How to Make Kids Hand Print 4th of July Shirts

T-shirts are fun to make with kids for the 4^th of July. This craft is super easy, and makes cute shirts that your kids can wear to 4^th of July parades, picnics, and other summer fun.

Pick Shirts

As you are making shirts, start by picking out the shirts you want to decorate. We usually pick out old white t-shirts or tanktops from their closets. This is a great way to revitalize old or even stained shirts that aren't getting worn otherwise. The good thing about using old shirts is that you aren't upset if you mess up.

Get Paint

As you're making an American flag print, you need both red and blue paint. The best paint to use is fabric paint. You can actually use most non-water soluble paints, though. We made these shirts with wall paint that we had leftover from other projects. These have been worn and washed for six months now without fading.

Get Ready to Clean

Before you actually put the paint and your kids together, anticipate that it will be messy. If it's nice weather, you may want to do this outside. At the very least, put some newspaper or something on the floor. I also kept wet wipes right next to the shirts to help with clean up.

Add the Hand Print

If you're looking at the shirt, the handprint goes at the top left (where the stars would go on the flag). Dip your kid's hand in the blue paint. Encourage them to spread their fingers apart, and then firmly press their hand against the shirt. You may want to help by putting your hand on theirs so that they don't wiggle their fingers. Then lift up.

Add the Stripes

Depending on the age of your child, you can choose how to add the stripes. My younger two used their feet to add the stripes. They loved dipping their feet into the red paint and stepping on their shirts to make stripes (we went with three rows). My seven-year-old's foot was too big to add multiple stripes. Instead, she dipped one of her fingers in the paint, and used her finger to print the rows on the shirt. I loved the effect of both methods.

Let it Dry

Make sure that the shirt stays flat while it dries, and that it is completely dry before you touch or wear it.

Enjoy

Put your kids in their new cute shirts, enjoy your 4^th of July, and enjoy all of the compliments you get on their patriotic apparel!