Design Your Matching Outfits for a Barbie Film Session!

Ever since I was a little girl, I've loved Barbie. She was always an inspiration to me, and she helped me believing me that I could be anything I wanted to be. In this instructables, we'll create our own matching "Hi, Barbie" and "Hi, Ken" t-shirts, and a barbie jacket, the perfect attire for a fun-filled Barbie classroom screening! So let's get started and unleash your imagination!

Teaching notes:

Don’t forget to ask your students to demonstrate their creativity and crafting skills. They can start by using the templates, but it will be great if they could use their imagination to design their own matching t-shirts, which are not only fun to wear but also make for fantastic mementos of their special movie moment.

Bring out your inner designer as we embark on this enjoyable crafting journey to make unforgettable memories with Barbie and Ken!

Supplies

Plain t-shirts

Heat transfer vinyl (in your preferred colors) or inkjet printable textile vinyl (in case you don't have a plotter)

Canva account

Plotter (digital cutter)

Standard inkjet printer

Standard household iron

Parchment paper (for baking, for example)

Scissors

Step 1: Design Creation

Create a new design, setting the dimensions to match the front area of your t-shirts (e.g., 8 inches by 10 inches).

Add text elements to the design. For the "Hi, Barbie" t-shirt, use a fun and playful font for "Hi" and a stylish font for "Barbie" (We have used the font named Bartex) For the "Hi, Ken" t-shirt, follow a similar approach with the names.

Customize the colors of the text and background to match your chosen heat transfer vinyl colors.

Once you're satisfied with the designs, save them as high-resolution images (PNG).

Here’s an editable example of the designs used: https://www.canva.com/design/DAFp3EKdTDo/fpXfsI1dnKEvW9SeXk5GbA/view?utm_content=DAFp3EKdTDo&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=publishsharelink

Step 2: Option 1: Vinyl Cutting

Open the exported .png in Silhouette Studio (the software used with Silhouette Cameo) or Cricut Design Space (the software used with Cricut cutting machines).

Mirror the design horizontally (important for heat transfer vinyl).

Load the heat transfer vinyl into the plotter and adjust the settings according to the vinyl's thickness and type.

Send the design to the machine for cutting.

Carefully weed (remove excess vinyl) the cut design using a weeding tool or tweezers, leaving only the design on the backing sheet.

Step 3: Option 2: Printing on Inkjet Printable Textile Vinyl and Cutting Out Your Design

Load the inkjet printable textile vinyl into your printer. Ensure you're printing on the fabric (textile) side of the vinyl, not the paper backing.

Adjust the printer settings to the highest print quality and select the appropriate paper type (usually "photo paper").

Print your design onto the vinyl and once the printed vinyl is dry, carefully cut out your design. Leave a small margin around the edges if needed. Precision is crucial here, especially if your design has intricate details.

Step 4: Applying Vinyl to T-Shirts

Preheat your iron to the appropriate heat setting for the heat transfer vinyl you're using (check the manufacturer's instructions).

Lay the first t-shirt on a flat, heat-resistant surface.

Position the cut vinyl design on the t-shirt, ensuring it's centered and straight.

Place a piece of parchment paper or thin cloth over the vinyl to protect it during the ironing process.

Press the iron firmly and evenly over the parchment paper/cloth for about 15-20 seconds. Apply enough pressure and heat to ensure the vinyl adheres to the t-shirt.

Carefully peel off the backing sheet when the vinyl is cold enough. If any part of the design doesn't stick to the t-shirt, place the backing sheet back down and re-iron that section.

Repeat the process for the second t-shirt.