Try these Easy but Beautiful DIY Graphic Tee Ideas!

Now that it’s summer, you can shed your heavy sweaters and coats and unpack your boxes of t-shirts. If you have any plain or unwanted tees, here are three easy-to-do and creative ideas to spice them up! DIY graphic tees are the new trend with their simple yet bold elegance. You can start your summer with blazing style and wow your friends with your new glamour!

 

1. The Iron-on Transfer Paper Tee

This tee might look simple but it lets you customize any plain tee with whichever pictures you want! Remember that cute duckling picture you saw the other day? Why not stamp it onto your tee to share the cuteness?

 

What you’ll need:

• Plain Tee (any color will do)
• Computer or laptop (to print the image you want)
• Printer
• Iron-on Transfer Paper (can be found in Jo-Ann’s)
• Clothes Iron (ask your parents for help if need be, the iron can get very hot)
• A flat working surface that is heat-resistant (don’t use an ironing board)
• Pillowcase

 

Step 1: Search for an image

Find an image on the internet, Google is helpful, that you are happy with. Make sure you really like this image because once it’s on the tee, you won’t be able to take it back. Size it however you want, just don’t make it too big and as a tip, experiment on regular paper first to see which size you want.

Step 2: Print your image

Print the desired image using the iron-on transfer paper. Follow the given instructions for printing (it should be a manual or on the package for the paper) very carefully and if needed, ask your parents for help. Once you’ve printed the image out and have let it dry, cut the image out.

 

Step 3: Ironing the image

Follow the instructions for using clothes iron to transfer the image onto your desired tee (the instructions should be on the package). Preheat the clothes iron to its highest temperature and don’t use steam. Ask your parents permission and/or help to use the clothes iron and be careful not to touch the bottom of the iron as it is very hot! Put the tee on the pillowcase and then place your printed image face down on the tee. Using circular motions and light pressure, guide the iron over the transfer paper and make sure to rub the iron all over the image (be especially thorough with the edges. Every part of the image should have about 15-20 seconds of heat.

Step 4: Finishing up

Once you’re done, allow the transfer paper to cool for about 5-10 minutes. Put your hand over the transfer paper to see if there is heat radiating off. If there is, don’t touch the paper. When it has cooled, gently peel off the transfer paper and let your tee dry for another 5-10 minutes. Once it’s dry, you’re done! You now have a personalized, stylish tee!

2. The Paint-on Tee

If you love patterns then here is the tee for you! This modish tee is sure to capture the attention of family and friends with its straightforward yet chic design.

 

What you’ll need:

• Plain tee (any color you want)
• Sheet metal with a pre-cut pattern (can be bought at a hardware store)
• Cardboard
• Tape
• Fabric paint
• A couple sponge brushes

 

Step 1: Setting up the tee
Find a flat work surface onto which you can place your tee. Smooth it out and then place the cardboard in between the two layers of the shirt. This provides a firm layer that is perfect for painting and also prevents the paint from seeping through!

Step 2: Placing the sheet metal
Take the sheet metal and place it against the tee. You can place the tee however you want such as diagonally, in the center or any other angle you wish! Then tape the sheet metal down in whichever position so that it doesn’t move around.

Step 3: Painting the tee
Ready your fabric paint and shake it a few times to mix it well. Place some of the paint onto a paper plate or other and then use your sponge brush to paint over the holes in sheet metal. Make sure to use firm strokes to get an even coat of paint onto the shirt. Try not to brush over the edges of the metal and onto the shirt, keep it within the confines of the sheet.

Step 4:
After you have finished painting over the sheet metal, let the shirt dry for 20 minutes. Relax or eat a little snack as a reward for your hard work. Don’t remove the metal before the shirt is dry but if you’re careful, you can take the tape off.

Step 5: Finishing up
Once the paint has completely finished drying, remove the sheet metal. Voila! You now have an amazing, fashionable tee that you have made yourself! Accessorize with a necklace or scarf and then pat yourself on the back and flaunt those flashy patterns to the world.

3. The Stella Tee

Unfortunately, you don’t always have an unlimited budget to spend on cute clothing. However, with this cool DIY tee idea, you’ll save money and stay fashionable. Get ready to show everyone your beautiful shoulders!

 

What you’ll need:

• Ruler
• Scissors
• Sewing kit (ask parents for permission and/or help)
• plain tee (any color)
• a sheet of gauze (cloth, not the medical kind)
• a bow that you can sew on

 

Step 1: Cutting the shirt
Using the ruler, draw a straight line that passes under the armholes of the tee. You can use chalk or a pencil so that the line is noticeable enough. Next, use the scissors to along the line that you drew earlier. Try to cleanly cut as straight as possible because you don’t want the tee to look ragged or uneven along the cut line.

Step 2: Tracing the gauze
Now that you’ve cut the shirt, you should have two pieces of the shirt, the top half and the bottom half. For now, put the bottom half aside and take the top half; it should have the sleeves and collar. Using the scissors again, cut the shirt apart so that you have two more pieces of the top half. Place these on the gauze (the shoulders tips should be touching) and then trace the outlines of the pieces on the gauze. Once you’ve finished tracing, cut out the shapes you have traced.

Step 3: Sewing the tee
This is probably the most complicated step of making the Stella tee. Please ask your parents for help if you are inexperienced with sewing. Take the bottom half of the tee out again and align it with the gauze pieces so that the pieces look like a whole tee. Sew the gauze top halves to the bottom half and remember to sew on the inside of the tee so the stitches don’t show.

Step 4: The Bow
Time for the cherry on top of the sundae! Take the bow and place in the center of the boundary between the gauze and the shirt. Now, sew it on and you’re done! A beautiful fashionista is ready to amaze the world!

 

 

Stay beautiful, you wonderful fashionistas! Which graphic tee would you choose to do?