So, I had this idea floating around in my head for a bit. You know that Billie Eilish album, “Happier Than Ever”? Love the vibe, love the title. And I kept seeing shirts and stuff, but nothing quite hit right, or maybe I just felt like making something myself. I get like that sometimes, just need to tinker with things.
First thing, I needed a base. Went digging through my closet, found this old beige t-shirt. Kinda the right color, you know, soft, like the album’s feel. It was plain, perfect. Washed it first, always gotta wash new or old shirts before you mess with them, gets the sizing right and removes any weird factory stuff.
Getting Started
Then I thought about the design. Didn’t want anything too complicated. Just the words, “Happier Than Ever”. Simple, gets the point across. I considered printing a stencil, but honestly, felt like just going for it freehand. More personal that way, right? Even if it ends up a bit wonky.
Okay, supplies. I had some black fabric paint lying around from another project I did ages ago. Found a decent brush, not too thick, not too thin. You gotta make sure the paint is actually for fabric, otherwise, it just washes right out or cracks. Learned that the hard way before.
- Found the shirt: Plain beige tee.
- Got the paint: Black fabric paint.
- Grabbed a brush: Medium size.
The Actual Making Part
So I laid the shirt flat on the kitchen table. Put some cardboard inside, super important, so the paint doesn’t bleed through to the back. Then I just kinda eyeballed the spacing for the words across the chest. Took a deep breath and started painting. Went slow, tried to keep the letters looking okay. It’s not perfect, like machine-printed stuff, but that’s kind of the point. It looks handmade because, well, it is.
Painting letters freehand is trickier than it looks. Had to touch up a few spots. Made sure the paint layer wasn’t too thick, didn’t want it to feel stiff when it dried. Once I finished the letters, I just left it there. On the table. Had to let it dry completely, which took a good few hours. Resisted the urge to poke it.
All Done
After it was totally dry, I heat-set it with the iron. Put a cloth over the design and ironed it for a bit, helps the paint really stick to the fabric so it lasts through washes. That’s a step people sometimes forget.
And yeah, that was it. Got my own “Happier Than Ever” shirt. It looks pretty cool, I think. Wore it out the other day. Feels good wearing something you made yourself, you know? Simple project, but kept me busy and happy for an afternoon. Definitely happier than before I started it, anyway.
