My friend, Athena, hosted an awesome craft group this afternoon. The girls made fireworks t-shirts and I know my son is going to want to make one, too.
Materials:
- t-shirt
- Sharpie (permanent) markers
- rubbing alcohol
- medicine dropper
- cardboard
Directions:
1. Place cardboard in between the layers of the t-shirt. Make dots with your sharpie marker in a circle shape.
2. Use the dropper to drop rubbing alcohol into the center of the design. The marker will spread.
3. Experiment with concentric circles of dots, dashes, spirals…anything in a circular shape should work.
4. The metallic Sharpie markers didn’t run so we used those to write words or numbers.
5. After the shirt is completely dry (the alcohol is flammable), run the shirt through the dryer or iron on the reverse side before washing.
Wear with patriotic pride!
Educational Connections:
- History and Culture: Fireworks have been a part of Independence Day celebrations from the first anniversary and originated in ancient China! Learn more about the history of fireworks.
- Science: This video from the Franklin Institute explores how fireworks are made and how the colors are created. Older students will enjoy this interactive combustion feature from NOVA.
- Art: Try taking photographs of a fireworks display. Which camera settings work best?
- Science (for older kids): Why do the Sharpie designs run and blend in rubbing alcohol but not in water?
This is such a cute idea! Your shirt came out so well!
this is SO clever, love it!
Neat idea – I’ll do this soon with my kids. Thanks!
Thank you so much for sharing this. I think I may have the kids make canvas totes using this process. It will be perfect for them to carry their own books to and from the library over the summer months.