Freezer Tees
Learn an easy way to “screen print”! Bring a t-shirt and a simple design of your choice or use one of ours.
Website(s)
Title
Craft Tuts +
Web Address
http://craft.tutsplus.com/tutorials/printmaking/how-to-make-freezerpaper-stencils/
Supplies
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Freezer paper (in the aluminum and plastic wrap aisle)
Fabric paint (Do not buy the paint that must be ironed to set!! I like Tulip brand.)
Paintbrushes—I actually like the cheap “sponges on a stick” for this
Sharp scissors
Craft knife (if desired)
Cardboard or newspapers (for in between shirt layers)
Simple patterns (optional but highly recommended)
Pencils
Iron
Ironing board
Extra t-shirts (optional)
Fan (optional)
Activity:
1. Have teens find a design they like (they can bring their own, but I provide a large number to
make it easier on everyone)—simple is better!
2. Using a pencil, trace the design onto a piece of freezer paper, shiny side down.
3. CAREFULLY cut design out—any jagged edges now are going to show up as jagged edges once
you paint. Make sure you save any “inside” pieces, like the center of a B or O. You are using the
negative image to make your design.
4. Bring shirt and design up to ironing station. (I do all the ironing.) Center design onto shirt and
iron on, pressing down instead of sliding the iron around. Once design is on nice and firm, it is
time to paint.
5. Put cardboard inside the shirt. Paint carefully, running the brush from the freezer paper into the
shirt on the edges to prevent paint from leaking under freezer paper.
6. Allow a few minutes to dry, then do another layer of paint if needed.
7. Laying the design in front of a fan speeds the drying process.
8. I always tell the teens to allow it to dry for 24 hours before wearing, and to wash it inside out
after three days of curing. (This was per my paint’s guidelines.)
a. I always give the teens an instruction sheet to take with them so if they want to do it
again by themselves, they have something to refer to at home.
Both times I have done this program, I have seen the shirts the teens made worn the next day to school.
There is nothing more gratifying than that!