Mother's Day / Father's Day Gifts

What You Need

A T-shirt-White looks nice but darker colors don't need to be bleached and wear longer.

Cardboard cut to fit inside the shirt.

Fabric paints. I prefer *Tulip brand or *Plaid brand paints with a pointed tip for writing. I recommend bright colors. On a darker colored shirt white yellow and pastells will show up nicely.

A paint brush, or sponge or other applicator for the paint.

Some little feet and/or hands.

A washcloth and soapy water.

What To Do

Wash and dry shirt. DO NOT use fabric softner, it may cause the paint not to adhere to the shirt.

Place cardboard inside the shirt.

Decide what (if any) saying you are going to use, see suggestions below.

Beginning roughly 3 in. below the neck using pencil write the words.(Pencil will wash out.)

Then go over them with paint directly from the bottle. Allow this to dry for at least an hour, more if possible.

Experiment with hand and foot prints on paper or a scrap of cloth before trying to do them on the shirt. Apply the paint sparingly to get the best prints.Allow to dry over night.

If you plan to do both sides of the shirt repeat the process on the other side and allow to dry overnight again.

After the shirt is dry turn it insideout and iron if the paint requires. * Note: place a card or cloth inside so the paint doesn't stick to itself if you painted front and back of the shirt.

Wash before wrapping to remove any pencil marks.

Suggestions

For Mother's day- the kids handprints on the back that say's "Mom deserves a pat on the back". You could also use this for Dad substituing the word Dad for Mom.

"My kids walk all over me" with kids footprints is good for mom, dad or grandparents(substitute grandkids for kids) especially Grandpa's.

Hand prints poem (below) with handprints especially for Mom.

Handprints

Sometimes you get discouraged,
Because I am so small.
And always leave my handprints,
On furniture and walls.
But every day I'm growing-
I will be grown-up some day.
And then those little hand prints
Will surely fade away.
So here's a tiny handprint,
Just so you'll recall,
Exactly how my fingers looked
When I was very small.

Especially for dad with little foot prints.
Walk a little slower, Daddy"
Said a little child so small.
"I'm following in your footsteps,
And I don't want to fall.
Sometimes your steps are very fast,
Sometimes they're hard to see;
So walk a little slower, Daddy,
For you are leading me.
Someday when I'm all grown up,
You're what I want to be;
Then I will have a little child
Who'll want to follow me.
And I would want to lead just right,
And know that I was true;
So, walk a little slower, Daddy,
For I must follow you."

Some of the above ideas might also work on a tie, or as a framed picture (epecially the last two).

I recommend putting the date and occasion on the finished piece somewhere. As an added touch becuse I have more than one child I put the childs name and age beside one print when I made the shirt seen below for my husband for father's day one year.

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