DIY Network

Teen Time Even the coolest teen will find something to love about these young-at-heart designs. From "Creative Juice" episode DCRJ-506

(Continued from page 3)

Picture this: a technique for transferring your favorite images onto colorful cotton T-shirts. We’ve got an easy way to do it right in your own home!

advertisement

Tattoo T-Shirts

Tattoo T-Shirts

Materials:

100% cotton T-shirt (in a medium hue such as brown, green or blue)
scrap piece of cardboard (larger than the image to be transferred)
tattoo image, laser-copied/printed, trimmed to no larger than 5"x7"
waxed paper
Plaid Picture This opaque transfer medium for use on colored fabric
paper towels
foam paintbrush
optional: sandpaper

1. Wash and dry T-shirt to remove any sizing.

2. Place cardboard between the front and back of the T-shirt to prevent possible bleeding of medium (figure A).

3. Cut out image and make a laser copy (figure B). Place the copied image face-up on a piece of waxed paper. If the image includes text, print and then copy the mirror image of the file. Using a foam brush, apply a thick (at least 1/16") coat of Picture This opaque transfer medium to the top of the image (figure C).

Figure A

Figure B

Figure C

4. Peel the image up and place coated-side down on the front of the T-shirt. Use the medium bottle to lightly roll over the image (figure D). Cover the image with a paper towel, if desired.

5. Remove paper towel and press the edges of the image down, blotting any excess medium from the sides of the image as it is pressed.

6. Let dry 24-48 hours.

7. Wet a sponge or washcloth and saturate the image. Rub with the sponge/cloth to remove paper from the image (figure E). Wait 30 minutes and rub again until all paper is removed. Air-dry for 72 hours.

Figure D

Figure E

8. Wash the T-shirt in a washing machine.

9. To achieve a vintage look, sand the collar and hems to make the shirt appear rough and used.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5