Easy T-shirt Art

BySonya Barker Updated on
36 Comments

Learn how to make this easy t-shirt art with shirts your family has out grown or find sentimental. Fun summer project with kids to create a gallery wall for their room.

Easy T-shirt Art Graphic with Canvas covered T-shirts stacked

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Looking for a fun project to do with kids. This is a great way to use those shirts your kids or grandkids have outgrown but can’t quite part with just yet. It’s a little secret for helping someone get rid of sentimental clutter.

I like easy projects that don’t take a long time to complete especially with kids! This is easy enough not to loose their attention. Plus this one is a great way to be sustainable. Looking for more fabric projects to do with kids check out how I made sachet hearts with some scrape fabric.

Canvas covered with T-shirts for a gallery wall

Dylan had just cleared out his closet so we had a bag full of T-shirts to choose from. Clearing out our home is something we strive to do often. I told him to pick out about 4 shirts for this art wall and I would see which ones looked best. No surprise to me he stuck with exactly what represents him most!

Boys tshirts stacked up for fun craft project.

I had already bought the canvas because I like to have them on hand. 

T-shirt stacked on top of art canvas ready for project.

I laid the T-shirt out with the canvas inside of it so I could see exactly how I wanted the finished art to look. Then I took a bar of white soap to mark on the fabric where I needed to cut. I learned this little soap trick in a sewing class I took years ago. Super easy because it will wipe off with a damp cloth.

This is the perfect place to have your kids help or do it themselves if they are old enough.

using soap to mark where to cut T-shirt for canvas.
Scissors and T-shirt cut for project.

Once I had the T-shirt cut to size I plugged in my hot glue gun! AND just glued it down to the back of the canvas. You know glue is hot so watch those little hands helping you.

Hot glue gun heating to start t-shirt project.
the backside of the canvas with the T-shirt glued to the frame.

Just like that, Easy T-shirt Art!

I love how this makes a fun and personal addition to the art wall. Choosing the colors to match your decor may or may not matter to you but it is something to think about.

Gallery walls can be as neat and tidy or full and busy as you would like.

Not just for kids!

This would be a great project idea for any sports fan too no matter the age. Game room or man cave would be the perfect place to add a custom t-shirt canvas wall.

Tshirtart

I have more gallery wall art projects if you are interested in creating your own.

DSC_0009

We added our canvas shirt project to the hall leading into our sons room. We created this gallery with a large skateboard poster, a drum head, and framed art he drew in art class at school.

Do you have other great ideas for T-shirts?

I would love to hear them! Share in the comments!

 

36 Comments

  2. Love the idea of using canvas – so much easier than cutting foam core. Plus I had forgotten about the soap idea. I also remember that from years ago. A little hint – I don’t buy bar soap but often pick up the small bars in a hotel to take to our local shelters. Next time I will have to stash a couple of them back in my craft supplies.

  3. This is a great idea for old t-shirts! My husband also has old t-shirts from concerts and none of them fit now! I need to remember this as another way to display them in his den! I also took a few old shirts and made them into pillow cases for him. I have pictures and directions on my blog at https://www.homelifejourneys.com.
    Thanks for sharing another way to use the rest of them!

  4. I love this! My husband has a ton of old concert T-shrits from a particular band he likes – our sunroom is decorated in that style and these will be perfect! Mostly because he doesn’t wear a Medium Tshirt anymore! Thanks!

  5. Love this idea!! My kids have so many sentimental tshirts that I was going to have a large quilt made out of but they have soooo many that I can’t get them all on it soooo perfect that I can put some on the walls now!!! I love your site. Thanks for sharing.

  11. Genius, brilliant, awesome! I love these! What a great way to use those t-shirts to make some amazing artwork! Thanks so much for partying with us at Time to Sparkle Tuesday!

    xoxo Liz

  15. I’m Lovin this! You are such an inspiration! I will be pinning this!
    Bo

  17. I love it! I think this is a cool way to create a little bit of memorabilia for when the kids get older, too. Thanks for sharing the soap trick, I’m going to use it!
    Nikki
    rushedmommy.com

  19. This would be soooo cool in a teenager’s room…or a rec room. Great job, Sonya.
    Thanks for being #101 in my linky party. Hope to see you next week!

    Sinea

  21. Sonya, this is amazing!!! I am so thrilled to be neighbors with you at Life in Bloom today. Wow, I am not crafty–but I love this . .and I think I can really do it! My boys would love this! Thank you!

  23. This is so genius! I’ve been working on my son’s room as well and this is perfect! I am so grateful you shared this…thanks IG friend 😉 @familybringsjoy Pinned it!

  25. And, I too love…. fast and easy project. I have the teens for crafts this summer for VBS and what a great idea,Im so going to do this.Thanks Sonya!!! You are doing a great job! 🙂

  27. I too like easy, fast projects. I need almost immediate results. 🙂 I love this idea. And I also love his choices. They look great. I can’t wait to try some.

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