Warm weather is coming and it is time for warm weather clothes to make their appearance. Many people will be thinking about buying new clothes. Well instead of buying new clothes why not make new shirts. This will allow the family to get involved but the kids will also get to have a say in what their clothing will look like. These shirts are easy to make and will be lots of fun for the family.
Things you will need:
Baking potatoes (if you want to do polka dots, you should use the fingerling potatoes, because they are perfect), Fabric Paint in whatever colors you would like, Metal Cookie Cutters (these are optional but will make shapes easier) and Washable Cotton Shirts, paper plates and a piece of cardboard.
Steps:
Start by slicing a potato in half. If you are using cookie cutters, press one of the cookie cutters into one of the sliced halves of the potato. If you are not using cookie cutters, draw the shape you want on the top of the potato and then proceed to carve the shape out of the potato half.
Take the cookie cutter and push it all the way through the potato, make sure you keep the potato steady on the table while doing this. Break away the excess potato and then poke the shape out of the cookie cutter. Blot away any moisture from the shape with a paper towel.
Using a paper plate spread out some fabric paint out. Using separate paper plates for each color will help to keep the colors from mixing. Dip your potato shape into the paint a few times, by moving it around you will ensure you get an even coat. For a clean shape wipe the paint off of the sides of the shape.
Slip a piece of cardboard inside of the shirt; this will stop bleeding to the back of the shirt. Stamp the shape onto the shirt, pressing firmly down for five seconds. The paint should fully dry before adding shapes close to the ones you have just done.
Some tips for doing the shapes.
Flowers: Use a blossom cookie cutter to make the top part. For the leaves you can use a knife or an aspic cutter that is used for shaping jellied garnishes. The stem is something that can be carved with a knife.
Letters: These are easily done with the use of letter cookie cutters. Make sure that you place the cutter on the potato half so that the letter is backwards, this will allow it to come out right when it is stamped.
Polka Dots: The fingerling potatoes are perfect for these. All you have to do it cut off the tip of the potato and you are set to make polka dots.
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That tulip tee looks so cute.
I’ll bet the kids would love doing this craft.