31/01/2013

DIY // A MONSTER OF AN IDEA...

So after my ok success with the first round of t-shirt painting I decided to give it another go. Mainly becasue a) I enjoy it, b) this time Stan could join in, and c) I'm desperately trying to stop myself buying all the kiddo clothes I'd really like which is far too expensive for a girl on a freelance budget.

So here is what I did. I bought a very cheap (but organic, oh yes, a girl still gotta have some principles!) t-shirt I liked from H&M for approx a fiver. I already had the paint left over form my last attempt and so the project was definitely a winner in the budget area. While Stan napped I started the main bit of the design. I am such a control freak there was no way I was going to let him totally freestyle. I didn't plan it out, which maybe was a mistake but I had a rough idea in my head of what it might look like, and hey I just rolled with it.

I washed and ironed the t-shirt to get any residue of the manufacturing process off it and to make sure it wasn't going to shrink. I cut an old piece of cardboard the shape of the t-shirt and popped it inside so any paint wouldn't seep through onto the back. Then I painted on eyes and legs of the monster. I then waited for these to dry and then ironed them to 'set' them. I didn't want Stan to paint over the eyes so I cut out masking tape to protect them as well as a simple template for him to go crazy within. (I used newsprint, but any paper would do the trick.) Then I let him loose. Well, in the sense he's a control freak like his mother, so loose isn't that loose at all. In fact it was joyful controlled jabbing of paint brush in the selected area. That's my boy!



He did pretty well filling in the shape. I helped out on a few bits to tidy up any missed bits at the end, but really he did most of it. I waited for the paint to fully dry, which did take an hour or so and then ironed again over newsprint to set the paint. The good thing is if you were to get any paint elsewhere you just don't iron that bit and it should come out in the wash. I peeled off the eyes and template and was fairly happy with the result except I thought he looked odd without any facial features, or arms. Hmmmm, maybe planning my design would have been better! I decided to add some arms, and a nose in the green paint I already had and felt much better about it. In hindsight now I think I would have cut out a template in the masking tape for a simple nose and mouth, I reckon that would be great. The simple strong black and white works well for me, It would be easy to do lots of these and just use different coloured t-shirts, or baby bodies etc.





It washed up pretty well as you can see from the pic above and below. Although it is supposed to be a cheap option it is REALLY addictive! I already want to do another to see if I can improve on it as a character, which would totally defeat the idea of me saving money!
Oh well....











































UPDATE: a chance to win one of five copies of 'The Girl with the Bird's Nest Hair' here.....go on, enter! You never know your luck!

20 comments:

  1. This is such an amazing idea!! It looks great. I wish I had kids so I could make them myself!


    chlo
    www.bythelock.com

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  2. Wow the t-shirt turned very cool.
    I've tried doing this for my 2 yr old, but with much simpler design (moustaches!!).
    There is a great product you might like to try called Reynolds freezer paper, you cut your design stencil and then iron onto the fabric where it sticks, and then just peel off when your finished painting....genius.
    Thanks for your great posts, I tried the homemade snack bars and they were a raving success

    Sandesh

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    1. Oooh thanks for the tip I'll look out for it.

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  3. Sarah you've done it again! That t short looks amazing, something I'll definitely try this, but probably nowhere near our cream rug! It makes me a little on edge seeing it so close to the rug and a toddler! Stanley must be super careful because Theo would have literally rolled, splashed, wiped and smeared that paint everywhere!

    Xx

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    1. haha, he is sooo controlled i never even worried about the cream rug!

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  4. This is great! I think the control freak element is completely needed, and you managed it in such a great way. Love it!
    Jude x

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  5. Oh my gosh! It turned out so, so great. I love it. And I think he does, too!

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  6. Love it! Just found you via Che and Fidel and then realised you're just down the road from me. Love your work.

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  7. FAB! Stanley looks so proud to be wearing his monster top! What a gorgeous team effort, I love it!

    I've been screen printing t.shirts and baby grows for friends little ones for a while now, and while I love doing it, its a faf to do and get the screens ready - t always works out more expensive than I mean it to when you add on all the things needed for the screen printing. I think you're getting much nicer results with the brush! Stanley's a very lucky boy to have his own collection of hand made illustrated tops! Look forward to seeing then next one ;)
    Emily xx

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    1. Thanks emily, very sweet of you. Yes think the brush marks work ok in this project, but I'd like a cleaner line sometimes and I think screen print is best for that....

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  8. Oh my gosh. this is great. I totally hope I do this for one of my boys.

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  9. That is so adorable! I love that your little one participated, too. I paint a lot of shirt/pants around here, and I had no idea about "setting" the paint with an iron... no wonder it fades in the wash. Thanks so much for the tip!

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    1. You're welcome! It is just what I think it said on this particular paint bottle.... Maybe not needed for all? I've no idea, I'm new at this and keep learning along the way!

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  10. I'd buy this in a heartbeat!

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  11. That is adorable--I love that he had a hand in its creation.

    My best,
    Jo Farmer

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  12. I LOVE THIS IDEA!!!! Please teach me and J some basic co-ordination so that we can do it too? Hxx

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    Replies
    1. You can come and visit and have an arts and crafts day in brighton with me and Stan!

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