Every geeky cell in my body longs to have Hunger Games T-shirt, but I just can't bring myself to spend our hard-earned money at Hot Topic on the mass-produced, over-priced rags they sell. So after cruising Pinterest, and viewing some super-creative Panem-inspired garb, I decided to used the bleach stenciling method.
While most instructions I found recommended using freezer paper and bleach pens or vellum and spray adhesive, I didn't want to spend that much money. After experimenting for a while I came up with my own method.
I picked up a nice dark gray shirt at Walmart for $4.48, the printed out an image of the mockingjay symbol on a piece of card stock that I already had at the house. I put several sections of the newspaper in the middle of the shirt to prevent the bleach from soaking through to the other side. I cut out the image with a razor blade, and positioned it where I wanted it on the T-shirt. I didn't use any adhesive, I just set it on the shirt. I filled small spray bottle (one with a fine spray nozzle) with Clorox, and sprayed a fine layer of bleach over the area of the stencil. You don't need to use much, and while I didn't do it this time, next time I'll rinse the bleach out of the shirt once I get to the desired color of the shirt. I let this sit a little too long and it over-bleached a little, but I still love the finished produce.
I think it looks very District 12. I made one for me and and identical one for my sister. She was thrilled. The entire project only cost me $4.48, since I already had cardstock, bleach and a spray bottle at the house. It was a fun, fast, easy and cheap project that I'm sure I'll do again!
