How to Make Your Own T-Shirt

If you make your own t-shirt at the family reunion, it’ll save money. Plus, the process is bound to create great family memories and stories.

You can ask family to bring their own used or new t-shirt, or, if you’re worried they’ll forget, you can provide the shirts. Many fabric and craft stores sell inexpensive, ready-to-decorate t-shirts. Online, you can find many companies that will help you with t-shirt design.

If you need more ideas for homemade personalized shirts, read on. Here are some of the methods that the kids and I have enjoyed.

Make Your Own T-Shirt:
Tie Dye

time: 45-60 minutes; plus the shirts have to sit overnight to let the dye set

instructions: Follow package instructions to mix the dye. Decide on t-shirt design, then fold, bunch and/or roll the shirt accordingly. Secure with rubber bands. Place shirt on newspaper (that will help absorb extra liquid). With clothes and hands protected, squirt dye onto shirt. Let the t-shirt sit overnight inside a zip lock bag. Rinse and wash, following package instructions. Warning: This project can be very messy – but it’s also my favorite! Do yourself a favor and work outside.

Make Your Own T-Shirt:
Draw with Flour Paste

time: 30-90 minutes

instructions: Lay shirt flat. Place newspaper, a paper grocery bag, cardboard or other protective material inside the shirt. Mix flour and water together in a bowl to make a thick paste. Pour about 1 cup of paste into a zip lock bag and seal. Very carefully, snip a tiny, tiny bit of plastic off one corner. This will make a squeeze bag – similar to those used by cake decorators. Using the paste, draw whatever design or picture you choose. Then spray paint the entire shirt. Use one or several colors. Allow the shirt to dry completely. When the paste is completely dry, simply peel it off and - wa-lah! You’re done.

Make Your Own T-Shirt:
Paint with Freezer Paper

craft supplies needed: freezer paper, iron, scissors, pencil, clip art image (optional), fabric paint

time: 45-60 minutes

instructions: Draw or trace your design onto freezer paper. (Tip: For easier tracing, make your own light box. Simply hold your work against a window while you trace. This works best on a bright, sunny day.) Carefully cut out the shapes and images. Place the freezer paper – slick side down – onto the shirt and iron with low heat. This will make the paper stick to the shirt just enough to give you a guide and crisp edges. Lay shirt flat. Place newspaper, a paper grocery bag, cardboard or other protective material inside the shirt. Paint. Allow to dry, then remove paper.

Make Your Own T-Shirt:
Paint with Stencils

craft supplies needed: paper, pencil, scissors or craft knife, paper, stickers (optional), fabric paint

time: 30-45 minutes

instructions: Draw or trace shapes or designs onto paper. Large stickers also work well. (Tip: We used plastic stencil templates and over-sized alphabet stickers from the scrapbooking aisle. Contact paper also works well.) Place on shirt. Lay shirt flat. Place newspaper, a paper grocery bag, cardboard or other protective material inside the shirt. Paint. (We used a fabric spray paint and were finished in less than 5 minutes!) Allow to dry; remove paper. Depending on the look you want to create, use stencils to create positive or negative images. (See sample photos.)

Make Your Own T-Shirt:
Use your Hands and Feet

craft supplies needed: hands, feet, fabric paint, paper plates, newspaper (and lots of soap and water for clean up!)

time: 20-30 minutes

instructions: The trick to successfully decorating t-shirts with hand and footprints is to have everything prepared and set out before you start, especially if you’re working with little (read: “wiggly”) kids. Lay shirt flat. Place newspaper, a paper grocery bag, cardboard or other protective material inside the shirt. Fill the sink up with soapy water. Pour paint onto paper plate. Dip hand or foot in paint. Practice making prints (and use excessive paint) on the newspaper. Then press your hand or foot on the t-shirt and wash up. I’ve found it helpful to paint just one color at a time. I’ve also had great success with acrylic paints for this project – although clean up is a little more difficult.

Make Your Own T-Shirt:
Fabric Crayons and Markers

craft supplies needed: crayons, markers, clipart (optional), iron

time: 30-45 minutes

instructions: Lay shirt flat. Place newspaper, a paper grocery bag, cardboard or other protective material inside the shirt. Place clipart under t-shirt fabric and trace with markers. OR, with special fabric crayons, color a design on paper and then iron onto shirt. (Fabric crayons are my least favorite method for personalized shirts, as you have to color words and letters backwards. I also struggle to make the image dark enough.) Markers and crayons are a great for writing your favorite t-shirt sayings.

A few final thoughts...

1. Don't forget to take pictures along the way! You'll want them when you make your family reunion photo book.



2. When someone comes up with a particularly stellar (or ugly) t-shirt design, award them with a personalized certificate.



3. If family crafts make you smile, I have a whole list of fun family crafts for you to try.



4. T-shirts make perfect uniforms when it comes time to divide into teams for relay races and games.



5. Speaking of t-shirts... Don't forget to celebrate your visit to Family-Reunion-Success.com by sharing your best family reunion ideas! Not only can you help contribute to this website, but you'll automatically be entered to win a FREE t-shirt. (A winner is randomly chosen every 6 weeks from all those who have made submissions.) How can you not love "FREE"??