Want to refresh a boring white t-shirt? Look no further than your backyard! Collect greenery from your yard to use in this cute botanical t-shirt made with fabric spray paint. My kids and I had a great time spray-painting t-shirts, and they turned out looking so great! Find out how to make this project in my column over at eBay: [DIY Botanical Spray Painted T-shirt]

Materials needed:

• A white t-shirt, $1 or on hand
• Tulip Color Shot Fabric Spray paint, $7 each

You can get a better deal on the fabric spray paint if you buy a multi-pack and use a coupon at your local craft store!

Why should you use this fabric spray paint instead of regular spray paint?

Tulip Color Shot is formulated for use on fabric, so it contains a paint softener, which gives it a way nicer feel on fabrics that you will be wearing. They have good fabric coverage, and an even spray pattern (without splatter). I have tried other fabric spray paint brands, but I prefer this brand and I recommend it.

Disclosure: I received this complementary product from the manufacturer, but was not compensated to write this post. Affiliate links included in this article. All information, wording, and opinions are strictly my own and I was not asked to post this article.

The post Make a Botanical T-shirt with Fabric Spray Paint appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Today, we’re happy to share the instructions for one of the projects in the book — the “It’s a Wrap” Dress.

It’s a Wrap T-shirt Dress Project Materials:

• T-shirt, $1
• 1 yard of fabric, on hand or $1 and up
• 1 package of mini pompom trim, $1 and up
• Zipper foot for your sewing machine, on hand
• For the flower: fabric scraps, 3 individual pom poms and a pin back, on hand or $1
• Sewing tools such as scissors, etc.

Total: $1 and up

How to make the dress (size small 2/3 — follow image instructions for larger sizes):

(Click image to enlarge instructions).

Getting Ready

1. Lay the t-shirt out flat, measure and mark 4.5″ down from each underarm seam, and cut. Mark the center front and center back of the shirt.

2. Measure the circumference at the bottom edge of the t-shirt and multiply by 1.25. Divide this number by 2 to determine the width of the skirt front and the skirt back. For a size 2/3, the skirt length will be 13″. See image for pattern diagram.

3. For the front wrap section, make a paper pattern or draw the following measurements with a fabric marker or chalk directly on the fabric, adjusting measurements as desired (see figure A on image above).

Width: Measure the width of the skirt front as cut; subtract 5″.

Length: Measure the length of the skirt front as cut; subtract 1/2″ on the left side and 2″ on the right side.

4. For the ties, cut two 30″ x 6″ pieces.

(click to enlarge image instructions)

Sewing the Dress

5. Press the shorter side and the bottom edge of the front wrap piece 1/2″ to the wrong side. Using the zipper foot, sew the pompom trim to the wrong side of the folded edge, pivoting the stitching at the corner.

6. With right sides up, place the wrap piece over the skirt front, aligning the left and upper edges; baste (the layers will be treated as one in following steps). With right sides together, pin the skirt front to the back along the sides; stitch. Mark the center front and center back of the skirt.

7. Narrow-hem the bottom of the skirt.

8. Gather the upper edge of skirt. Pin the gathered edge to the lower edge of the t-shirt, aligning marks and seams. Adjust the gathers and stitch the skirt to shirt. Press seams toward the shirt. Remove visible basting stitches.

9. To make each tie, fold the 30″ x 6″ strip in half lengthwise with right sides together. Cut one short end diagonally. Stitch the long and diagonal edges (see figure B in the instruction image above). Trim seam allowances and corners; turn right side out. Clean-finish the open edge and press it 1/2″ to one side.

10. Pin the folded edge of each tie end at each side seam, centered over the waist seam. Edgestitch in place.

11. To make a flower (optional), cut a piece of skirt fabric 3″ wide x 8″ long. Fold the strip in half lengthwise, wrong sides together, and finish the cut edges with a zigzag stitch. Run a row of gathering stitches along the sewn edge, then pull to tighten, creating a flattened circle. Position as much of the stitching at the back of the flower as possible. Overlap the two short ends at the back of the flower and hand-sew to create a stay. Sew three mini pompoms in the center. Attach a pin back.

Photos and Project from Sew Pretty T-Shirt Dresses by Sweet Seams Studio, published by Sixth&Spring Books. Photography by Dan Howell and dress design and instructions copyright © 2013 by Sixth&Spring Books/Soho Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

See More Sew Pretty T-shirt Dresses with the Sew Pretty T-Shirt Dresses Blog Tour

May 5
The New York Mom will feature a finished project
Nouveau Stitch will feature a finished project, “Flirty Shirt”
Just Pure Lovely will host a giveaway
The Crafty Princess Diaries will host a giveaway

May 6
Craft Knife will feature a finished project, “Cool Water”
Stitched by Crystal will feature a project for her 9-month-old
BlogHer DIY will feature a project

May 7
Prudent Baby will review and host a giveaway
House of 34 will host a giveaway

May 8
Smashed Peas and Carrots will feature a finished project, “Bubble Tea”
Simply Modern Mom will review and might do a project

May 9
Marsha’s Spot will feature a finished project, “Patchwork of Art” and host a giveaway
Sew Spoiled will review the book
Maya Made will feature a finished project

May 10
Dollar Store Crafts – featuring a project (this post here!)
Only From Scratch will feature a project

May 11
A Few Shortcuts will review and host a giveaway
Wild Olive will feature a finished project
Positively Splendid will feature a finished project

May 12
On the Laundry Line will feature a finished project
Elegance and Elephants will feature a finished project

May 13
Luvinthemommyhood will review and host a giveaway
My Little Gems will host a giveaway

The post Tutorial: Make a T-shirt Wrap Dress with Sew Pretty T-shirt Dresses appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

I had the honor to be a guest on the Creatively Chic Podcast, hosted by Carly J. Cais of ChicSteals.com. Come listen to me talk about Dollar Store Crafting, the best buys at the dollar store, and how to live a beautiful life. And while you’re listening, check out this super cute t-shirt craft idea from Chic Steals: embellish a plain t-shirt with sequin trim to make a faux Peter Pan collared shirt – so cute! [how to make a DIY Sequin T-shirt]

You can listen to the Podcast here: Creatively Chic – Making Things on an Extreme ($1!) Budget: Heather Mann of Dollar Store Crafts

DIY Sequin T-shirt

Project Estimate:

• T-shirt, $1 and up
• Sequin trim in your choice of color, about $1 a yard
• Fabric chalk, on hand or $1
• Fabric glue, $1.67
• Hand-sewing needle & matching thread (optional), on hand

Total: $3.67

p.s. check out this Bling on a Roll – it could be super fun! Only $2 per 10 yards.

The post DIY Sequin T-shirt Idea & Heather Interview on Creatively Chic Podcast appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

When I was about 12 years old I saw a book about making shoes out of paper, and ever since I have been interested in shoes made out of unusual materials.  Using traditional weaving techniques, Agy from Green Issues recycled a stack of old t-shirts into pairs of flip flop sandals for her entire family.  They’re fashionable, environmentally friendly, and, perhaps best of all, if you use waterproof glue they are machine washable!  how to make recycled t-shirt flip flops]

Project estimate:

• T-shirt fabric, on hand
• String, on hand
• Glue, on hand

Total:  Free

The post Make Recycled T-shirt Flip Flops appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

What to do with fabric or t-shirt scraps and a dollar store basket? Simple! Make a pretty no-sew woven basket. You can even add handles. So many possibilities for this technique from Bless This Mess. She has done a pretty ombre woven basket in this style as well. [how to make a no-sew woven fabric scrap basket]

Project Estimate:

• Basket, $1
• Fabric scraps, on hand

Total: $1

The post No-Sew Woven Fabric Scrap Basket appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

No need to wear plain old t-shirts this Spring. These dandelion shirts are simple and pretty, and would make a fun crafternoon project to do with your friends. Paint your own dandelion design with help from a special paint applicator you can find at the dollar store. Okay, “special paint applicator” sounds intimidating, it’s really just a common household item you might already have on hand. Read on to find out the secret tool!Welcome to Liz, our guest-poster, who designed this project. I saw it on her blog and emailed her immediately to ask her to share how to make it!

Paint a Dandelion Blowing Shirt

by Liz, My Messy Desk

It is such an honor that Heather asked me to be a guest blogger! I’m an Army wife and Mom to two wonderful boys. And I love crafts…all kinds of crafts. I am also afflicted by a serious case of “I can do that….for cheaper!” So of course, Dollar Store Crafts is right up my alley! The project Heather asked me to write about is a cute blowing dandelion shirt a couple of my ladies made at my March Craft Day event. Who can resist blowing a dandelion in the summer? One of my favorite pictures of my oldest son was of him blowing those pesky seeds off into the neighbor’s yard when we lived in Illinois. Shhh… don’t tell John and Lois!

Project Materials:

• T-shirt, on hand or $1 and up
• Piece of recycled cardboard, on hand
• White, Black, and Green Acrylic or Fabric paint, on hand or $1 each
• (Optional) Fabric Medium for acrylic paint, about $3
• Shower pouf, $1
• Thin-tipped paint brush, on hand
• Paper plate for a paint palette, on hand

Total: $1 and up

About the supplies:

T-shirt: any color but white is fine, so choose what you like (reclaimed from your closet, purchased on clearance or even Goodwill like mine was).

Cardboard: Flat piece of cardboard large enough to fill the inside of your shirt (cereal boxes work perfectly)

Paint: White, black and green paint (fabric paint is great, but you can add Martha Stewart’s Fabric Medium to any acrylic paint to keep it from being stiff and un-wearable)*

Shower pouf: You can get these at the dollar store, or pretty much any other store for $1 or less. I got 2 for $1 at Wal-Mart.

Paint Pallet: I used a left over paper plate or two, but if you don’t have one, you can use a piece of recycled cardboard (the rest of your cereal box?).

*Note: Be sure you are using paints with the same curing process.

How to Make a Dandelion Shirt:

1. The first step is to put the cardboard inside the shirt, to keep paint from seeping through to the back, which is not attractive.

2. Next, you want to squirt a generous amount of the white paint on to the plate. If you are using regular acrylic paint and fabric medium, follow the directions for mixing on the bottle. As you can see, I added some glitter paint, but it didn’t give it noticeable sparkle, so I don’t recommend the extra step.

3. Then comes the fun part – pounce the shower poof up and down in the paint and then gently pat it on the shirt where you want the head of the flower to go. I recommend starting with as little paint as possible, gently tapping most of it off on a scrap paper towel before you touch it to your shirt. You can always add more.

4. Next, squirt a bit of the green paint on your plate and using the thin brush, paint your stem. Perhaps you want to give it a slight curve so it looks like it is bending in the direction of the wind.

5. Next, we added some seeds to look like they were being scattered by the wind. We used two methods with the same white paint mixture:

1. Ever so lightly sweep the poof out and up from the head of the flower, or
2. Paint each individual seed with the thin paint brush, making little crosses. Then rinse the brush and dip it in the black paint to put a tiny stem on each seed.

Either method seems produces pleasing results, it is just a matter of whether you want fast and abstract or painstakingly real. After much deliberation, we decided that the seed band started at the same width as the head of the flower and then scattered and broadened as it moved upward. I think a few blowing over your shoulder and onto your back would be fun, too.

Now you just have to be patient while your creation dries (generally for 24 hours), heat set with an iron as directed (mine was 3 minutes on as hot a setting as the shirt fabric allows), wash and wear!

If you want to know more about me and see the other fun we are creating at My Messy Desk, please check out my web site, www.CreativeInspirationsAtMyMessyDesk.com, especially my blog on the Musings page.

The post Tutorial: Blowing Dandelion T-shirt appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.