Activity Overview
Create fabulously designed vibrant tie dye t-shirts with less mess. This fun and easy art project uses Sharpie markers and rubbing alcohol to create a beautiful design masterpiece for your wardrobe. What I like most about this project is that the kids had more control over the designs that they made and they were able to watch the designs evolve with the addition of the rubbing alcohol.
Design a small area of a shirt or go wild and cover the whole shirt. This activity is sure to please and leave designers and crafters of all ages with clothing that they will be proud to wear.
Materials Needed
- Large plastic cups
- Permanent Sharpie Markers in a variety of colors
- Rubbing alcohol
- cardboard
- medicine droppers
- elastic bands
- clothes dryer
How to Do It
Wash and dry your T-shirt.
Insert a piece of cardboard into the shirt to prevent the colors from bleeding through to the opposite side of the shirt.
Use permanent Sharpie markers in a variety of vibrant colors to color in circular or flower shaped design patterns approximately the size of the the mouth of the cups that you have chosen.
Remove cardboard and stretch T-shirt over a plastic cup, securing with a rubber band. Be sure shirt is taut across the top of the cup.
Using an eyedropper, slowly squeeze droplets of rubbing alcohol into center of your sharpie marker ink design. Take note that the more drops of alcohol that you squeeze onto the fabric, the further the ink will spread and the larger the design will be.
Allow the T-shirt to dry completely.
Toss the t shirt into the dryer on high for about 15 minutes to set the color into the fabric
Wash shirts separately on a gentle cycle and in cold water.
