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"Design a T-shirt" Party Activity for Kids
Decorating T-shirts is a wonderful activity for a preteen party - and all of the guests will get to take fun, long-lasting mementos of the party home with them.
Materials Needed:
Newspaper
Cardboard
Containers for paint
1 white T-shirt for each guest
A variety of T-shirt decorating materials (available at hobby, fabric, and art supply stores)
Paintbrushes and sponges
Batik supplies (crayons, paraffin, a muffin tin, a boiling pot, a hot plate, an iron and ironing board, fabric dye, a large container, paintbrushes, an old towel and paper towels)
Cover the table with newspapers to prevent a mess and set out all the art materials. Then insert a sheet of cardboard between each T-shirt to make painting easier. It helps to let the kids create designs on paper first, or have a finished T-shirt for them to look at.
The kids can paint the T-shirts using many different techniques. Just read the directions on the paint packages beforehand to know what to do. Another decorating technique, called batik, is also fun.
To batik the easy way, buy several packs of crayons, pick out a few primary colors, peel off the wrappers, and break into pieces. Place the pieces separately in an old muffin tin, along with a piece of paraffin the size of a sugar cube. Hold the muffin tin over a pot of boiling water to melt the ingredients. Then set the tin on a hot plate to keep the crayons melted while the kids use them for painting.
When the T-shirts are painted, have the kids crumple them into a ball and dip the entire shirt into a large container of fabric dye. The dye will color the unpainted areas and seep into the cracks created from crumpling the shirts. Remove the shirts from the dye, rinse them thoroughly in cold water, and allow them to air dry until they're just slightly damp.
Lay the T-shirts on the ironing board covered with an old towel, and place several paper towels on top of and underneath the painted area of the T-shirts. Iron off the wax by heating the painted area, pulling off the paper towels when soaked, and repeating until the crayon area is soft. Set the finished T-shirts in indirect sunlight or fresh air to dry.
Creative Options
Rather than painting T-shirts for themselves, the guests can paint special T-shirts for each other.
Make simple awards out of construction paper to give to each guest under fun categories like "most colorful," "strangest," or "funniest." (Remember to have awards for every single person.) Pin the awards on the T-shirts so the kids can wear both home.
Have the kids make T-shirt designs that go along with the party theme or that are signed by all of the guests - this will help them remember the special day!
Prizes and Favors
Give everyone some T-shirt paints to try the activity again at home.
Trouble-Shooting Tips
Make one T-shirt ahead of time, using the t-shirt design ideas you plan to try at the party, so that you know how to do the technique. This will help prevent mistakes during the real event.
The batik process requires adult supervision at all times. Working with hot wax and an iron can be dangerous, so do these steps yourself. If you need help, ask for adult volunteers to come to the party.
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