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Bleach + Stencil = Shirts DIY!

5/21/2014

9 Comments

 
It’s nearly summer – and that means short sleeves! And I’ve got a DIY for that!

This past weekend, I designed t-shirts for my niece and nephew – inspired by a technique I learned from the StencilGirl herself, Mary Beth Shaw. I saw her demonstrate this process both in person and in her DVD – adding gel bleach to stencils on scrap fabric and batik. This got my wheels spinning, and I envisioned doing this on shirts!
Bleach Stencil Shirts
For my project, I had 100% cotton t-shirts in bright colors, a Clorox Gel Bleach Pen, my trusty blue painter’s tape, a jumbo dauber, Around the World Latitude and Around the World Longitude stencils, and two cardboard envelopes I received StencilGirl stencils in!

First, I washed both shirts as directed, and then dried them without a dryer sheet. This removes the sizing from the shirts. 
I spread the t-shirts out on a table and put one StencilGirl envelope inside each shirt to keep the bleach from bleeding through to the back of the shirt (you can use cardboard cut to size, too).

I placed a stencil on each t-shirt and taped around each stencil with blue tape to keep the stencils in place and to keep my bleach from extending past the outside of the stencil, too.
Bleach Stencil Shirts
Then I shook my Clorox Gel Bleach Pen, squirted some out onto the paper plate and began. I placed the dauber in the gel bleach, then daubed off the excess onto the paper plate, and pounced straight up and down through the stencil.
Bleach Stencil Shirts
I have to say I really like the thicker consistency of the gel bleach – the consistency is more like paint
(which is what I’m accustomed to stenciling with). I also like that the gel bleach reacts more slowly that liquid bleach. 
I didn’t feel rushed at all during this entire process.

When the shirts were bleached to my liking, I carefully removed the cardboard envelopes from the shirts and washed the shirts in the washing machine and dried them in the dryer.
Bleach Stencil Shirts
A few helpful hints if the gel bleach doesn’t seem to be working: 

·         Try washing and drying your shirt again (without a dryer sheet) to remove any remaining fabric sizing.

·         Make sure to shake your Clorox Gel Bleach Pen before using.

·         Be sure you’ve purchased your Clorox Gel Bleach Pen within the last 6 months.
       Bleach does have a shelf life I learned.

·         And if you do get a few random dots of bleach on your shirt where you didn’t plan, don’t stress…
       it will still look cool!
Bleach Stencil Shirts
I had lot of fun making these! And it didn’t take long at all! 
I felt like I was breaking the rules…taking away color instead of adding it…and that made it all the more fun!

Thanks, Mary Beth, for the inspiration!

Have a good week!
Mary^
9 Comments
Carolyn Dube
5/21/2014 08:06:22 am

What an amazing amazing way to use your stencil!!! You make the best shirts with stencils!

Reply
Denise Spillane
5/21/2014 12:53:57 pm

I have used the bleach for stamping, now a new technique to try

Reply
Raine
5/23/2014 08:05:10 am

That's really cool!

Reply
sandy link
5/24/2014 04:58:09 am

wow,I have a pen I bought maybe a year ago to bleach designs with bleach gel wow.Thanks for the tip,my pen is tooooo old,I need to get a new one.They are not expensive and easy to find.Thanks for saving me time,I can hardly wait to try!.Sandy

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heidi link
5/25/2014 12:12:10 pm

These look so good. I want try it out! Hope you have a wonderful day.

Reply
Kristina & Millie link
5/25/2014 12:42:33 pm

Super cool idea! I can't wait to try this! pining :) stop by our Snickerdoodle Sunday sometime and link up - bring enough to share!

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Any Mayen link
5/25/2014 06:11:07 pm

Very cool! I stopped by from Snickerdoodle Sunday to see your cool shirts. This will be fun for older kids thus summer:)

Reply
Michelle Brown link
5/25/2014 10:30:32 pm

Love them! Thanks for a great tutorial!

Reply
Dee link
5/26/2014 06:43:29 pm

What a cool project, and I love that you don't need any special tools! Thanks for sharing your project at Snickerdoodle Sunday! :)

Reply



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    I love creating mixed-media art layered with maps, stencils, and hues of blue! This blog is a place for me to share my work and what inspires me. Read more here.
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