We’ve all seen the lacy, silky bridal underwear that features the phrase “I DO” in rhinestones on the hip or butt. Here is a tounge-in-cheek underwear design so you can showcase your enthusiasm for both your marriage commitment and for sex itself! Freezer paper stenciling is a fun, easy, and inexpensive craft that you are sure to love. Plus this would also make a totally fun bridal shower or bachelorette party activity.
What you need:
- Freezer Paper
- Blank Underwear
- Fabric Paint
- Paint Brushes (they make a special kind for stencils, but any kind will suffice)
- X-Acto Knife
- Scissors
- Ruler
- Computer print-out of your design (optional)
- Pencil
I’m starting with Cotton Spandex Jersey Boy Brief underwear by American Apparel, size large. You can use any blank underwear you like, but if the fabric is synthetic or delicate it is wise to test your fabric paint on a scrap piece of fabric or on an inconspicuous place on your panties.
Start by measuring the butt to get an idea of how big to make your design. It looks like I have about 12 inches to work with.
I print my first design onto paper and then trim the edges. I set it on the underwear to see what it might look like when it is finished. This design is too large for my taste.
I’ve made a smaller design and I like it much better. If you want to make underwear like mine, you can download the template here.
Next get out your freezer paper. I bought mine from an art supply store but you can buy honest-to-god freezer paper and it will work well too.
The freezer paper is translucent so you can put your computer print-out underneath a sheet and trace your design onto the freezer paper. Make sure you are drawing onto the dull side, not the shiny side!
Next use your X-Acto knife to cut out your design.
Cut out the center of the “D” and “O” first and save those small paper ovals. You’ll need them later.
Here the design is cut out:
And later we’ll iron in the negative space of the “D” and “O” too. Notice that I am NOT saving the negative space of the smaller letters — those pieces of paper are too little to work with.
I set the cut freezer paper onto the underwear.
Then I trim away the excess freezer paper so I have a better idea about where exactly I’m placing the design on the underwear.
Next I iron on the freezer paper! The shiny side faces down onto the fabric.
Then I iron on the negative space of the “D” and “O”.
Before you paint, put cardboard under your design so that paint doesn’t bleed through your fabric and get onto the front of your underwear.
Now it is time to paint! Use fabric paint — I’m using straight red. You can mix fabric paint to make custom colors just like you can with regular paint. However, you shouldn’t thin fabric paint with water like you can with acrylic paint. If you do that the color may seep through the fabric under the stencil edges. If you want a more transparent layer of paint, you should mix your paint with colorless extender.
You may want to use a stencil brush instead of a regular paintbrush. A stencil brush has a dull tip and short, stiff bristles that are packed tightly together. This is advantageous because it reduces the changes of getting paint under the edges of the stencil.
As I implied earlier, the biggest issue when applying your paint is that you don’t get paint under the edges of the stencil. Apply your paint by using a dabbing up-and-down motion rather than dragging your paint back-and-forth like one typically paints with a standard paintbrush. Also, apply a light coat of paint and let it dry. Then add additional coats of paint as needed. I applied two coats of paint.
And if you are in a hurry for that paint to dry — use a blow dryer to speed it along!
When the paint is completely dry, peel off the freezer paper. I love this part!
Here is the finished piece!
And just for kicks I decided to put a lil heart in the front too. You can download the heart template here.
Finally you need to heat set your underwear so that the paint will not wash off in the laundry. You can do this one of two ways.
- One technique is to iron the back side of the fabric on the hottest setting that is appropriate for your fabric.
- Or you can put the undies in the dryer (again on hottest setting that your fabric can handle) and run it for 35-45 minutes.
Of course, if the packaging on your brand of paint instructs you to do differently, listen to them instead of me.
Happy crafting!
