With the new age of Pinterest and Etsy, you can no longer just call your best girlfriends and ask them to be a bridesmaid. You need to come up with a clever, unique way of making them a part of the biggest day of your life. That’s where I come in. I’m about to break down into a step-by-step tutorial for a creative, fun way that people will oohing and aweing over. The best part, there is a chance to win this rhinestone tank, just scroll all the way to the bottom for details on how to win!!
The tutorial is broke into two parts. You can either stop at part 1 or move onto part 2.
Part One: Make the Rhinestone Iron-On Transfer
Materials:
- Hotfix Rhinestones size 3mm
- Hotfix Transfer Tape or Paper
- Tweezers
- Mirrored image of Text you will be using
- Tape (not pictured)
- Scissors (not pictured)
Directions:
Step 1
Open up a Word document and choose font and font size. For a reference, I use a font size between 160-200 pt depending on the length of word. Remember, you need this to fit nicely on an article of clothing, so you don’t want it to be too small or too big. After you’ve typed your word out, copy (Ctrl + C) it.
Step 2
Open a Paint program or a similar program that will allow you to mirror an image. I used Paint, so that is what I will be explaining how to do. Paste (Ctrl + V) your text onto the Paint canvas. Using the image below for guidance, find the rotate button and flip horizontal.
Step 3
Your text should be mirrored now and look like the image below. Print image.
Step 4
Take your transfer paper and place it over mirrored text. Cut the transfer paper to fit over the mirrored text, leaving a little margin of space on all sides. Save the left over transfer paper for another project.
Step 5
Once your transfer paper is cut, cut your mirrored text down a little and tape it to a desk or table.
Step 6
Peel off the white backing from the transfer paper. Set aside the white piece and tape down over mirrored text the clear side, sticky side UP.
Step 7
Dump a bunch of the rhinestones onto your work surface . If you prefer to be a little neater you can use a paper plate to keep the rhinestones contained. Using your tweezers pick up one rhinestone, jewel side down, and trace your text. You should be looking at the black side of the rhinestones.
Step 8
Keep tracing until your entire word is covered by rhinestones. Take the white backing of the transfer paper that you set aside and place over your rhinestones. Carefully press to secure all rhinestones on sticky side of transfer paper. Remove the tape from the clear transfer paper.
Now you can stop here and give them just this rhinestone transfer which they can iron on their own piece of clothing…..or you can move on to step 2. Step 2 involves more supplies, so I included another supply list for this step.
Part 2: Make the Rhinestone Tank Top
Materials:
- Rhinestone Transfer (the one you just completed in Part 1)
- White Box (I bought mine at Target in the Christmas Clearance section, but have seen them at the Dollar Store)
- Scrapbook sticky letters
- Scissors
- Tissue Paper
- Tape
- Wrapping Paper (Target Dollar section always has cute paper)
- Iron
- Thin towel or wash cloth (not pictured)
- *Optional* Ribbon (not pictured)
- Tank Top or T-shirt
- Iron Board
Directions:
Step 1
Pre-heat your iron to the cotton setting. Remove white backing from transfer. If any rhinestones stick to the white backing or come loose, just use your tweezers to place them back where they belong.
Step 2
Place the rhinestone transfer on the tank top in desired location sticky side down. Make sure to place it where you are going to want it because you will not want to lift it up and replace it as it could damage the transfer.
Step 3
Place the tank top on the iron board. Place your THIN cloth or towel over the rhinestone transfer. Place iron on top of cloth and use firm pressure for 45 seconds. DO NOT GO SIDE TO SIDE WITH IRON. Make sure to heat entire rhinestone. If you need to move iron make sure to pick up iron and place down on next spot. Repeat until entire transfer has been covered twice.
Step 3
Turn tank top inside out, apply heat to each section of the transfer for 30 seconds. This draws the glue into the shirt. So make sure not to skip this step. I do not use the towel on this step.
Step 4
Turn tank top right side out and place iron directing on transfer for another 30 seconds.
Step 5
Run your hand over the rhinestones to make sure none are loose. If any appear loose, apply direct heat for 8-10seconds.
Step 6
Grab the lid of the white gift box and using your scrapbook letter stickers, spell out “will you be my…”
Step 7
Line the base of your gift box with tissue paper. I used white, so that it would not be distracting and take away from the tank top. Place your tank top in the box and make a little card explaining what you are asking. I was lucky enough to have talented graphic designer, Alanna Mehrtens, design a cute little “Be my bridesmaid” card to include in the package.
Step 8
Close up the box and wrap it in any wrapping paper you’d like. I always find really cute paper in the dollar section at Target. There you go, now just repeat for all the special ladies in your bridal party. Want to win this exact one? Enter here! Or visit my Etsy Shop to purchase this tank top.
Giveaway begins Wednesday, January 23, 2013 and ends at midnight ET on January 31, 2013. Winner will be announced January 31, 2013.
