Bored with your fall clothing? Jazz up a plain pair of jeans with a quick and easy glow in the dark craft technique. Inspired by Día de los Muertos (also known as Day of the Dead), and created by Crafty Chica, these glow in the dark jeans are the perfect addition to your fall wardrobe. Hand-painted skulls and swirls look great during the day, but at night they reveal their true glowy power!
You can wear your painted jeans to any Halloween or Día de los Muertos party, to other traditional fall events like a homecoming football game or bonfire, or to a dance club (they will look great under the black lights).
ALSO CREATE: Traditional and easy Day of the Dead shrine craft
Like the idea of painted jeans but skulls aren’t your thing? Don’t worry, this technique can be used to paint any design you desire onto your jeans, or pretty much any other item of clothing you want to embellish.
The only supplies needed for this craft are jeans and glow-in-the-dark dimensional fabric paint. You can find the paint at your local craft store, in the craft section of a big box store, or online.
Before you start painting, prepare for this craft by prewashing and drying the jeans. Prepare your work surface by covering it with a plastic tablecloth or newspapers. When you’re ready to paint, lay the jeans flat on a table and give yourself lots of room to work.
It’s a good idea to practice your design with a pencil on paper before you begin to use the dimensional paint. Get comfortable with the designs you want to draw so you can confidently draw them on the jeans when you’re ready.
Now that you’re feeling confident in your drawing skills, you’re ready to paint the jeans. Start with the first paint color. Before you paint, leave the cap on the paint and tap the paint bottle on its head to pop any air bubbles inside the bottle.
Give it a go!
>> Click here to jump straight to the craft instructions
Remove the cap and draw your design
Continue drawing on the jeans to complete the design as desired. Be careful not to smudge the already-painted portions of the jeans as you work. If you are right-handed, work from left to right across the jeans so you don’t drag your hand through the painted areas.
Let the paint dry
When your design is finished, set the painted jeans aside to dry overnight, or according to the directions on the dimensional fabric paint bottle.
Let them glow!
Before you wear them, let your pants “charge” under bright lights or in the sun so the paint will glow when you’re in the dark. The painted design will glow in the dark for up to an hour, and it will also glow under a black light.
So simple and fun to do!
Decorate with any designs you can dream up!
Materials:
- Black jeans
- Glow in the dark dimensional fabric paint
- Paper and pencil
Instructions:
- Prewash and dry the jeans. Lay flat on a table.
- Practice your design on paper before you begin to use the dimensional paint.
- Start with the first color, tap it on its head to pop air bubbles inside the bottle.
- Remove cap and draw your design.
- When finished, set aside to dry overnight.
- Let your pants “charge” under bright lights or in the sun.
