{Freezer Paper Shirts aka What to do While Waiting for a Phone Call}

We mailed in our dossier packet this week. Still haven't heard from our agency...but I'm keeping busy trying not to think about what time it is in Washington state where our agency is. Keeping busy, eating granola bars I don't need and painting stained childrens' clothing. I'll spare you the photos of the disappointing granola bar incidents. But I'll share my attempt at freezer paper stenciling.

Have you heard of this? If so, ignore my simple tutorial. If not, read on and think Christmas gift ideas and share with me what you come up with!

First, I found a black & white image I liked...I looked through Google images but also searched free clip art files. I would recommend something less detailed at first. I'm thinking about trying a superhero initial for Boo.

Next, I printed the image the size I wanted and traced it on freezer or wax paper. All the instructions I've read say to put the shiny side down. Good luck determining which side is the shiny side. I had to cut out my image three times before I got it right.

Cut out the image with an xacto knife, or a parring knife.

Place a second sheet of the wax paper under the top layer of your fabric. This will keep your stencil from moving and paint from bleeding through.

Iron your stencil on a dry setting onto your shirt, or other fabric-think denim, totes, napkins...hmmm....

I used a sponge brush and just tapped acrylic craft paint over the entire stencil like this:

And because I'm a speed demon, I waited no more than five minutes before peeling back my stencil for a big reveal:

What do you think? I'm thinking it's 11 am in Washington and I hope the phone rings soon, but this was a nice way to spend the morning.