You’ll have so much fun painting t-shirts with rollers that, soon, you might not own a tee that isn’t painted. It’s quite addictive to paint t-shirts and the roller technique will become a favorite of yours. Unlike other t-shirt decorating techniques, you get to use stickers, tape, shelf liner, or other unusual things. Let’s get started with the fun!
Choose the tee you want to paint and slide plastic between the front and the back of it. Tape the shirt to a table and it will make it easier, later, to roll on the paint. Tape the top, the bottom, and both sides, to secure it.
Decide on the design you’d like. You have many choices when it comes to actually making the design. One way you can do it is to cut pieces of tape and stick them to the shirt. With this method, you can create fun stripes, plaids, and geometrical designs. Use skinny tape, like Scotch, for narrow stripes, and wide tape, like duct tape, for wide stripes.
Another way you can make the designs on the shirt is to use shelf liner. Use a stencil to draw anything from pets, to flowers, to a holiday scene. Or, draw designs by tracing around things you already have at home. Cut the images out, peel off the adhesive paper, then stick the shapes to the shirt.
If you want to quickly make images on the t-shirt consider stickers. They come in shapes of stars, quarter-moons, animals, boats, vehicles, and much more. In fact, you don’t even have to use traditional stickers to create the designs. Office supply stores sell assorted shapes and sizes of sticker tabs, and even peel-n-stick labels. They can be used as-is or can be cut to other shapes and sizes. Just place stickers where you want them on the shirt.
When you’re finished putting the tape, stickers, or other designs on the shirt, it’s time to paint it. Dispense some fabric paint – or another type – onto a piece of folded newspaper. Roll a small roller on the paint and make sure it’s covered completely. Apply the paint to the front of the shirt by rolling it on. It might not be necessary to cover the entire front, depending on the design you’ve created.
After the paint has dried completely, remove the stickers or tape, and reveal your new t-shirt design. Then, get ready to do it again; you know you’re hooked!