The HCMSU DIY Diaries: T-Shirt Stenciling

Everyone loves a personalized tee shirt, for movie premiers like Twilight, or for a club or sorority.  The only problem is the price.  Getting professional printing can easily run your savings down.  So if your group or club is running low on funds and needs to get a group t-shirt I have your solution.  Using a household item like freezer paper as a stencil will let you have great looking t-shirts at a perfect college price, and it is a bonus group-bonding experience!

To make your own stencils for the perfect personalized shirt, bag, or really any fabric based product you want to personalize!  You will need Freezer Paper, which can be found at any grocery store, paint, in the color you want, a paint brush or foam brush, a piece of cardboard (optional), an iron (not pictured), and either an x-acto knife or scissors.

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First, Take the freezer paper and draw or print your design on the non-shiny side of the paper.  You may want to start heating your iron at this point as well.

After sketching your design cut the design out using either an x-acto knife or scissors.  The cardboard can be used if you are cutting with an x-acto knife, it will prevent you from cutting your legs, table, floor or whatever surface you are cutting on.  If there are words in your design then make sure to save the middle liners to letters like P or O, just set them aside for now. 

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Now that your design’s stencil is cut place it on the fabric, shiny side down.  Be sure to place middle liners in your letters if you have them.  Get your iron and iron the freezer paper onto the fabric.  Then place the cardboard underneath the fabric you will be painting to prevent leaking.

After you apply a liberal amount of paint peel the stencil off carefully.  Do not let the paint dry with the stencil on the fabric.  After letting the paint dry you’ve got your new T and are ready to go!