Marbled T-Shirt Painting

This craft needs us to figure out a better dye

Elevator Pitch

This is the short program version of the craft blurb

This Craft Makes: 

This is the description of the craft (with pictures)

Supplies: 

You will need:

  • Optional: plastic gloves so your fingers stay clean
  • A white or very light colored T-shirt to dye
  • Shaving cream (get the kind that’s all foamy, not the fancy gels or creams)
  • A baking pan (we use a half sheet cookie sheet), 9×13 inch casserole dish, or other large-ish flat container that won’t fall apart when it gets damp
  • Food coloring in your desired colors (we find neon colors work best)
  • 1 cup white vinegar per shirt
  • 1 cup tap water per shirt
  • A 3+ cup capacity container to soak your shirt in
  • A chopstick, pencil, or other stick for stirring colors
  • A spatula for scraping with
  • Cardboard to put in the middle of your shirt
  • Paper towels or kitchen rags to clean your spatula with 

Your Adult will Need:

  • A microwave-safe container or gallon Ziplock
  • A microwave
  • Hot pads or tongs
  • A source of cold running water
  • Bulleted list of supplies

You may also want:

  • Scissors, etcetera

Steps to Make It

  1. Mix your 50/50 vinegar and water solution (1 cup each) into your 3+ cup container and push your shirt down into it until it’s completely soaked.
  2. Fill your tray with shaving foam — you need a thick enough layer that the tray doesn’t show (about half an inch)
  3. Use your spatula to flatten the foam out (doesn’t have to be perfect), wiping as needed. 
  4. Drip food coloring onto the foam (this works best if you don’t pack it too tightly, so leave an inch or two between drips)
  5. Use your stick to swirl the colors together. Be enthusiastic but remember that too much swirling will give you brown muddy spots.
  6. Take your T-shirt out of the soaking bucket and wring it out a few times.
  7. Flatten your T-shirt out and put your cardboard in the middle.
  8. Lay the shirt onto your design and gently pat it down on to the shaving cream.
  9. Let it sit for 30 seconds to a minute before picking it carefully up. Set it on your workspace dyed side up.
  10. Carefully scrape the excess foam off the shirt. Wipe between each scrape.
  11. Put the shirt in your container or Ziplock and MOSTLY seal the container (steam expands)
  12. Microwave for 1-2 minutes and remove (shirt will be HOT! Use hot pads or tongs!) from the container
  13. Rinse under cold running water until the water runs clear. A lot of color comes off here 🙁
  14. Let dry completely before wearing or washing.

Notes for Setup/Teardown

  • This is a MESSY CRAFT so you want your workspace covered with something that can deal with something wet and covered in dye placed on it.