youtube video

Awww, yeah. It’s crafty time!

Y’all, I am so freaking excited because the fact that I not only blogged this DIY but also MADE A VIDEO ABOUT IT? I mean, that has to mean that I’m really getting my act together.

I have been writing this idea on my to-blog list for literally half a year.

The good news is it didn’t take me so long to blog it because it’s complicated. It’s so stupid easy. And there’s a very good chance you already have everything you need to do it:

1. Washable glue. Like school glue. Hey! Perfect timing. Go hit up the back-to-school aisles and stock up because you are going to want to do this to everything. It’s addictive for us creative types.

2. Fabric paint. Oh, friends. There is sooooooo much more to fabric paint these days. I found gold spray paint fabric paint! And glitter, and matte, and so much more than neon puffy paint of the days of yore. But I’m not judging if that’s what you choose to decorate with.

3. Fabric to paint on. Any. Thing. Anything that will stand up to some gentle hand washing and mild soap. I’m sleep deprived, and very limited in creativity, so please know that this technique can go so much further than just dressing up linens and shirts. I can’t wait to see what y’all come up with!

Step 1. Draw or write whatever design or letters you want on your dry fabric with the glue.

Step 2. Let it dry completely. (Probably overnight is best.)

Step 3. Paint over your dried glue and within any areas of the design you want painted.

Step 4. Let it dry completely again. (Overnight or up to 2 days depending on the paint you use.)

Step 5. Soak in a sink of warm water and mild soap.

Step 6. Once the glue has had a chance to soak and get soft – 30ish minutes, it will start dissolving and peeling away from the fabric. You can either help this process along with a gentle cycle in your washing machine at this point (making sure all the glue is removed before throwing it in the dryer), or you can completely remove it all by hand, peeling it back gently.

Step 7. Dry

That’s it!

I am obsessed with giving muslin swaddling blankets for new-baby gifts, and now I’m obsessed with customizing them. I used a pump spray fabric paint for this, but you could also use an organic vegetable dye in a spray bottle, or dip the corner in it.

Gold spray paint is a blast, right? I didn’t even know it comes in a fabric formulation. I have half a bottle left and am carefully planning how to use up the remainder of it’s contents.

This was actually the project that started it all. I wanted to make a personalized baseball shirt for Kendall, and at first I thought I could do a resist with duct tape or a sheet of contact paper. Then I had a moment of simple inspiration when I saw the bottle of glue while digging in the craft supplies.

I think I love this effect the most. In the video, I look like I rolled the foam roller with my hand. That is not true. I just couldn’t find the handle to the roller in the mess of a garage, and hope people will infer that I had one when I made it.

Watch the video for more details! It’s super short, and fun, and I made it with a GoPro strapped to my head. And if you like the video, I’d love if you’d subscribe to the Baby Rabies Blog YouTube Channel!

Make sure you tag me in any #GlueResist projects you finish, too! I’m @BabyRabies on Twitter and Instagram. Can’t wait to see!