Make a Frankenstein Shirt for Halloween

Halloween and Frankenstein go hand in hand, so this is the perfect time to make a fun Frankenstein shirt with the kids! This do it yourself decorated shirt is fun craft project for kids and adults alike. You could even make a Bride of Frankenstein shirt to go with it, perfect for couples.

Making a Frankenstein Shirt

This Frankenstein shirt project is easier to make than you might think. Check out the end of this post for a printable version of the how-to instructions.

RELATED: Our prisoner costume comes together with duct tape! Another fun costume idea.

This monster shirt is great for pretend play. Grrrrr! I’d say my model was definitely having fun! If you make your own, I’d love to hear about it in the comments below.

Supplies for Making a Frankenstein Shirt

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• Green shirt
• Black and white fabric paint
• Black fabric paint marker
• Shirt form or piece of foam core board

Tools:

• paintbrush
• roll of duct tape*
• ruler
• bottle of glue*

*The bottle of glue and roll of duct tape are simply for tracing circles for the eyes, you will not actually be using either one.

There are LOTS of fabric paints out there and I know that choosing them can be confusing. I like the soft fabric paints, which means that they will not dry stiff, they move with the fabric. There are different brands, I have successfully used both DecoArt’s So Soft paint and Tulip soft fabric paint, which is the one you see pictured here. I also used a Tulip dual tip fabric marker to draw the design.

If you do a lot of t-shirt painting, you probably have a t-shirt form. I just use a piece of foam core board and insert it inside the t-shirt. This gives you a solid surface to work on as well as protecting the back side of your shirt from any seepage (of which I had none, but never hurts to be safe).

1. Use the fabric marker to draw the hair, which is simply lines going up and down in a triangular pattern across the front of the shirt, about chest level.
2. Squeeze some black fabric paint on to a plastic dish or palette (paper plates can absorb paint, so avoid using those) and brush the paint onto the shirt within the drawn lines.
3. Use a ruler and your marker to draw your eyebrow. Use the roll of duct tape and trace around it to create the eyes below the brow.
4. Trace the glue bottle inside the larger circles to create the eye pupils. Use your paintbrush to color in the eyebrow and pupils with black paint, and paint the whites of the eyes with white fabric paint.
5. Finish Frankie off by using the marker to add a simple nose, some stitches and a stitched mouth.
6. Follow the instructions on your fabric paint for curing. This product says to dry flat for four hours and wash inside out after 72 hours.

Then find a silly ham of a child to wear it and take lots of pictures! Happy Halloween!

More Frankenstein Craft Ideas

1. If you love Halloween crafts, you’ve come to the right place! For another dress-up project, check out this kid-friendly Frankenstein costume project.
2. For more pretend play, make a set of Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein craft stick puppets.
3. Need to add some personality to your Halloween decor? Dig into the recycling bin and make my Halloween monster yard lights or a glow in the dark Frankenstein milk jug.
4. If you are looking for preschool art projects, monster hands are a fun option.
5. For lots more Halloween ideas for preschoolers, take a look at this whole Halloween party that is geared toward younger kids.

This project was originally posted on October 12, 2015.

Print Project

5 from 2 votes

Make a Frankenstein Shirt for Halloween

With Halloween on the way, it's a perfect time to make a Frankenstein shirt! This would be a fun costume for kids or adults.

Author: Amanda Formaro

Supplies

• Green shirt
• Black and white fabric paint
• Black fabric paint marker
• Shirt form or piece of foam core board
• Tools: paintbrush roll of duct tape*, ruler, bottle of glue*

Instructions

• If you do a lot of t-shirt painting, you probably have a t-shirt form. I just use a piece of foam core board and insert it inside the t-shirt. This gives you a solid surface to work on as well as protecting the back side of your shirt from any seepage (of which I had none, but never hurts to be safe).
• Use the fabric marker to draw the hair, which is simply lines going up and down in a triangular pattern across the front of the shirt, about chest level.
• Squeeze some black fabric paint on to a plastic dish or palette (paper plates can absorb paint, so avoid using those) and brush the paint onto the shirt within the drawn lines.
• Use a ruler and your marker to draw your eyebrow. Use the roll of duct tape and trace around it to create the eyes below the brow.
• Trace the glue bottle inside the larger circles to create the eye pupils. Use your paintbrush to color in the eyebrow and pupils with black paint, and paint the whites of the eyes with white fabric paint.
• Finish Frankie off by using the marker to add a simple nose, some stitches and a stitched mouth.
• Follow the instructions on your fabric paint for curing. This product says to dry flat for four hours and wash inside out after 72 hours.
• Then find a silly ham of a child to wear it and take lots of pictures! Happy Halloween!

Expert Tips & FAQs

*The bottle of glue and roll of duct tape are simply for tracing circles for the eyes, you will not actually be using either one.