Decorating T-Shirts, Table Cloth and Matching Napkins Using Rubber Stamps

by Liz Anderson

Our craft column offers decorating and craft tips each month, using items found at Kobey's and at home. This month vendor Sandra Rickle of Stamp Stop Rubber Stamps shows us how to use stamps, fabric paint and pens to create festive shirts, socks and a tablecloth with matching napkins for Halloween or Fall. This is a wonderful project the whole family will enjoy doing together.

NNNMaterials You'll Need:

1. Prepare your work area. Line scrap paper around to avoid soiling your work surface. Lay the shirt or sock down flat and slide a piece of cardboard inside to prevent paint going through to the other side. For the table cloth and napkins, place cardboard underneath. Smooth out any wrinkles.

Find your starting point for the first stamp by either lining up your mid points with a pen or pencil or by plotting the design using your stamps. Have a spray bottle filled with soap (just a drop) and water and a rag available to clean stamps between uses. Do not soak stamps with water or hold them under a faucet because this weakens the glue holding the rubber to the base.

2. It's a good idea to plot a design on paper before beginning to stamp. You may want to use the same stamps on everything, or choose different ones so each thing is unique. We matched socks and shirts with similar designs and decided on a fall motif for the table cloth and napkins.

3. After you've thought out your design, it's time to stamp your surface. Set the stamp down on the table and lightly brush color onto it with your stamp pad, finishing with a light dab of a little more paint about the surface. Test your stamp on paper before stamping your desired surface. This lets you see how the stamp will look and will show any mistakes. Too much paint will glob or run and not enough paint will show unclear or incomplete areas.

When you're satisfied with how things look on paper, once again apply paint to your stamp as described. Choose a starting point and press the stamp firmly down onto the surface using your body weight. Do not use a rocking motion. Carefully lift the stamp, pressing down the area of the fabric nearest the stamp. The design on the stamp should be perfectly duplicated. Continue stamping out the rest your design.

Don't be afraid to use your creativity. For example, you can use portions of the stamp by inking select areas and masking off areas you don't want affected with cardboard.

4. Once the design is complete it's time to color parts of it in! Take the liquid appliqué pens and test each one on paper, making sure the color runs freely from the tip. If any are blocked, unscrew the tip and insert a pin through the inside, not through the outside, pushing out any blockages.

Apply color lightly onto your surface by gently pressing the pen. Spread excess paint around into the area. Avoid using too much paint because details of the stamp design will be lost.

5. Liquid Appliqué paint is extra special because applied heat causes it to rise and puff up. Be aware that the puff effect can cause some of the stamp detail to be lost. First cover the painted surface with a towel or cloth and then apply a hot iron, continually checking the progress. You may also hold the painted area over a hot toaster to achieve the same effect, but use your judgment. Finally, allow paint to dry at least 24 hours before wearing shirts or using table cloth and napkins.

The kids will appreciate their Halloween shirts even more because they designed and made them themselves! Your table cloth and napkins will be a hit at an upcoming Halloween party or a festive way to welcome fall to your home.