Create a Design
Easy - Take a picture of the guest(s) of honor and upload it to your computer.
Medium - Draw a design on paper and scan it into your computer. You can also allow each guest to design their own t-shirt.
Most Involved - Create a design on the computer in your graphic editing program. If you don't have one, try out a free version such as the open source editor, GIMP.
Tip: The image you create on the computer will end up reversed on the t-shirt. Make sure to reverse your text before printing. Your graphics editor can probably help with this.
Choose and Prepare the T-Shirts
Buy t-shirts at your local craft store or large discount store. Dharma Trading is a good source of bulk t-shirts and even the iron-on transfers.
Some craft t-shirts will need to be pre-washed before decorating. Make sure not to skip this step because the design may be ruined if the t-shirts shrink after decoration.
Print the Transfers
Read the directions for your iron-on transfer paper and follow them carefully. Before using your transfer paper, print a test of your design to make sure that it fits on the paper and t-shirt. And don't forget to make sure that any text is reversed on your original design!
Print your transfers one at a time on your printer so you don't have problems with jamming.
Iron the Transfers onto the T-Shirts
Once again, read the directions on the transfer paper before starting.
You'll want to use your iron with no steam, so empty any water from the iron before starting.
Iron the transfers onto the t-shirts. Make sure your iron has heated completely and work carefully to ensure the whole design is transferred.
- You can create a special t-shirt for each guest by including a unique message or photo specific to that guest.
- For small parties, you can create the t-shirts on site and let each guest participate in the design. For larger parties, you'll need to do most, if not all, of the work in advance.
- Give guests fabric markers or paint so they can sign each other's shirts or add their own special touch.
- If it's in your budget, plan on an extra t-shirt or two in case you make a mistake.
- Custom t-shirts are also fun for family vacations, field trips, gifts and rainy day craft projects.
- Computer with a printer
- Iron and Ironing Board
- Blank t-shirts
- Iron on Transfers (see Step 3)
- Graphic/Photo editor (optional)
- Digital Camera (optional)
- Scanner (optional)
- Fabric markers, dye (optional)
- Art supplies - markers, colored pencils, paper (optional)
