DIY Valentines Day Shirts for Kids

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Welcome back to Fine Motor Friday! We are on quite a Valentine's Day kick around here, and today's DIY Valentine's Day Shirts are no exception!

These t-shirts would be cute to make for a class Valentine's Party or as a Valentine's Day gift for someone special. If you are ever looking for an awesome Halloween t-shirt to make, this Doily pumpkin shirt from Still Playing School would be an awesome option! It was the inspiration for our shirt and I like the method they used to paint- another terrific fine motor activity!

Now OBVIOUSLY this shirt could be made by an adult. BUT. Why not get the kids involved? It is fun, offers great fine motor work and provides the kids with something special to be super proud of!

I've got all the materials you need listed below, using affiliate links (which just means that if you happen to buy anything through those links, this website make a small commission at no extra cost to you).

I also have some helpful tips that I learned when making our Skeleton T-Shirt to help make sure you get the very best print from your doily! In case it wasn't obvious, to make this shirt you basically use a heart shaped doily as a stencil…or you could call it Valentine's Day doily-resist art! Oh that is fun too!

Valentine's Day Shirt Tutorial

Materials:

Plain white t-shirt
Folkart multisurface paint (We used Fiery Red, which is a glittery pinkish red. I could not find that color on Amazon but it may be in your local craft store.)
Craft Bond
Paper heart doilies
Stencil paintbrushes or Spouncers
OR
Pom poms and clothespins
Cardboard box
Plastic lid or other surface to hod your paint

Directions:

Insert the cardboard box into your t-shirt to keep the pain from seeping through onto the back. Try to find something that is flat the keeps the shirt fairly taught without stretching it.

Take one (or more, if desired) of your paper doilies and the Craft Bond outside and set the doilies face down on a protected surface (newspaper) or one you don't care too much about (the alley behind my house). Make sure your shoes and clothes are not too close to your spray zone. Shake your Craft Bond well, then remove the cap. Hold the can about 6-8 inches above the doilies and spray evenly back and forth across the doilies (again watch your shoes) until they have an even coat. Recap the Craft Bond, lightly grab the doilies and head back inside. Allow them to dry according to directions (I think I waited 5-10 minutes). The Craft Bond makes your doilies about as sticky as a post it note. You COULD skip this step but be warned your doilies will probably not stay in place too well!

Once the Craft Bond is dry press the sticky side down onto the shirt, firmly pressing down on all edges to help it stick.

Pour some paint onto your plastic lid. You or your child can now dot dot dot some paint on, using the stencil paintbrushes, spouncers or a clothespin holding a pom pom.

For the best doily print results, move your hand in a stippling motion (lift, press down, lift, press down) rather than paint strokes back and forth. Back and forth strokes could cause the doily to come off or for pain to be pressed under the edges of the doily.

For best fun, on the other hand, don't be as much of a stickler and let the kids paint however they want. 😉 We set up a doily for my son on some paper and gave him our usual washable paints along with a clothespin and pom pom like big sister had. I think he was wearing the right shirt for this activity. “Mom, just roll with it!”

Once done painting, you can remove the doily (save it for a Valentine!) and allow the shirt to dry. Done and done!

Fine Motor Fridays

Every week I am joined by a group of like-minded ladies who share super fun fine motor activities for our series Fine Motor Fridays. Below you will find the link to the others' ideas from this week as well as our Pinterest board AND a link to our super cool Fine Motor Ideas book too! Thank you for stopping by, hope to see you again next time!

Smashing ABC Moon Rocks from Stir the Wonder
Pipe Cleaner and Bead Inchworm Craft from Craftulate
Valentine Themed Button Snake from School Time Snippets
Crepe Paper Flower Cards from Powerful Mothering
Usborne Books that Promote Fine Motor Skills from House of Burke
Groundhog Finger Puppet Craft from Still Playing School
LEGO Minifigure Assembly Race from Little Bins for Little Hands

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