I thought it might be time for a new Halloween shirt. I have been wearing the same one for probably the past 5 years. I was looking for one that was toned down a bit and definitely one that was not so “cartoon-ish”. I prefer to wear things that are festive for the season without being like “HELLO! HERE I AM!! A GIANT ORANGE PUMPKIN!” I couldn’t find one I liked for the price I wanted to pay. I mean I am going to wear this thing maybe 3 times in the month of October and I am not willing to pay $40 for a shirt. (Here my engineer in me kicks in!) That is like spending $13.33 each time I wear it? No thanks! So I made one for a fraction of the cost.
Items Needed:
- Black Shirt of your choice (maybe one already in your closet?)
- Bleach Pen
- Chalk/chalk pencil
- Cardboard box or Cardboard T-shirt Insert to prevent bleeding
I found this V-neck Tee at Wal-Mart on clearance for $3. I also made my DIY Flower T-Shirt from a similar Wal-Mart find! You can also use a shirt you already have in your closet!
Using my sewing pencil, I sketched out a spider web in the top right and bottom left corners of the shirt. I recommend trying the shirt on at this point to make sure the spider web is laying in the correct spot, or rather not laying directly on top of a certain area. After the pattern is drawn, I used an empty diaper box we had laying around to stick inside the shirt so that nothing would bleed through to the backside. Then I used the fine tip end of a Bleach Pen and traced the pattern.
I let the bleach sit on the shirt until it dried. (I didn’t actually mean to do this but the two boys distracted me and that was what happened! ) It worked out nicely though. I just rinsed the bleach off the shirt in the sink and then washed with a load of darks.
Wah-Lah! The bleach on the black shirt gives off sort of an orange color which is perfect for Halloween! You could also try this on a gray shirt and it would bleach out a more white color. I am very happy with my new $3 Halloween shirt! And for the record that is now $1 each time I wear it! Much better
I’m not a very good “take a picture of myself wearing the shirt in the mirror” person so you just get it hanging on a hanger!
I received information about Clorox’s Bleach It Away campaign and am sharing my messy moment/craft fail/bleach project for the chance to win prizes from Tatertots & Jello and Clorox. You can find out more information about this campaign – www.BleachItAway.com. If you share YOUR messy moment story, you can enter to win $25,000 and daily prizes, and you can get a coupon for Clorox® Regular Bleach.
Comments & Reviews
Bethany @ A Fish Who Likes Flowers says
I wanted to let you know that I’m awarding you the Versatile Blogger award! Check out my blog post to accept your award. http://afishwholikesflowers.blogspot.com/2011/10/apparently-im-versatile-blogger.html
Michele says
How funny! I stopped by to give you the same award, might as well do it all in one shot!! Come check out my site as well @ http://shelstringblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/award.html
XoXo! ;)
Kelley says
I love it! Great idea, have a fun halloween.
Cheryl says
Thanks Kelley, you also!
Shirley says
I found you at Cherished Bliss. I love this idea!!! You did awesome!
Cheryl says
Thanks Shirley! I am actually wearing it today! :)
Desiree says
This is BRILLIANT! I just shared it on my FB page.
Thank you so much for visiting my party!
Cheryl says
Thank You Ma’am! I have my moments :)
Liza says
So cute, I think I’ll have to make one, thanks for sharing.
Julie says
What a great idea! And bonus that the color came out orange.
(visiting from TT&J)
Cheryl says
Thanks Julie…and yes, It was one of those…”whew, glad this is for Halloween!” moments! I wasn’t quite sure how it would turn out!
Jaime from crafty scrappy happy says
SOOO cool! Thank you SO much for the great inspiration!!!!
Jaime from crafty scrappy happy
Cheryl says
Thanks Jaime! Have a great weekend!
Chris says
Hi Cheryl, what a great idea. Thanks for sharing such a simple idea. Who would have thought. I have recently found your blog and am now following you, and will visit often. Please stop by my blog and perhaps you would like to follow me also. Have a wonderful day. Hugs, Chris