Oh, So Pinteresting Wednesday - Painted Doily Tank (& tote)

Week 2!  So far so good, hanging in there.

This week is a craft project, part of my wardrobe updating efforts.  I have tons of basic polos in almost every color, and plenty of T-shirts, but I'm trying to update things a little.  So, a cute little tank top update is a nice project to tackle.  The inspiration project is here at Maybe Matilda.  She used a basic t-shirt, but I'm using a simple ribbed tank top (available either in your wardrobe already, or $3 at Wal-Mart or similar - doesn't have to be fancy at all)

What you'll need:

• a tank or tee
• a package of paper doilies (you could use single or multiple sizes as you prefer; I used two sizes from a multi-sized pack of doilies)
• one or more acrylic paints
• fabric painting medium
• foam brush or sponge
• a piece of cardboard (at least as large as your area to be painted - it's to place inside the top to prevent the paint from bleeding through)

I had never used fabric painted medium before, so had to actually look for it, wasn't something I had in-stash.  I found it at Hobby Lobby in the aisle with puffy paints and acrylic paints and so on.  It's designed to be mixed in with regular acrylic paints so that it becomes a fabric paint that won't wash out once it's set.  Oh, the possibilities!  However, be sure to read all the directions - different brands vary with their directions!!

And now onto the shirt:

1.     Put the piece of cardboard underneath the layer of fabric to be painted.  For the tank top (or a shirt, if you want to), that's inside the shirt.

2.     Mix your paint and fabric medium according to the directions (mine says to use a 2 to 1 mix of paint to medium).

3.     Arrange your doilies however you want on your top.  I liked the look of the inspiration t-shirt, where the lacy paint wrapped around the side of the tee.  I started with the medium-size doily from my multi-pack, placed down near the hem of the shirt.

4.     Lightly sponge paint over the doily.  You don't need to be too heavy-handed with the paint - the doilies tend to curl if they are over-loaded with paint (wet paper, you know).  Paint as much as you want.  I sponged just a little past the edge of the doily, so that you'd see the edge of the lace, but not much further than that.  Just go as far as you like, whatever you think looks good.

5.     Gently peel up the doily when the area is painted.  I loved how this looked, the painted laciness!

6.     Proceed to your next doily.  Arrange it as you like, paint as before.  I liked mine slightly overlapped and slightly offset (like bubbles, not like a snowman, if those analogies make sense).  The second two doilies I painted were the smallest size from my multi-pack.  I liked the decreasing look.  But, as this is a DIY project, you can do it however you like!

7.     When it's all painted as you want, set the paint according to the directions on the medium bottle.  Mine instructed you to heat set it (iron from the back of the fabric for at least 20 seconds), then let dry for 7 days, then wash.  Then, it's finally done.  I know, 7 days is an eternity when you want to use something you've just completed!!  I've seen other brands referred to with a 24 hour drying time, but the brand at Hobby Lobby was 7 days, so I went with what I had.

8.     And then the wait is over!  Time to model - Ta-da!

And while I was at it, I painted up another project.  This Monogrammed Tote was another project I'd found via Pinterest, and was actually one of the first projects I pinned.  I just love the look!  I had a plain canvas tote bag that needed some decorating, too, so this was just perfect.  The supplies are the same as the above project - paint, medium, doilies - plus a letter stencil and a tote instead of a tank.

I used the same technique that I used above.  I painted the doily first, then stenciled in the letter.  It was easier to lay the letter stencil in the open middle of the painted doily, then risk smudging the letter under the paper doily.  I had a stencil for the letter, but you can use a freezer paper stencil (like the inspiration project) if you prefer.

 

My bag is a little more casual, I guess, compared to the inspiration.  I painted past the edges of the doily, so it does give it a little bit of a different look.  I like mine just as much, but it's something to consider as you're painting your own.