Sun Print T-Shirts

When we went away this summer with our extended family, we had some projects and activities for the boys to do with their cousins - we called it "cousin camp." One thing we did was decorate t-shirts. The instructions are here on the Family Fun website.

You'll need washed t-shirts, flour, water, a squeeze bottle, fabric spray paint, and sun.

Make a mixture of flour and water about the consistency of mustard and stir it until smooth. Put it in the squeeze bottle, and let kids make a design. The four kids had different approaches: a spiral sun, a flower, a turtle, and three monster faces. Try not to make the design too thick or it will be hard to remove.

Dry the t-shirts in the sun until the paste is hardened.

When it's dry, put a piece of paper or a plastic bag inside the shirt so the color doesn't run to the back. Spray the front with fabric spray paint. You can use multiple colors if you like, but don't spray too heavily. One bottle would do two entire shirts. I brought a contrasting fabric marker so the kids could add details; a Sharpie would work fine, too. Let the shirts dry in the sun.

Remove the dried paste - you may need to use a spoon to help you peel it off. This took a while! Once it's gone, you'll see the image in white.

The boys have worn their t-shirts a lot! They chose their designs from Ed Emberley books, and they were surprisingly easy to create with paste and a squeeze bottle.