This has been the funnest Back To School Wardrobe ever!
And cheap too!
Prepare yourself for a photo explosion...seriously,
I should have divided this post up into 6 separate instructables!

Do you spend a ton of money on a new
Back to School wardrobe?
I get it, some schools have uniforms...and we homeschool...but
kids need something to wear when they go out and play...so
here is how we do our Back to School Wardrobe on a Budget! :)

Step 1: Supplies Needed:

Here's what you need.

T-shirts.
We bought 20-30 at the DollarTree...so cheap!

Freezer Paper.
We bought a big roll for $6 at Walmart.
One side is shiny, the other side matte. Iron the shiny side to the fabric.
You will use the Freezer paper as a stencil. Cut the desired shapes...iron onto your shirt and paint!
Peel off and ta-da!

Fabric Paint...brushes
We had a bunch...you can use acrylic craft paint too...it's cheap!

Hobby knife.
Or a fancy cutting machine like a Silhouette Cameo.

Iron.
Seriously, this is the only reason I own an iron.

Cardboard.
This is so the paint doesn't bleed through to the back.
I use a flat rate box from the post office...

Ready, set, go!

Step 2: Hardest First--the Full Color Shirt!

I'm going to do a walkthrough of the variety of shirts we did.
Starting with the most complicated...that way, by the end, it will be a breeze!

#1: Full Color Shirt

We used a picture of Applebloom from My Little Pony.
Print out a picture, tape it to your freezer paper...
use the hobby blade to cut your design out of
the freezer paper.
Save all the little inside pieces to iron on the shirt.
We cut the outline of the picture out...essentially all the black lines.
Then carefully took 1 piece at a time and ironed it on the fabric.
Once secured, we painted all the outline black.
While still wet, we removed piece by piece...
Until only a sweet outline remained. Then we let it dry.
Then we used a paintbrush and simply "colored" her in!
One color at a time!
We added some glitter paint in with the
pink for the perfect bow!

Let dry. Wear.
Force child to change clothes after 2 days straight of wearing...
Not super hard right?

Step 3: More Outline Shirts!

Here are some more shirts done with the OUTLINE/Coloring technique!
Okay and another photo recap of the simplicity of these shirts! Plus, we love R2D2...what 4 year old boy wouldn't love this?

Step 4: #2: Ombre Silhouettes!

Okay, for an ombre or color blending effect follow these steps.

Iron on your freezer paper and the inner pieces.
Then paint! Red at the bottom...yellow at the top...
blend together in the middle!
Awesome grunge look! Can you believe this shirt was $1? :)

The Dr. Who Dalek shirt is just blended right on top of the white for a distressed feel.

Step 5: #3: Multi Color Awesome.

Okay, basically same idea...just no blending.
Here's the silhouette ironed on...that Gandalf staff was hard, but worth it!
All painted different colors...love the lightsaber!
The paint absorbs into the shirt and gives it that vintage soft finish...not stiff.
This one has to be my favorite!

The Elder Wand from Harry Potter
Gandalf the White's staff
Jedi Lightsaber
10th Doctor's Sonic Screwdriver

Save off this jpeg file to make your own! I know you want to! :)
Add some clever words too!

Step 6: Multicolor Necklace Shirt...

Here's another of the multicolored variety!
The faux necklace shirt!

I cut the freezer paper in the basic shape of a necklace.
Punch holes (I used a 1/2" punch)
Cut a heart...ribbons...then paint
Just use the back end of your paintbrush
and add in some silvery dots!

Easy project for kids!

Step 7: #4: 2 Stencils!

Begin with first background stencil.
I used vinyl on this one...could still use freezer paper.
Lightly sponged for a distressed look...
Remove stencil. Let dry.
Iron on your Freezer Paper ATAT
Paint it, peel it, dry it, wear it!

Love it!

Step 8: #5: Super Simple Single Silhouette!

Last kind of shirt...the easiest!
1 solid silhouette...1 color of paint...awesome sauce.

Cut design, iron it on. Paint it one color.
Peel off freezer paper...let dry.

We did a bunch like this because it's so simple!

Are you exhausted? Is your brain full of ideas?
If you've never used freezer paper for crafts, try it!

Now you can make the die-hard fan t-shirt you've always wanted!
My kids are thrilled with their new shirts, their friends LOVE them!
I am an awesome mom! And I am thrilled with the price!

It was so much fun!
We still have a bunch of black shirts for a Halloween project!

Hey if you liked this, Please vote for me in the
Back to School Contest! :) Thanks!