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Unplugged Project: DIY Shirt Transfers

Oct 20th, 2008 by Alicia

This week’s theme at Unplug Your Kids was wax. I decided to try this cool crayon transfer craft that I found.

Here’s what we did.

I gave each child a sheet of sandpaper (turns out fine grit works best but we had coarse) and had them each draw a picture nice and heavy with good quality crayons.

We cut out the designs and positioned them over light colored, cotton shirts. I put paper inside the shirt to keep the crayon from bleeding through and ironed on cotton setting for a couple of minutes, giving bursts of steam to further heat it up.

We let it cool a minute and then gently peeled off the sandpaper. Then I put a piece of waxed paper down and ironed over that to further set the design. Again, we waited a minute for it to cool and then we lifted it off.

The finished designs are not as bright or clear as the originals on the sandpaper but they are really neat. It does help to really color the design fully and make it nice and thick.

Be sure to climb trees while waiting your turn to do your shirt.

Last step: frolic.

Posted in Unplug Your Kids, crafts | 11 Comments

11 Responses to “Unplugged Project: DIY Shirt Transfers”

on 20 Oct 2008 at 6:20 pm1 Kez

that is so cool! I wonder why the sandpaper works?
on 20 Oct 2008 at 7:54 pm2 Michie

I like the last picture of them lying in the leaves wearing their new shirts!
on 20 Oct 2008 at 8:10 pm3 Alicia

Kez, I think the sandpaper works because it rubs off larger concentrations of the crayon than just paper, so there’s more to melt into the cloth. With the coarse sandpaper it made the pictures more “dotty” because of the large grains and big chunks of crayon. It’s kind of a neat effect though!
on 20 Oct 2008 at 8:15 pm4 Becca

I really like tha idea!
on 20 Oct 2008 at 9:00 pm5 Mom Unplugged

I am very happy you did this! I have been wanting to try sandpaper iron-on transfers to paper for some time now, so it is fun to see the results. How will it wash? I do hope you post about the washability of the shirts. Even if they are only temporary, they are lovely. And that last photo is just SO cute!!!
on 20 Oct 2008 at 9:43 pm6 Bobbie

that smiley face is adorable

good idea to try
on 20 Oct 2008 at 10:30 pm7 Risa

Love it! This goes in my file of future projects.
on 21 Oct 2008 at 4:54 am8 Julie K in Taiwan

Great project and great photos. Thanks for the tips.
on 21 Oct 2008 at 6:52 pm9 Shawnna

I love how they turned out! Looks like a beautiful day too
on 21 Oct 2008 at 6:55 pm10 Jessica

This is too cool. We are going to have to try this one!
on 22 Oct 2008 at 12:00 am11 Louisa

After grating crayons to stick my fall leaf/waxpaper ironings together - this appears to be a great follow up, will be getting sandpaper tomorrow!