for taking your costume to school or a party, for collecting treats or for holding a gift.

• Turn your t-shirt inside out. Sew the bottom closed with a thicker stitch. You might want to do several. Turn your shirt right side out.

• Cut off your sleeves and around the neck. Use a bowl or plate and a sewing marker to help you. You may need an adult to cut the fabric, depending on the type.

• Sew on any additional embellishments (such as glow in the dark paint accents or little jingle bells for safety.)

Purpose

• Encouraging children to re-use, recycle, reduce and re-think items.

Safety Notes

• Use scissors with care and direct supervision.
• Be sure to wear a smock to protect your clothing from fabric paint.
• If any of the embellishments you choose are choking hazards be sure to keep them out of reach from children 0-3 years of age or those that tend to put things in their mouths.