So as you all are probably well aware, my son started preschool a couple weeks ago….I’m still trying to get used to a quiet house, and my new free time!  He of course needed some supplies, including a paint shirt.  The supply list that was sent home stated he needed to bring an “oversized paint shirt with child’s name written on it.”

Now, I suppose I could have just bought a baggy t-shirt and written his name on it with a Sharpie….but pffffft!  C’mon now!

Being the crafty mom that I am,who is also not-so-slightly obsessed with a Silhouette Cameo, I decided to make Rowan’s paint shirt extra special….but in a not-too-complicated way.

No boring shirt for my boy….no way, no how!  Plus, my handwriting is terrible, so vinyl to the rescue!

 

Personalized Art Smock for School!

Supplies:

• Art smock (I used a long-sleeved Bumkins bib in a Dr. Seuss Cat In the Hat print)
• Heat transfer vinyl (HTV) in red and white
• Silhouette Cameo and 12″ x 24″ cutting mat
• Siser multi use paper
• Iron
• Cardboard

 

Why THIS Art Smock?

I am a huge lover of all things Bumkins!  We’ve been using their bibs for all of Rowan’s life, and their Mickey Mouse wet bag is great for handling wet/soiled clothes too.

One of the reasons I love them so much is because they are so easy to clean….a simple run under the faucet and then air drying in the dish rack is all you need (and you can certainly throw them in the washer if your kiddo is especially messy that meal).

This is one of the reasons why I decided on this particular art smock instead of an oversized t-shirt or another brand of art smock….it will be super easy for Rowan’s teacher to clean if needed (but they’re only using watercolor paints in class so I doubt there will be any serious paint smudginess….hopefully).

I also love that it’s lightweight and backless (so Rowan won’t get too hot and uncomfortable while wearing it), plus he just has to put his arms in the sleeves instead of having something yanked on/off over his head (he can get grumpy during wardrobe changes….can you say “Terrible Twos”?).

The Design

I didn’t want to do anything too complicated or fancy for this project….for once, I was keeping things simple for a quick and easy project!  Just a plain ole vinyl decal would do the job.

I first created my design in Silhouette Studio so I could cut it out using my Silhouette Cameo.  Since the style of this particular smock was Dr. Seuss, I went with a free Seussian font called Doctor Soos….I know, imagine that! {wink}  I just typed out Rowan’s name in all caps (which would be the top red layer) then gave it a small external offset to create an outline background layer in white.

 

The Process (Sort of….)

Instead of reinventing the wheel (again), I’ll spare you all the juicy details on how I cut and applied the HTV to the art smock.  However, if you’d like all that wonderful information, feel free to check out several other HTV tutorials I’ve shared, especially the one for how I made Rowan’s yearly back-to-school shirt with handprints for every grade.  I followed the same exact process here….I just layered two cuts of HTV in this instance.

 

The HTV

I at first wasn’t exactly sure what type of HTV to use.  This Bumkins art smock is 100% polyester, and since it’s white on one side that means it’s sublimated….yep, getting super technical on you.

After scoping out Siser’s website, I still couldn’t decide on a type (too many options!), so I reached out to them on their Facebook page one evening.  The next morning I was very happy to see a reply in my Inbox that said any type of their HTV should work just fine….and since I had some Easyweed on hand already, that’s what I went with.

 

The Final Personalized Art Smock!

And here it is!  Totes adorbs, no?  I love how quick and easy it was to knock out too.  And while I’m not sure what all the other kiddos in Rowan’s class brought, I doubt any of them are as cute as this….or the wearer. :)

 

Like I mentioned, Rowan will be using this art smock at school, so I’m not yet sure how well the HTV will hold up during runs through the washer and dryer since they aren’t washing the kiddos’ smocks. I’ll keep you guys updated though!

 

First Day of School Chalkboard Sign Photo Prop

Also, don’t forget to check out the chalkboard sign I made for Rowan’s first day of school photos!

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!