I wrote this tubular post as part of a sponsored campaign with Tulip and The Blueprint Social. All opinions in this post are totally my own. Righteous.
Do you remember the distinct pleasure of using Tulip® Dimensional Fabric Paint (otherwise known as Puff Paint) to accessorize everything during the 80’s? I had almost forgotten (aka. blocked out) just how many t-shirts and sweatshirts my mom made for my sisters and I until…
 I received a copy of the vintage idea book Tulip released in the 80’s and every single page looked familiar! My mom had the exact same booklet when I was a kid and I must have spent hours looking at it, imagining what masterpiece I would wear next. Of course, I couldn’t just leave it at that, there had to be proof.
After only a couple hours of looking through old family pictures, I finally found a picture of my younger sister wearing a sweatshirt identical to the design on the idea book. “Excited” doesn’t even begin to describe how I felt! Never mind that I’m wearing a candle wreath on my head or that my sisters are decorating me like a Christmas tree, Adriana is totally rocking the best sweatshirt ever. (And no, contrary to what it might seem, I have not had braces on for the last 25 years!)
Ok, so how would you update Puff Paint for modern day use? How about using it to make over a thrifted sweatshirt for your kid?! I know we’ve all come across clothes while thrifting that you wish didn’t have a certain image or something. Now you can fix it!
How to Cover a Design on a Thrifted Sweatshirt
Materials:
- Tulip® Soft ® Fabric Paint
- Tulip® Dimensional Fabric Paints
- Thrifted Sweatshirt
- Design or Pattern
1. Find a thrifted sweatshirt. I’ve got nothing against the girl (iCarly?) pictured on mine but what if your daughter just couldn’t stand her? It would be a shame to pass it up because the sweatshirt was in great condition and didn’t smell funny so…let’s fix it!
2. Use a pre-made stencil or print and cut an graphic that will cover the sweatshirt image almost entirely. Buh bye, iCarly.
3. Use a disappearing ink marker to transfer your desired design. The color of my sweatshirt was too dark so I had to use just a regular ball point pen, which worked out fine but did bleed through the white paint so be careful.
4. Use the Tulip® Soft ® Fabric Paint to paint the majority of your design. This will allow the sweatshirt to bend and be more comfortable. I totally remember wearing t-shirts that had so much paint on them, it felt like you were wearing a cardboard on your chest! I know we all want more for our kids so don’t do that. 🙂
5. After you have applied a few coats of the Tulip® Soft ® Fabric Paint and allowed them to dry completely, start coloring in the accent pieces with Tulip® Dimensional Fabric Paints. Go slow and pray for no air bubbles!
6. Once all the paint has dried completely, use the steam from an iron or blow dryer to puff up the Tulip® Dimensional Fabric Paints. Mine didn’t puff up too much but they did get more of a matte finish which I liked.
Congrats! You have officially made your sweatshirt awesome!
Puff Paint not your thing? Stop by Tulip and celebrate with their Tie Dye Your Summer event. With over 300 ideas and a Summer iPad and Tulip Prize package to win, you’re sure to have fun! Don’t forget to keep up to date on the latest happenings from Tulip by following them on all social media outlets.
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Check out more fun Totally Tulip ideas:
And for all of you who made it to the bottom of the post, a special treat straight from the 80’s!
Comments & Reviews
Susan says
I lo-ove that you found the pic of you and your sister! Not only loving that your sister has the same sweatshirt but the wreath on your head reminds me of that 80’s (maybe early 90’s) movie with Kevin Spacey and Dennis O’Leary when the family is all sitting at the Christmas table with wreaths on their heads. Oh, and your formerly iCarly jacket is adorable with your unicorn design!
Vanessa Brady says
Lol! What would I do without my sisters to terrorize me?!
Heather - Dollar Store Crafts says
First off, the fact that you found a pic of your sister wearing one of these sweatshirts back in the day is EPIC!
Second, I LOVE your technique for covering up a graphic on an old sweatshirt. Simply brilliant!
Vanessa Brady says
Oh Heather, I was so excited when I found it! I think I showed everyone who walked through my front door for weeks. “Thanks for my mail. By the way, have I shown you the picture of my sister wearing a puff paint sweatshirt from the 80’s?” 😀
keri @ shaken together says
WOW, that makeover is pretty impressive – great way to update that hoodie! I was a puff paint queen and still remember a mint green t-shirt with so many hearts that it probably stood up on its own 😉
Vanessa Brady says
Right? Or when you tried to hug a friend who was wearing another puff paint shirt and ended up sticking together? Ah, the good old days. 😀
Jocie@OPC The Better Half says
LOVE IT!!! I totally remember my very crafty aunt making many of these! 🙂
Vanessa Brady says
Right? I’m tempted to get my mom to work her magic again! 😀
Laura Beth says
This is an incredible “cover up!” Great job….I LOVE puff paint. I think I’ll pick some up next time I’m at the craft store :o)
Vanessa Brady says
I totally forgot how much fun it was!
Frankye B says
awesome, i have a hanna montana hoodie and a box full of paint, now to think up a idea/design
Vanessa Brady says
I’d love to see what you come up with!
Carolina says
So smart! We get a lot of hand-me-downs from cousins for the boys, so I’ll have to remember this technique. Although probably not with a unicorn. 😉 HAHA!
Vanessa Brady says
Hah, you never know. My 4 yr old found the sweatshirt and immediately wanted to put it on! lol.
Beth at Unskinny Boppy says
WHOA! My niece would love this! That’s unbelievable that you just painted right over that other graphic! Great vision!
Vanessa Brady says
Thanks, Beth! I had planned on giving it to my neighbor’s little girl but Jack kinda took to it. 😀