Father's Day Gift Idea - Handprint Hug Shirt

Looking for a unique Father's Day gift that shows Dad just how much you love him? Here's a great idea for a 'hug' shirt that Dad can wear to remind him all year through...

Supply List
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Craft Paint
T-shirt
Cardboard
Craft/Paint Pens

To start your Father's Day Hug Shirt project, you'll need to find out what size t-shirt Dad wears, and decide what color shirt to get. You can find blank t-shirts at your local discount store (Walmart, Target, etc.) or at craft stores. Keep in mind that you will be painting onto your shirt, and so you will want a color that looks good with the paint colors that you'll be choosing.

Before you get started, you need to wash and dry the shirt, to get all the factory chemicals out of it (because they can keep your paint from setting properly). You probably shouldn't need to iron the t-shirt, if you grab it out of the dryer promptly and smooth it flat while it's still warm.

Next, slide a piece of cardboard into the shirt, so that the paint can't soak through to both sides at once. If you use a piece of cardboard that's wide enough, it will also keep your shirt stretched flat while you work, (just don't stretch it too tight, or else it will mess up you design).

Put your hands, (or your child's hands if you're the Mom!), into the craft paint of your choice, coating the palms and finger completely. Press each hand onto the BACK of the shirt, fingers pointed towards the spine. (You may want to do one hand at a time.) The handprints will placed so that it looks like someone reached around Dad to hug him, and left the prints.

Allow the handprints to dry completely before going to the next step.

Turn the shirt over to the front, making sure you still have the cardboard in there. On the front you can use the craft pens or paint pens to write a Happy Father's Day message ("This is My Hugging Shirt", "Somebody Hugs Me", etc.), as well as any other decorating you'd like to do for Dad.

Give the front plenty of time to dry too, before wrapping up this great Father's Day Gift. Dad will love it!

Happy Father's Day!

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