Materials

• Craft stores offer a wide variety of paints that you can use on fabric. Buy textile paint, which is made specifically for use on fabric, or use acrylic paints. However, acrylics are quite stiff once they dry, unless you add a textile medium. While you can paint such fabrics as polyester, silk and velvet, children should work with 100 percent cotton fabrics to get the most reliable results. Apply the paint with your fingers, paint brushes, stamps, sponges, rollers or found objects to create patterns and texture. Wear a smock or apron while working with paint--fabric paint and acrylics are permanent.
  
  

Preparation

• Plan ahead. If you are working with clothing, wash and dry the item before painting to pre-shrink it. Cover a work space with a couple of layers of newspaper or plastic. Keep water and paper towels handy while you work for spills and quick touch ups. Use styrofoam plates and bowls for paint containers and palettes. Gather all your materials and supplies at your work area. Wear old clothes.
  
  

Painting

• Get creative. Paint such items as T-shirts, sweatshirts, sneakers, tote bags, aprons and jackets. Paint a picture with a brush, stamp shapes or cut up sponges and potatoes to make your own stamps. Put a little paint diluted with water on a toothbrush and run your thumb over the bristles to splatter it--use this method outside or in a suitable work space. Wet the fabric. Sprinkle drops of paint on it to create patterns. Experiment with your own techniques. If you take a break before the project is finished, wash up and take off your apron before leaving the protected work area.
  
  

Care

• Read the paint's instructions for details about the care of painted fabric. In general, acrylic paint is permanent when dry. Use heat to set textile paint. Wait 24 hours after the paint has dried and iron it to set the paint. Consult the paint instructions to find out whether you will need to hand wash or machine wash your painted fabric.
  
  

Clean Up

• If you prepared your space with plastic, wipe off the plastic with a damp sponge. Let the plastic dry and store it until your next project. Recycle used newspapers. Wash out paintbrushes, sponges, stamps and paint-spattered materials quickly with hot, soapy water for the easiest clean up. If you used styrofoam for the paint, throw it away in a plastic bag. Dry smocks and aprons where they can't touch anything else--this will prevent the transfer of paint.