Painted Graffiti Shirt

Turn a boring white top into a piece of art for this t-shirt transformation. Use stencils and fabric paint to create a fun and unexpected design on your Painted Graffiti Shirt from Savannah Starr. This is a great way to upcycle an old shirt that's too big and boxy. Cut it up, add some color and wear it with pride.

Materials:

T-shirt – style of your choice
Scissors
Freezer paper (to insert inside t-shirt) or Tulip Fashion Form
Tulip Soft Fabric paint – colors of your choice
Small paint roller and tray
Tulip Fabric markers – black (or colors of your choice)
Alphabet stencils – re-positionable
Cardboard shapes or stencil designs of your choice

Instructions:

To transform a plain t-shirt into a tank top, cut off sleeves.
To cut the same size on each side, place cut sleeve over un-cut sleeve to use as pattern guide for cutting.
Cut away neckline.
Insert freezer paper inside t-shirt to keep paint from bleeding through to back side.
Pour paint into paint tray and pick up paint with roller.
Roll paint onto t-shirt. Reapplying paint to roller as desired. (I like to start with my lightest color first.)
Pour next color of paint into tray, pick up paint with roller and roll onto t-shirt.
Continue to apply each color. Don’t over-roll or your colors will start to blend together and lose their vividness. Be sure to paint right up to the sides and top of shoulders.
Place re-positionable alphabet letters on t-shirt.
You can also cut and place other cardboard and paper stencils onto t-shirt.
Apply next color of paint over stencils carefully so that the letters do not shift. Repeat process by rolling paint over other designs.
While paint is still wet, remove lettering and designs. Let paint dry completely.
Outline the alphabet letters with fabric marker.
Create the look of dimension by broadening the lines along the side and top of each letter.
When you are finished, you will have designs that look very dimensional. Let dry completely.