Now that summer is showing off her vibrant hues, I once again felt inspired to try this colorful art form. Some quick researching online showed that people were actually using Sharpie markers to dye their shirts! The method was so simple and I had all the materials at home. Score! So, I decided to give this craft a try.
Here are the materials that I used:
Here's what I did:
- I placed a piece of cardboard inside my shirt so the marker wouldn't seep through. (I only wanted one side of my shirt dyed.) Note: You could probably also use a plastic bag too.
- I channeled my inner artist and began doodling on my shirts. Note: I used old markers which didn't have much ink in them. I recommend using juicy, new, fat markers. Then you can put more ink on the shirt and get a better effect.
- I stretched my t-shirt over a baking pan to catch the alcohol. Note: Again, you could probably just do this part with a plastic bag.
- I used my dropper to drip alcohol onto my design. A couple of drops was all it took to make the marker bleed.
- I let my shirt dry.
- I ironed my shirt to set the colors. (Note: This didn't work because the colors still bled when I hand washed the shirts. Other people suggested placing your shirts briefly in the microwave or dryer.)
- I hand washed my shirts.
Want to see the results?
Here's my first attempt:
My inspiration came from beach waves and fourth of July fireworks.Here's my first attempt:
The design reminded hubby of a dental x-ray.
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| Hmm... crafty or crappy? Not sure if I'm digging my design... |
And here's my second attempt: (This time I tried something simpler.)
All in all the method worked relatively well. The colors were vibrant and reminded me of watercolors. But, the markers bled during my hand washing, resulting in staining on the back of the shirts. Also, the rubbing alcohol and markers smelled A LOT. So just be sure to do this in a well ventilated room!
Have you tried using sharpies to dye your clothes?