Glow in the Dark (Taylor Swift) Concert Shirts (Tutorial)


During the course of my entire life, I have been invited by friends to two concerts. And by concerts, I mean music written post-1960 and not performed by middle schoolers.  They were 1987 - Echo and the Bunnymen (we're not friends anymore) and 2011 - Journey (I had no idea that people my age still dressed liked that).  So when my sister-in-law suggested we take the girls to see Taylor Swift, I had no idea what to expect.  After waiting almost an entire year for this sold out concert, the question became:  What do we wear?  I decided to pop into our local Justice.  If you have pre-teen girls, I know you've shopped there!

The store clerk was decidedly helpful.  She told me not to buy anything at her store, but to go to our local Michael's, buy some $3 T-shirts and make our own concert shirts.  Since it was Taylor Swift's "RED" Concert Tour, the color was decidedly obvious.  Three dollars?  OK.  I'm in!


Start by printing out the word, "RED" on card stock.  Cut it out, saving the inside of the "R" and the "D". Also, make sure your shirt has been pre-washed and dried without a dryer sheet.


Next, place a piece of cardboard inside the shirt.  This is important so that the shirt doesn't stick together once the paint is applied. Tape the stencil onto the shirt, position the inside of the letters with tape.


Spray on Glow in the Dark Fabric Spray Paint so that the letters are well covered.  This pump spray only worked so-so, but just keep shaking it and wiping down the nozzle until your coverage is complete.


Don't worry about a little overspray.  Emphasize the fact these are ONE OF A KIND shirts!!


Use a knife to pry off the stencil without it smearing to other parts of the shirt.
Let dry overnight.
They really do glow!


Now that I am uniquely experienced, here are a few family concert tips:
  • Eat Before you come.  You do not want to stand in line for food during the concert!
  • Arrive an hour early.  It's just more relaxing that way.  The doors are open.  You can find your seat.  You'll have time to take pictures in front of the cardboard cutouts.
  • Bring Ear Plugs.  Not just for you, but for the kids, too.  The warm up bands are even louder than Taylor Swift.  Besides, bringing earplugs will make you feel like you're a good parent!
  • Bring Advil.  For you, not the kids.  (See above)
  • Invest in lots and lots of glow bracelets, necklaces and wands!  Michael's has them.  The Dollar Store has them.  The crowd was very sparkly and you'll want to be part of the magical glow!


The concert pageantry was amazing!  


 Taylor Swift was beautiful, charming, talented and completely appropriate. 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Butter Bean Soup

Image
Happy New Year!  We are off to a cold start! It's so cold that the Governor cancelled school for the entire state! That never happens. Up here in Minnesota, when it gets cold, we just pull up our snow pants and pull down our hats.  In the South, they say it's not the heat, it's the humidity.  Up North, we say it's not the cold, it's the wind.  Windchill temperatures (what it actually feels like), are said to be -40 to -50 degrees Fahrenheit. That's the coldest it's been since 1996 - just shortly before we moved to Atlanta.  Hmmmm…… it's all coming back to me now.  Nevertheless, my 16-year old says it's a great way to start second semester! When it's cold outside, there is nothing I love more than making soup. Soup is the perfect excuse to stand over a hot stove on a cold day. You can hold soup in a coffee mug and let it warm your hands. You can sip soup in the same mug and let it warm you from the inside out. There's a reason for ...
Read more

Dr. Seuss Snacks!

Image
One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish.  I admit it.  I love Dr. Seuss!  A collection of these sing-song-y rhymes was the first thing I put on the bookshelves of our very first baby nursery.  Four kids later, I now have talents that include being able to recite The Cat In The Hat from memory! In honor of the late great Dr. Seuss (He would have been 107 on March 2nd) we are making these cute snacks!  Absolutely no skill or talent required! Simply start with a box of blue Jell-O..... and divide into four clear plastic cups. (The fish have to have a place to swim!) After the Jell-O has set, have the kids add their own fish!  (Swedish Fish, that is!) Ella's kindergarten class gets a Dr. Seuss party after they have collectively read 107 books! Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!
Read more

Groundhog Pudding Cups

Image
Now that we are back living in The North, I'm starting to remember why, prior to my life in The South, I had only had a handful of pedicures and didn't own any sandals.  Exposing one's feet presents health risks.  Like frostbite. Groundhog's Day (February 2nd) is just around the corner. At this time, as legend has it, the groundhog will either emerge from its hole on a sunny day, see its shadow, get scared, and hide leaving us with six more weeks of winter, or it will emerge on a cloudy day, see nothing noteworthy and predict an early spring.  Sunny or not, a package of Pepperidge Farm Milano's was all the inspiration I needed to celebrate the impending season. When I first saw these cookies in Family Fun magazine, I immediately tore out the page. How cute are these groundhogs?  The actual assembly is a bit tedious, but the eager anticipation of the recipients makes it all worth while. Begin with some Milano cookies.  Use sliced almonds for ...
Read more