Stained Shirt? No Problem!

Boys are messy. Really, really messy. They think nothing of wiping their mouths and noses on their sleeves, and more often than not end up wearing part of their meal on the front of their shirt. I hate to relegate a shirt to the Saturday bin just because they spill something that doesn't come out, so when I found out about freezer paper stenciling I just had to give it a try! I have to admit, I'm thrilled with the results and can't wait to try more projects in the future!

Project: Freezer paper stenciling

Time: 25 minutes initially, plus drying time

Skill Level: Easy Peasy!

First off, the shirt. It's not terribly easy to see in the picture, but there is a yellowish reddish stain the size of a 50 cent piece on the front, probably some sort of pasta sauce.

Print out a silhouette of whatever image you want on your computer. Just google the name of the image+silhouette and print out what you like best. Make sure to reduce or enlarge your image to the size that best fits your shirt, and remember, you have to cut it out. Simpler designs work better.

Tape it securely to your surface so it doesn't shift.

Cover with freezer paper, tape in place.

Using an exacto knife, begin to cut your image out.

Here it is, the main design cut out. Not quite done yet...

Remember to cut out any pieces that go in your design, like the eyes and nose here!

One finished stencil.

Lay your stencil on your shirt, making sure that the painted area will cover the stain you are trying to disguise. Iron your design on. MAKE SURE THE SHINY SIDE IS DOWN!!! Otherwise your stencil will stick to the iron, not the shirt.

Lay your shirt on a flat surface and insert cardboard inside the layers to keep the paint from seeping through.

I decided to mix two colors for this design, I liked the blue that I was using but decided to add a little black to make the image a little darker. (Also, make sure you use fabric paint, not another kind.)

Using a sponge brush, dab the paint on over your stencil. I like to dab rather than brush to make a nice crisp edge. I also didn't completely cover the image evenly since I was trying to go for a more aged look.

Once covered, let it dry completely. This is the hard part, resist the temptation to pull your stencil off and your image will be cleaner!

And here you go! One fixed shirt. The stain is no longer visible and my son is very excited to wear his new pirate shirt. Make sure to follow the washing instructions on the paint and enjoy!

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The Frugal Girls