Feb 5, 2013

Love in NYC Valentine T-shirt: How-to



Oh I am just so excited for this t-shirt.

I have a really hard time finding Valentine's Day shirts that aren't too hearts and flowers for my Little Men or that aren't too "I Am a Ladies Man"...which no Little Man needs to claim. Momma's Little Man, sure, Ladies Man, uh no.

It is especially hard finding Valentine's shirts for my almost-nine-going-on-fifteen-year-old Little Man.

I was trying really hard to come up with a "cool" more subtle love-day shirt.

I might love An Affair to Remember. I also love, love, love Sleepless in Seattle. I didn't think that he would appreciate me plastering Cary Grant on his shirt, however I immediately thought about about the Empire State Building.

Once that light bulb went off, it seemed only obvious what I was going to do for Oldest's t-shirt.


A NYC skyline with the Empire State Building with windows "lit up" in the shape of a heart.

Pretty stinkin' cool Valentine threads if you ask me...or him.


 This shirt was so easy to make.

All you need is a white t-shirt, iron on printable transfer for stretchable material (I used Avery).


Then you need a NYC image. I did a google image search to find a NYC skyline with the Empire State building in it. When you find an image you like you can save it to your computer.

Then edit it in an online photo program, like PicMonkey. I enlarged the photo and made the image a little darker.

Then I opened it in a Word program. When working with fabric transfers you want the image flipped to get the mirror image. If you go under the page layout and click on the rotate option, you can flip your image horizontal.


Then your image will be reversed.


Print it off.

Trim it down to size.



Follow the instructions...basically iron it on.

Since the image is larger it takes about 3 minutes. Then let it cool for another couple of minutes before you peel off the backing.


While you are waiting for the shirt to cool, go ahead and chisel yourself a little window stamp out of a pencil eraser.


Peel off the backing. Grab some red fabric paint.


Carefully stamp out windows in the shape of a heart.


Here is a close up look to see the number of rectangles and how I placed the "windows".


Let it dry, or you can be like me, impatient, you can whip out your hair dryer and speed up the drying process.

Oh I just love it.


Just what I wanted for Oldest. A cool, subtle shirt he can wear on Valentine's Day...


...or any other day he wants to get his cool on.


Or getting your silly on.


I hope you find this helpful and just in time for Valentine's day.

Happy Tuesday! Thanks for stopping by.

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8 comments:

Ana Dziengel said...

This is awesome Larissa! I've been making homemade iron-on shirts for my son lately, saves money and it's always a fun project! I love your idea of the heart on the Empire State Building- An Affair to Remember is one of my fave love stories.
-Ana from www.babbledabbledo.com

Anonymous said...

Haha he looks so punk chic! I love the shirt!!

Corey and Jenessa said...

Dearer sister, feel free to make me one of those!

My Recent Favorite Books said...

This is such a cute idea! =)

I love "Sleepless in Seattle" too! one of my favorite all time movies!!

Great photos!

c-ing said...

That's a great shirt and it goes so well with his top shirt.

Larissa@Just Another Day in Paradise said...

Thanks everyone!

Mandy Beyeler said...

Thanks for linking to Take-A-Look Tuesday over at Sugar Bee Crafts - you were featured today!
--Mandy, www.SugarBeeCrafts.com

Rebecca @ Herons Crafts said...

This is so cool! I love it! What a great shirt - perfect for V-day!

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