Stencil a Minecraft Creeper T-shirt

 by Pamela
Featured
20101026-IMG_5047.jpg
Minecraft is a fun and addictive game, suitable for adults and kids.  It's my daughter's favorite game currently.  Sadly, there's no official merchandise available right now, but Notch (the game's creator) has consented to the making of custom Creeper T-shirts.  I couldn't find a design-your-own site that offered the right colored shirt in kid sizes, so I decided to make my own.  It turned out to be quite simple.

We also decided to spice it up a little by adding black glitter to the Creeper's face, but if that's not your thing, just skip those steps.


 
Remove these adsRemove these ads by Signing Up

Step 1: Gather your supplies

20101024-IMG_2717.jpg
A to-scale copy of your chosen design  (download a Creeper face here) (update: If the previous link doesn't work, try this one or you can easily draw your own on graph paper.  Just make sure to get the features proportioned properly.)
T-shirt (pre-washed)
Freezer paper (not wax paper!)*
X-acto knife or some other tool for cutting out your design
safe cutting surface
metal ruler/straight edge
fine-line permanent marker or ball point pen, something that won't smudge easily
removable tape
black fabric paint**
something to put the paint and glue on (scrap freezer paper will do)
stencil brushes (a sponge cut into cubes could work too)
iron
ironing board
pressing cloth or parchment paper

If you want a glittery design, then you'll also need:
fabric glue
black machine washable glitter


*  Why freezer paper?  You can buy packs of self-adhesive stencil paper at craft stores, but it's rather pricey at about $9 for just 10 sheets whereas a roll of freezer paper is 50-75 square feet, costs around $5, and can be cut to different sizes. The drawback to a freezer paper stencil is that it can really only be used once.  Be sure to get freezer paper, not wax paper. Freezer paper has a dull side and a waxy coated side. Wax paper is coated on both sides.

**  You can use regular acrylic craft paint and mix it with a fabric paint medium, but that adds an extra step to the whole project, and the little bottle of fabric paint was inexpensive.
mrmath says: Nov 9, 2010. 10:25 AM
Could she possibly smile and bigger?!??! Sooooo cute!
HMice in reply to mrmathJun 30, 2012. 4:50 PM
I totally agree! Such a cute smile!
cmurph says: Feb 15, 2012. 5:07 PM
are you allowed to use fabric markers
Pamela (author) in reply to cmurphFeb 15, 2012. 8:32 PM
For drawing the Creeper face? Yes, you certainly could, but I think fabric markers would be more likely to bleed and wouldn't give as crisp lines as the stenciled fabric paint does.
cmurph in reply to PamelaFeb 25, 2012. 3:29 PM
oh... i dont want that, what type of store has fabric paint...anyway
HMice in reply to cmurphJun 30, 2012. 4:49 PM
Most art stores supply fabric paint.
midsummermuse says: Jun 24, 2011. 11:16 AM
Great job! I want to make on real bad... Or do I want to go play mine craft more?? hmmm ;-)
amedberry says: May 25, 2011. 9:21 AM
I just made this and it turned out beautifully! Thanks for the tutorial!
JBowmanDIY says: Apr 2, 2011. 8:22 PM
would it make a difference if i ironed the stencil on or not?
Pamela (author) in reply to JBowmanDIYApr 2, 2011. 10:34 PM
Yes. If you don't iron down the stencil, you won't get a crisp edge. The paint will seep under the paper too easily.
L_L_L_L23 says: Nov 22, 2010. 12:18 AM
Awesome! I can see it now...
"Hey Patrick! What's with your shirt?"
"SSSSSsssssssSSSSSSSSSS"
Dumchicken in reply to L_L_L_L23Mar 5, 2011. 6:33 PM
boooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooom
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dumchicken says: Mar 5, 2011. 6:32 PM
gunnu make this for my brother(he loves mine craft)
Rybka30 says: Jan 18, 2011. 9:58 PM
YES!!!
MINECRAFT
I LOVE MINECRAFT
LET´S DO IT!!!
paperclip32 says: Nov 27, 2010. 4:11 PM
Stenciled this on my longboard.Not using your method,though.Just a can of spray paint.
photo.JPG
miky2008 says: Nov 9, 2010. 4:08 PM
What else can you use instead of freezer paper? :P
Pamela (author) in reply to miky2008Nov 9, 2010. 6:07 PM
I've heard of people using self-adhesive label sheets, but those would be more expensive than freezer paper, and since the labels are much thinner it would be easier for paint to bleed through the paper. They also don't stick to fabric very well.

You can buy blank stencil sheets for working on fabric, but they're more expensive. I think they can be used more than once though.
Arbitror says: Nov 9, 2010. 8:11 AM
Good ol' Minecraft! Great job on the stencil!
Manch42 says: Nov 9, 2010. 5:40 AM
This is so cool!!
Kiteman says: Nov 9, 2010. 2:49 AM
Sweet.

Pro

Get More Out of Instructables

Already have an Account?

close

PDF Downloads
As a Pro member, you will gain access to download any Instructable in the PDF format. You also have the ability to customize your PDF download.

Upgrade to Pro today!