From T-Shirt to Treasure: Part 3

Part 3: Re-Purposing Sentimental T-Shirts

While week one we re-purposed worn out t-shirts and week two we re-designed plain t-shirts, this week, we are going to focus on re-purposing special t-shirts that we don't wear any more but want to save for sentimental reasons. Some of these bloggers went beyond the obvious of framing a t-shirt, but even those who framed them came up with some clever methods. My boys have played soccer, baseball, and football, so we have a minimum of 18 jerseys that my husband wants us to save and showcase somehow. However, we will easily collect at least a dozen more before our kids graduate, so determining the best way to showcase these special keepsakes is a challenge. And we also have some of our children's clothes that we simply couldn't part with because they are tied to special memories. While certain ones we wouldn't even consider cutting, we have a few onesies and t-shirts that we'd be willing to cut up to preserve and showcase. Perhaps one of these ideas will work:

This seems like the ideal way to save shirts with special meanings, whether its a school t-shirt from field day or even one that was your toddler's childhood favorite.  

andreasteed.com's framed t-shirt art

I absolutely adore the look of this scarf, and it's a fun way to keep up with a collection of old t-shirts. I'm thinking it would be great for old sorority party t-shirts or concert t-shirts even, but I'll most likely make mine simply out of some of my favorite printed t's that have worn out.

justsomethingimade.com's scarf

I remember seeing my first t-shirt quilt in college when a sorority sister had one made of our old sorority shirts. I loved that idea, but I ended up wearing mine out as night shirts after college. Whether you make a quilt out of old school t-shirts or all those t-shirts you buy as souvenirs while on vacation, it's a great way to preserve a collection of shirts.

ecokaren.com's t-shirt quilt

Don't these shirts look extremely cool?  I would love to take my children's old jerseys and make wall art like this in their game room.

craftsncoffee.com's -wall art

Now this is just too clever. If you don't have the space to frame numerous shirts or perhaps your shirts are simply too worn out, this is a funky alternative.

turnstylevogue.com's t-shirt canvas

With all these choices, I just can't decide how to preserve our old t-shirts. This would be a fun match with the wall art above in a game room or basement, don't you think? 

fiskar's t-shirt rag quilt pillow

If you have just one special shirt instead of a collection of them, this pillow would be an easy one to sew.

chezlarsson's pillow

  

Here's a fun and clever idea for a shirt that you loved because of the design on it but doesn't have sentimental memories. 

thenewnew's book cover

I know I showed you t-shirt bags last week, but this tutorial is great as well, and bags are another way to save an old t-shirt that you just can't part with, right? I'm thinking these would be a great way to save your children's old school t-shirts they've outgrown because it's another way to show school spirit!

bluebirdsews.blogspot.com's tote-bag

I used to scrapbook and would still if I didn't have dozens of other projects in queue to do. However, I had never thought to use old t-shirts in my albums. I just love this idea!

experimentmom's scrapbook page

So there you have it, ten ways to re-purpose your favorite old t-shirts that bring back too many special memories to put in your donation boxes. I'd love to hear which ones you like best. Also, if you have any other suggestions on ways to showcase special t-shirts, feel free to share. 

Next week, I will share with you five projects I've created with old t-shirts, so I hope to see you on November 16th.  





I'll be sharing this post at some of these parties here.

Part 3: Re-Purposing Sentimental T-Shirts

While week one we re-purposed worn out t-shirts and week two we re-designed plain t-shirts, this week, we are going to focus on re-purposing special t-shirts that we don't wear any more but want to save for sentimental reasons. Some of these bloggers went beyond the obvious of framing a t-shirt, but even those who framed them came up with some clever methods. My boys have played soccer, baseball, and football, so we have a minimum of 18 jerseys that my husband wants us to save and showcase somehow. However, we will easily collect at least a dozen more before our kids graduate, so determining the best way to showcase these special keepsakes is a challenge. And we also have some of our children's clothes that we simply couldn't part with because they are tied to special memories. While certain ones we wouldn't even consider cutting, we have a few onesies and t-shirts that we'd be willing to cut up to preserve and showcase. Perhaps one of these ideas will work:

This seems like the ideal way to save shirts with special meanings, whether its a school t-shirt from field day or even one that was your toddler's childhood favorite.  

andreasteed.com's framed t-shirt art

I absolutely adore the look of this scarf, and it's a fun way to keep up with a collection of old t-shirts. I'm thinking it would be great for old sorority party t-shirts or concert t-shirts even, but I'll most likely make mine simply out of some of my favorite printed t's that have worn out.

justsomethingimade.com's scarf

I remember seeing my first t-shirt quilt in college when a sorority sister had one made of our old sorority shirts. I loved that idea, but I ended up wearing mine out as night shirts after college. Whether you make a quilt out of old school t-shirts or all those t-shirts you buy as souvenirs while on vacation, it's a great way to preserve a collection of shirts.

ecokaren.com's t-shirt quilt

Don't these shirts look extremely cool?  I would love to take my children's old jerseys and make wall art like this in their game room.

craftsncoffee.com's -wall art

Now this is just too clever. If you don't have the space to frame numerous shirts or perhaps your shirts are simply too worn out, this is a funky alternative.

turnstylevogue.com's t-shirt canvas

With all these choices, I just can't decide how to preserve our old t-shirts. This would be a fun match with the wall art above in a game room or basement, don't you think? 

fiskar's t-shirt rag quilt pillow

If you have just one special shirt instead of a collection of them, this pillow would be an easy one to sew.

chezlarsson's pillow

  

Here's a fun and clever idea for a shirt that you loved because of the design on it but doesn't have sentimental memories. 

thenewnew's book cover

I know I showed you t-shirt bags last week, but this tutorial is great as well, and bags are another way to save an old t-shirt that you just can't part with, right? I'm thinking these would be a great way to save your children's old school t-shirts they've outgrown because it's another way to show school spirit!

bluebirdsews.blogspot.com's tote-bag

I used to scrapbook and would still if I didn't have dozens of other projects in queue to do. However, I had never thought to use old t-shirts in my albums. I just love this idea!

experimentmom's scrapbook page

So there you have it, ten ways to re-purpose your favorite old t-shirts that bring back too many special memories to put in your donation boxes. I'd love to hear which ones you like best. Also, if you have any other suggestions on ways to showcase special t-shirts, feel free to share. 

Next week, I will share with you five projects I've created with old t-shirts, so I hope to see you on November 16th.  





I'll be sharing this post at some of these parties here.