You can make and give dad the perfect gift- a Father's Day T-shirt and Massage Combo! The t-shirt tells dad that he's a "classic" while toy cars can travel the map on his back. This provides play and a massage at the same time! It's sure to be a hit.
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Cute Craft Alert: Father’s Day T-shirt
This funny t-shirt for Father’s Day has so many creative possibilities. You'll design and paint a little town map on the back of a T-shirt for dad. Be sure to include the kinds of places that he goes to the most often. Maybe draw where he works or the parts store.
What are other locations your family frequents, like the grocery store or the library? What other buildings are in your town, like the fire department or police station?
But the fun part is the painted road that connects them all. When dad's laying down, the kids can drive their toy cars on the road and it will feel like a back massage to dad.
Dad gets both a gift and a massage from you, what a great combo! I think he's going to love it.
The free printable makes it easy to plan and draw buildings onto your map. Be sure to use that at least as a starting point. This craft is better suited for older kids as it is more detailed and takes more time. But there are tips for younger kids below if they want to make a t-shirt for dad.
Supplies
Here are a few quick notes about the supplies you will need to make this t shirt for Father’s Day!
- T-shirt – Purchase the correct T-shirt for your Dad. It should have a high content percentage of cotton, so it takes the paint well.
- Newspaper- Recycle some newspaper to use inside your t-shirt so paint doesn't bleed through. Use cardboard if you don't have newspaper.
- Acrylic craft paint – A set of acrylic craft paints in a variety of colors will make your T-shirt attractive. It gives you lots of colors to choose from as you paint.
- Fabric medium- A fabric medium thins the acrylic paint so it adheres to the fabric well.
- T-shirt printable – Make a copy of the Free T-shirt printable to use as patterns for the types of buildings you want to make.
- Pencil – A pencil or washable fabric marking pen works well to draw your buildings and map on the back of the T-shirt.
- Paper plate – I use a paper plate as a paint pallet.
- Paper towels – Use paper towels to blot your paint brushes of excess paint or to dry them off.
- Water container – You'll need a container of water to clean your brushes.
- Paint brushes – A set of various sized paint brushes is handy to have when you're using a lot of colors of paint.
- Fabric markers – I used a set of fabric markers to do some detailing on my buildings.
Steps to Make a Father’s Day T Shirt
Prep for the project
Wash and dry the T-shirt according to directions. This prepares the shirt to take the paint better.
Decide what you want on the back of your shirt. Make a little sketch of or list of buildings that your dad would want on his town map.
Print off and cut out the buildings that you might want from the free printable. Here is the link to the DIY Father’s Day T-shirt Free Printable.
Use these buildings to make new types of buildings that you want on your shirt. Or draw your own buildings like I did the barn for my T-shirt. Most of these buildings were about 2" x 2" in size or slightly larger.
Place a large piece of cardboard or folded newspaper inside of your shirt, getting it to lay flat. This will keep the paint from soaking through from one side of the T-shirt to the other.
Paint the t-shirt map
Make an arrange of the paper buildings on the backside of the T-shirt. Then you'll know you like the arrangement. Be sure to leave space for a road in between your buildings.
Use your pencil or washable fabric marker to draw around your paper patterns. You can draw the road now.
Shake your acrylic paints well and then put a quarter sized amount of paint out on the paper plate of each color you want to use. Add a few drops of fabric medium into the paint. Mix with a toothpick or with the brush before painting.
Begin painting your building starting at the top of the shirt and working your way down so you don't rub your hand in the wet paint.
A group of paint brushes are nice to use in the different paint colors. Be sure to clean the brushes as needed. Blot dry on the paper towels.
Let the paint dry. Once dry come back and do some detail painting, or use a set of fabric markers to do the detailing. I found the black fabric marker to be helpful for drawing details on the buildings.
Paint on the road for your map. The road will wind in between the various buildings. There can be several loops and road pathways that connect together.
Paint the front of the t-shirt
Let this paint dry and then flip the T-shirt over to paint on the front. Make a geometric shape where the breast pocket of a T-shirt would be.
My shape was about 3" x 4" in size. Paint the shape the color of your choice. Let the paint dry.
Paint or use a fabric marker to write a message to your dad on the shape. I wrote, “Dad, you're a classic!” I thought this went well with the car and map idea on the back of the shirt.
You finished your Father's Day t-shirt! Let the paint dry and take the paper out of the inside of the shirt.
The t-shirt is both a Father’s Day card and a Father’s Day gift. But you can make a separate card with ideas you'll find on the Welcome to Nana's website.
Craft Tips
These tips can help making a road trip t-shirt even easier!
- T-shirt – Use a T-shirt with mostly cotton content. The paint will adhere better.
- Fabric medium – Using a little fabric medium in the paint will help it be not as thick so it doesn't crack when it's washed.
- Setting the paint – Set the paint by turning the shirt inside out and ironing it with an iron. Put your cardboard in the shirt when you're ironing it (or a tea towel). Then the paint doesn't stick from the back of the T-shirt to the front of the T-shirt.
- Washing – Wash the shirt inside out. It may be best to hang dry it if possible.
Craft Variations-
Here are a few variations you’re welcome to try with this Father’s Day T-shirt craft:
- Painting- Just paint directly onto the shirt and let the kids have fun, creating their town in an impromptu fashion. This will make the project go faster and the kids will still have fun.
- T-shirt color- You can try different T-shirt colors. The choice of a lighter colored shirt allows the paint to be seen more easily.
- Fabric markers- Make the whole T-shirt using fabric markers if you prefer. This may be easier for small children.
- Message on front- Make the message on the front of the t-shirt fit your dad! I wrote “Dad, you’re a CLASSIC!”. What do you want to say to your dad?
FAQ
On your road map t-shirt for Father's Day, place the buildings that are in your town or that your father goes to the most often. Here are some suggestions: a house, school, church, library, fire department, his work.
A t-shirt with a large content of cotton works best to paint on with acrylic craft paints. The cotton will better allow the paint to adhere.
Fabric medium thins acrylic craft paint so that it adheres to fabric and doesn't crack and peel as easily when washed. Follow instructions on the craft medium.
More DIY Father's Day Gifts for Kids
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DIY Father’s Day T-shirt and Massage Combo!
Equipment
- none needed
Items Required
- T-shirt for your Dad his size, light color, cotton, no pocket
- Newspaper
- set of acrylic craft paints
- fabric medium
- Free T-shirt printable
- A pencil or washable fabric marking pen
- a paper plate to hold the craft paint
- paper towels
- a container of water
- various sized paint brushes
- set of fabric markers
Instructions
- Prep for the project
- Wash and dry the T-shirt according to directions. This prepares the shirt to take the paint better. Decide what you want on the back of your shirt. Make a little sketch of or list of buildings that your dad would want on his town map. Print off and cut out the buildings that you might want from the free printable. Here is the link to the DIY Father’s Day T-shirt Free Printable. Use these buildings to make new types of buildings that you want on your shirt. Or draw your own buildings like I did the barn for my T-shirt. Most of these buildings were about 2" x 2" in size or slightly larger. Place a large piece of cardboard or folded newspaper inside of your shirt, getting it to lay flat. This will keep the paint from soaking through from one side of the T-shirt to the other.
Paint the t-shirt map
- Make an arrange of the paper buildings on the backside of the T-shirt. Then you'll know you like the arrangement. Be sure to leave space for a road in between your buildings.Use your pencil or washable fabric marker to draw around your paper patterns. You can draw the road now.Shake your acrylic paints well and then put a quarter sized amount of paint out on the paper plate of each color you want to use. Add a few drops of fabric medium into the paint. Mix with a toothpick or with the brush before painting.Begin painting your building starting at the top of the shirt and working your way down so you don't rub your hand in the wet paint. A group of paint brushes are nice to use in the different paint colors. Be sure to clean the brushes as needed. Blot dry on the paper towels.Let the paint dry. Once dry come back and do some detail painting, or use a set of fabric markers to do the detailing. I found the black fabric marker to be helpful for drawing details on the buildings.Paint on the road for your map. The road will wind in between the various buildings. There can be several loops and road pathways that connect together.
Paint the front of the t-shirt
- Let this paint dry and then flip the T-shirt over to paint on the front. Make a geometric shape where the breast pocket of a T-shirt would be.My shape was about 3" x 4" in size. Paint the shape the color of your choice. Let the paint dry.Paint or use a fabric marker to write a message to your dad on the shape. I wrote, “Dad, you're a classic!” I thought this went well with the car and map idea on the back of the shirt. You finished your Father's Day t-shirt! Let the paint dry and take the paper out of the inside of the shirt. The t-shirt is both a Father’s Day card and a Father’s Day gift. But you can make a separate card with ideas you'll find on the Welcome to Nana's website.
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