This year for my kids' school teachers we painted some dish towels. Inspired by this pin on Pinterest, I decided to go really simple and use my girls footprints to make some Christmas trees on the towels.
To do this project you will need:
- flour sack dish towels (they are thin and have a flat texture so it's easy to paint on - these can sometimes be found at the dollar store, mine were not though)
- acrylic paint (fabric paint can also be used, then you don't need to add the fabric medium to the paint)
- fabric medium to mix with the acrylic paint - mixed at a 2:1 ratio (found on the same rack as acrylic paints)
- sponge brush
Alright, I had one girl at a time doing this. I had her sit in a chair while I painted the bottom of her foot using the sponge brush - they loved this part because it tickled. I painted the foot green and the toes red. Then I positioned her foot over the towel and had her stand up to get a good impression on the towel. You can see the side of the tree we did without having her stand up. It didn't leave as dark of an impression. Then we repeated with the other foot. They all thought it was so funny that it looked like they had little grinch feet when we were done because acrylic paint doesn't come off the skin too easily.
After the main part of the tree was done, I used a star sponge we had on hand (from the dollar store) and had them stamp it on top of the tree. They used the sponge brush with a little bit of brown paint to make a little trunk.

Lou decided after she had done the tree that she wanted to make a reindeer also using her handprint (completely her idea, by the way). We used the brown paint to cover her hand in paint, then stamped it onto the towel. She used a cotton swab to dot the nose and used a paint pen to finish off the details.
After letting the paint dry for 24 hours, I heat set the designs with the iron by pressing for 30 seconds. They should be good to wash and use now!
I am happy with the way these turned out so I think we may make a few more for some lucky lucky grandparents . . .
What gifts are most meaningful to you?
What are you giving to your children's teachers this year?
Linked up to NurtureStore Play Academy.
This is waaaaay cute & CLEVER!! Love it! What a wonderful idea to give to grandparents!! I would love for you to come link up at my TGIF LInky Party - http://livinglifeintentionally.blogspot.com/search/label/Linkey%20Parties - you always have such cute stuff I know my readers would love to see!!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas,
Beth =-)
Great idea!!! Will have to remember this for next year! Stopping by from TGIF Linky Party
ReplyDeleteHow cute to make tea towels! Absolutely adorable!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing on Kids Get Crafty!
Maggy
Adorable!! Maybe that can be next year's Christmas craft from my kids. : ) Stopping by TGIF Linky Party
ReplyDeleteThis is such a precious idea - making tea towels with hand and feet prints. A lovely keep-sake for grand-parents...
ReplyDeletewonderful gift idea...I really like it.
ReplyDeleteSend Gifts To Pakistan.
Can you explain the iron part do you just place the iron directly on the paint or place something in between
ReplyDeleteI did place a thin piece of cloth ( like a pillowcase) over the design before I ironed it. It shouldn't come off at all, but it's better to be safe than sorry. :-)
DeleteI have been looking all over for these types of towels. I can't find them at the dollar store either, so where else should I look? Thanks!
ReplyDeletesandiegocoley@yahoo.com
Sometimes these flour sack towels are hard to find in stores. I have added this item to my Amazon widget on the sidebar. Good luck on your project!
DeleteDo you have an Ikea near you? They have them....
DeleteI bought mine at walmart
Deletei was able to find a 5 pack of the towels at walkart for about $5.
ReplyDeleteAre the towels washable after you print them???
ReplyDeleteYes, once the design is heat-set with your iron (pressing on the wrong side for about 30 seconds), the towels are cometely washable. The fabric (textile) medium added to the acrylic paint will also make the painted designs soft like the fabric, and not stiff.
DeleteThese look fantastic! Do you mean the back of the towels on the opposite side to the paint is the wrong side? Earlier I see you suggested placing a thin piece of cloth (like a pillowcase) over the design, and I assumed that meant over the top side of the painting? Will both ways set the paint?
DeleteSorry for the confusion, I did say two different ways to heat set it. Either way will work, the painted area just needs to have heat set to it for 30 seconds. The first method I mentioned, ironing it design-side-up with a cloth over the top, is how I heat set the design on this project.
DeleteI found the towels at Target 4 pk/$3...... about to make these with my students.
ReplyDeleteEven better than the dollar store! Last year they seemed to be a lot more difficult to find when I went back to buy more towels to make more gifts.
DeleteCan't wait to make some grandparent gifts! You said to use acrylic paints with fabric medium at a 2:1 ratio. Which is the "2" and which is the "1"?
ReplyDelete2 parts paint to 1 part fabric medium (it may say "textile" on the bottle). Good luck with your project!
DeleteI love this and will definitely be making a few over the next few days for gifts this Christmas! I am thinking of adding thumb print "ornaments" to the tree. .. .. Thank you for the wonderful idea!
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of adding thumbprint ornaments!
DeleteDid you wash the towels prior to the craft?
ReplyDeleteI didn't wash mine. I think either way would be fine. They would probably need to be ironed after washing if you were to give them as a gift as they would be rather wrinkly.
DeleteDo I have to use fabric medium With the acrylic paint?
ReplyDeleteSorry for the delayed response. You don't have to use it, but fabric medium will make the paint softer and more flexible.
DeleteA must read post! I couldn’t resist commenting. Well written!
ReplyDeleteSalon towels
I love these and have used since my grandmother did the stitching.My kids now love them and I replenish their supplies on birthdays and holidays.Thank you.
ReplyDelete