I put “tulip” in quotation marks because I didn’t make a tulip t-shirt. I have two boys, so I figured I should probably make something that one of them could actually wear.
Here we have the elementary school “potato printing” project. I’ve actually never done it before, and I do have to say I was skeptical. Sounded kind of, well, primitive to me, and not in the back-to-nature urban homesteading way. More like the moonshining and feuding kind of way.
But it’s pretty cool, folks, I gotta tell you. Easy, for sure. It works quite well, and it’s cheap– no capital outlay on this one. Unless you count the potatoes, which are, after all, consumable assets and not capital, so, there’s that.
Anyhoo, you take the potatoes, cut them with cookie cutters, dip them in fabric paint and stick them on a shirt. Done, and DONE.
The main issue I had here was that I was limited to the cookie cutters I had on hand. And, last time I checked, there weren’t a wealth of cookie cutters available that depict designs I’d like to have on a textile. I chose a cute little set I have of leaves and other fall-ish shapes, like an apple and a pumpkin, and figured I’d make some kind of autumn collage. Or rather, the three-year-old would.
Making the stamps went very quickly. And then, we printed!
do you see Caesar the Remarkably Domesticated dog in the background?
So, kind of cute.
TIME INVESTED
About 45 minutes from start to finish.
TOTAL COST
- t-shirt, $4.99
- 3 colors fabric paint, $1.48 ea = $4.44
- potatoes, $0.89
Total = $10.32
DIFFICULTY
Easy
WAS IT WORTH IT?
Yes. It would actually be great as a kid’s project, since it’s so easy. I wouldn’t try to do anything super fancy with it, but for ease and speed, you kind of can’t beat it.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I’ve heard of potato printing, but I’ve never done it, either. This makes it look quite fun! I guess the trick might be finding the right cookie cutter(s). Also, I’m guessing that you could make really cute birthday party goody bags if you can find small canvas bags.
This is a pretty cute one!
This looks great. I could see decorating a little white onesie as a baby shower gift. Tote bags, T-Shirts, and onesies. The possibilities are endless.