Some of my fondest memories of childhood are of using fabric paints and pens to make custom t-shirts, pillowcases, and quilt blocks. I would have loved this technique, demonstrated at No Time for Flashcards -- using a product called Ink Effects, she painted these colorful letters on a sheet of paper, and then ironed it on to a placemat. The paint-and-transfer technique has me totally intrigued! I know I would have loved that as a kid. I love it now, too! [how to make an easy ABC placemat]

Another good thing: these inks transfer best onto polyester blends, so most of the textiles at the dollar store would be prime candidates for this iron-on treatment.

Project Estimate:

• Placemat, $1
• DecoArt Ink Effects, $3 per color
• Paint brushes, on hand
• Paper, on hand
• Iron, on hand

Total: $4 and up

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