DIY: Printed Pants

This year, printed pants are all the rage.  If you can’t afford to scour the department store racks, just make your own.  Typically, white would be the best choice, but if you have a pair of pastel pants or even light denim, you can completely transform them within a few minutes with just a few dollars. 

What You’ll Need:
1. Pair of pants
2. Fabric paint
3. Sponge
4. Stencil
5. X-acto knife or scissors

First Step:
Download or buy a stencil (floral would be my first choice).  Trace or print your stencil on a piece of cardstock, regular paper won’t be able to hold the thick fabric paint.  Use an x-acto knife or scissors to cut out the stencil (be careful not to cut off important pieces of your stencil).

Second Step:
Lay your jeans flat (I suggest putting a piece of cardboard or newspaper in the leg of the pants to prevent any paint from leaking through).  Decide how you’d like to place the stencil on your pants, and be sure to keep it in the same direction so you don’t mess up the pattern.

Third Step:
Pour some paint into a small bowl (don’t use too much so it won’t dry out).  Test your paint on the stencil or an extra piece of fabric, so you know what it will look like before you paint your jeans.

Fourth Step:
Place the stencil on your pants, and hold it in place while you fill in the stencil with the sponge.  As you use the sponge, it will begin to fade which can create a cool ombre effect.  I suggest not trying to keep the sponge completely full, because the thicker the paint, the stiffer it will dry.

Fifth Step:
As you wait for your jeans to dry, carefully wipe the extra paint from the stencil and set it out to dry.  Once the front of your pants are dry, turn them over and repeat steps 2-4. 

Sixth Step:
After you’ve covered both sides, wait about 72 hours before you wear or wash the pants.  Before you wash them, turn them inside out to keep them from fading.

Seventh Step:
Wear your pants in front of all of your friends and show off how talented you are! 

Photo Cred:  http://www.trinketsinbloom.com/diy-fashion-projects/