Introduction: Ink Blot T-shirt

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Make a t-shirt in the style of a Rorschach ink-blot. The resulting design will be essentially random but laterally symmetrical.

Step 1: Materials

You'll need:
- a t-shirt; either white or light-colored
- a piece of corrugated cardboard, roughly the size of your t-shirt
- t-shirt paint; black or other dark color
- thumb tacks or a stapler

Crease the cardboard lengthwise down the center.

The thumb tacks need to be flat. Push pins won't work. Staples might work if you don't have tacks.

Step 2: Setup

Insert the cardboard into the shirt, taking care to keep it centered. Tack down the shirt along the outer edge and near the crease at the top and bottom. Try to keep the shirt straight and pulled tight without stretching it. When you fold it, the shirt should not gap or pull away from the cardboard too much.

Step 3: Apply Paint

Slop some paint on the shirt. A few blotches and splatters should do. Try not to intentionally draw a design.

Step 4: Fold the Shirt

Fold it in half. Close it firmly but don't overdo it. You want it to spread a bit but not to smudge too much. Don't leave it too long. A few seconds is plenty.

Step 5: Open and Let Dry

Open the shirt again and leave it to dry. The paint will probably bleed through to the cardboard and stick. You should be able to peel it off if you're careful.

Step 6: Variations

You can make a multi-colored design by repeating the process, letting each layer dry.

If you use a smaller piece of cardboard, you can create several separate designs on the shirt (front, back, sides).