At the request of my daughter (and my delight), we do a lot of projects. A lot. Some simple and some quite messy. And when things are going to get messy, mom insists on a smock – of sorts.
Ever the “green” mom instead of purchasing a smock for art projects, I rescued one of my husband’s old undershirts from the trash. Sure it has a few tiny holes, but for an over-sized smock that covers my daughter’s entire outfit it works great. The problem – the undershirt turned smock often gets mixed back in with my husband’s undershirts in the laundry.
The need to clearly differentiate K’s smock from the rest of the pack, lead to its own project – decorating an art smock.
Materials:
- Upcycled shirt, of any kind
- Crayola fabric pens
- Newspaper
- Iron
After sliding newspaper into the shirt (to prevent color from bleeding through), I let K loose on the shirt with the markers. Thrilled to be allowed to write on her shirt, after very clear rules about general marker usage, I sat back as she created her masterpiece.
While I waited, I also read the instructions on the package. Good thing too because the fabric markers are not officially set until you iron the design (inside out on a cool setting) then toss into the dryer (alone) for 30 minutes on medium. Zoinks that could have been a laundry disaster!
Once she was satisfied with her creation (at least for now), I set to work “setting” the design. I have a feeling this will be a work in progress and foresee future requests to add on to her smock. In the mean time, she has wearable art to protect her clothes from accidental art disasters that will no longer be mistake as just another undershirt.
(Note: Ironically, this project requires the use of two shirt smocks, one to decorate and one to wear while decorating. Because, of course, fabric markers are not washable!)
The Crayola fabric pens come in bright for darks. Although the pens we have are clearly intended for dark color fabrics, we used them with easy on a white t-shirt too.
This is an easy and fun project that is both green and practice too.
Giveaway – this giveaway has ended and the winner has been contacted.
Disclosure: The information, products and additional Crayola Back-to-School gift pack was provided by Crayola® through MyBlogSpark.
0
keely hostetter says
October 4, 2012 at 9:46 amSome fun shirts or bags for my kids
Brittany K. says
October 4, 2012 at 10:46 amI would make big brother/little brother shirts & let my sons decorate them. 🙂
Debra Hall says
October 4, 2012 at 8:54 pmPillow cases are always fun
apple blossom says
October 4, 2012 at 9:16 pmcards
Jan Messali says
October 4, 2012 at 9:17 pmI’d like to create an art smock with my grandson.
Tonya Fullenkamp says
October 4, 2012 at 10:19 pmShirts for kids. That’s going to be so fun!
Auri Lae says
October 5, 2012 at 5:05 amWe have a baby due in a few weeks – I’d decorate some clothes and bibs!
LaTanya says
October 5, 2012 at 7:26 ama tee shirt
Danielle T says
October 5, 2012 at 10:24 amI would let my daughter and son create their own tshirts!
christine jessamine says
October 5, 2012 at 11:00 pmi would love to have my kids create a fun art piece on a blanket
Tracie Trump says
October 6, 2012 at 1:25 pmLove to make tshirts, my fb is Michelle Trump and my email is [email protected]
Suzie says
October 8, 2012 at 12:47 pmI would do special t-shirts for the kiddos!
Danielle Royalegacy says
October 11, 2012 at 8:33 pmProbably a special shirt
Sarah says
October 11, 2012 at 9:13 pmI would help my girls decorate shirts, aprons, anything we can find really and then give the stuff we make to family for Christmas:D
Nina says
October 12, 2012 at 2:10 pmWe’d personalize my son’s backpack!
Karen Medlin says
October 13, 2012 at 11:27 pma tote bag for grandma for a holiday gift
Annmarie W. says
October 14, 2012 at 7:41 pmMy daughter would love to use them to decorate some bandanas…and a swim bag!
Richard Morris says
October 14, 2012 at 11:42 pmcustomized t-shirts w/my daughter
Kristi C says
October 15, 2012 at 2:49 amI would create some tees to wear to the childrens soccer games.
Sabrina M says
October 15, 2012 at 9:30 amMake home coming shirts for when my husband comes home from deployments !! We love making these !!!
jen says
October 15, 2012 at 1:12 pmThank you to you and your husband for your service.
carol says
October 15, 2012 at 10:18 amI would give it to my grandkids to crate a t shirt of their own design
Kelly H. says
October 15, 2012 at 11:05 amI would let my daughter design her own tote bag.
Caryn S says
October 15, 2012 at 11:50 amA tote bag for our library books
Monique Rizzo says
October 15, 2012 at 12:26 pmId let my daughter design some fun Christmas Tshirts.Thanks for the chance.
[email protected]
Melissa JN says
October 15, 2012 at 12:45 pmWe want to make personalized fabric napkins for Thanksgiving!
jen says
October 15, 2012 at 1:12 pmWhat a cute idea!
Mary Happymommy says
October 15, 2012 at 12:46 pmWe would create a pillowcase dress.
Ann Fantom says
October 15, 2012 at 1:51 pmI would let my daughter decorate her gymnastics practice T-shirt
Sabrina M says
October 15, 2012 at 2:11 pmThank you !!
Nicole D. says
October 15, 2012 at 3:12 pmA fun tablecloth for the kids table at Thanksgiving!
beth shepherd says
October 15, 2012 at 4:32 pmWe would design shirts for grandmas from the kids
Heidi says
October 15, 2012 at 6:15 pmI would create some tote bags with my girls.
Amy says
October 15, 2012 at 6:18 pmsome t shirts to give as gifts to grandma she loves homemade things from the grandkids
Christine says
October 15, 2012 at 6:23 pmtee shirt
Donna L says
October 15, 2012 at 8:19 pmI would give it to my granddaughter to have fun with it.
Linda G. says
October 15, 2012 at 9:13 pmI would like to create a T shirt with my grandson
renee walters says
October 15, 2012 at 11:28 pmCustomized t-shirts for my kid’s!
Anastasia says
October 16, 2012 at 2:23 amThe girls and I would make our own, custom t-shirts! 🙂
janice says
October 16, 2012 at 2:26 amtote bags
Karen Gonyea says
October 16, 2012 at 5:39 amSome cool pillow cases 🙂
Denise S says
October 16, 2012 at 7:48 amI’d let the kids do tee shirts.
brittney says
October 16, 2012 at 8:21 amshirts for school functions!
brittneydejajason at gmail dot com
Michelle Bryan says
October 16, 2012 at 9:00 ama tote bag
Mary Beth Elderton says
October 16, 2012 at 9:28 amMy grands would have a lot of fun using the markers to decorate big t-shirts to sleep in.
carol gentry says
October 16, 2012 at 9:48 amChristmas gifts for my grandkids
Jeni Lutz says
October 16, 2012 at 11:36 ama t-shirt
Erica C. says
October 16, 2012 at 1:03 pmWe would decorate tote bags.
McKim says
October 16, 2012 at 1:57 pmI would let the kids at my grandson’s birthday party each create a t-shirt.
Kristy Thiel says
October 16, 2012 at 2:51 pmwe’d create a fun pillowcase!
Stephanie says
October 16, 2012 at 4:55 pmA fun night shirt for my daughter, she loves running around in her pajamas.
Jessica To says
October 16, 2012 at 6:18 pmI would have my son do a shirt for his grandparents.
Brittany Shifflett says
October 16, 2012 at 6:27 pmI’d have my daughter create her own design on a shirt. 🙂
Kelly L says
October 16, 2012 at 7:32 pmI’d let my girls make their own t-shirts. Thanks!
Ericka says
October 16, 2012 at 7:43 pmA Halloween shirt
Melanie says
October 16, 2012 at 8:35 pmI’d let my 4-year-old make her own shirt. She would love it!
Melanie Montgomery says
October 16, 2012 at 9:09 pmI’d make some customized tshirts.
freebies city says
October 16, 2012 at 9:39 pma top for my little dude’s play
Harolde says
October 16, 2012 at 10:03 pmA beautiful T-shirt for our granddaughter.
amy deeter says
October 16, 2012 at 10:46 pmi would have my kids make some tshirts
Angela Cisco says
October 16, 2012 at 10:49 pmI’d let the kids design their own t-shirts
Kayla says
October 16, 2012 at 10:55 pmI’d make a new bag to carry my stuff in!
stony says
October 16, 2012 at 11:08 pmI’d decorate a new bag for the kids stuff
Samantha Meyer says
October 17, 2012 at 12:17 amSome fun family t-shirts!
Noreen says
October 17, 2012 at 12:24 amDecorate tote for Girl Scout meetings
Deb K says
October 17, 2012 at 4:26 amI would let the grand-kiddies make t-shirts
Sarah says
October 17, 2012 at 6:03 amPersonalized tote bags
Amy DeLong says
October 17, 2012 at 7:10 amsome type of halloween tees
ardelong2(at)gmail(dot)com
Julie says
October 17, 2012 at 9:04 ammy daughter would like to decorate a tote
thanks
Ciara B. says
October 17, 2012 at 10:34 ami would decorate some of my son’s clothes
Kelsey Little says
October 17, 2012 at 12:48 pmI would let my neice help me and we would make something for her 🙂
[email protected] dot com
tina page says
October 17, 2012 at 1:29 pmdesign an apron maybe for gma. the kids made one for me years ago and i adored it.
Tiffany says
October 17, 2012 at 1:39 pmI’d make tshirts with inside jokes for me and my friends
Chrissy Nestor says
October 17, 2012 at 1:51 pmI’d decorate T-Shirts with my daughter.
chrissylea1979 (at)gmail(dot) com
Mariah says
October 17, 2012 at 2:01 pmI would let my kids decorate an apron for Grandma for Christmas.
Nikki Thoresen says
October 17, 2012 at 2:38 pma “Big Sister” shirt for my daughter and “Little Brother” shirt for her new baby brother. : )
jenny says
October 17, 2012 at 2:56 pmI would like my daughter to decorate a shirt
Karine Traverse says
October 17, 2012 at 3:44 pmI would let my girls decorate some of the shirt and pants they got stained and just have a fun craft day
kathy pease says
October 17, 2012 at 5:29 pmwe would make tshirts for my sons basketball games
Beth Palacios says
October 17, 2012 at 6:13 pmI would give my daughter’s a blank T Shirt and let them design whatever their little hearts desire. 🙂
Laura Proctor Unger says
October 17, 2012 at 6:50 pmI think I’d get a plain white hat and let my son design whatever he wanted.
mary gardner says
October 17, 2012 at 7:20 pmi’d make t shirts with my kids
jagar0047 at yahoo dot com
shanta spradlin says
October 17, 2012 at 7:25 pmI would let my daughter design a shirt
Nicole N says
October 17, 2012 at 7:46 pmMy 5 year old wants to be a fashion designer so I could let her go to town on a few white shirts.
carol lewis says
October 17, 2012 at 7:59 pmChristmas windows with the grandkids!
laura ari says
October 17, 2012 at 8:00 pmI costume for our Halloween parade.
Sarah Harding says
October 17, 2012 at 8:04 pmI think I’d have the kids make an apron for there dad
Sand says
October 17, 2012 at 9:36 pmI would make holiday tee shirts.
cynthia layton says
October 17, 2012 at 9:45 pmlots of t shirts