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DIY Cowgirl Barbie Halloween Costume

An easy and fun tutorial for making a gorgeous Barbie halloween costume!
Prep Time15 minutes
Adding a Barbie design to your shirt30 minutes
Total Time45 minutes
Keyword: Barbie costume, Barbie DIY, Cowgirl Barbie, halloween costume
Yield: 1 costume

Equipment

  • 1 iron
  • 1 Pair of Scissors
  • 1 Printer

Materials

Making the Barbie shirt

  • 1 shirt plain black
  • 1 design printed
  • 1 sheet heat transfer paper

Costume Elements

  • 1 designed Barbie shirt
  • 1 bandana
  • 1 pair hot pink pants
  • 1 pair sparkly shoes/boots
  • 1 cowgirl hat pink, white, black, or sparkles!
  • 1 set sunglasses optional

Instructions

  • *This tutorial is for heat transfer on dark fabrics.
  • Print off a design to add to your shirt. If you are adding it to a dark fabric don't mirror it.
  • Make sure your iron has no water in it and turn off steam setting. Steam can ruin the image, so you want to prevent that.
  • Preheat your iron to a high / cotton setting.
  • Use a heat absorbing surface such as a wooden table. (Not ironing boards or counters)
  • Put a towel on your ironing surface and then place your clothing item on top of it, iron out any wrinkles.
  • Peel off the back of the transfer paper.
  • Place the transfer paper on your T-shirt (so that your design is facing up).
  • Cover the transfer paper with the tissue included with your product.
  • Begin ironing your transfer paper onto your T-shirt using heavy pressure. The amount of time you should be ironing varies by the size of the label that's being ironed: Full sheet: 2 minutes, 1/2 sheet: 1 minutes, 1/4 sheet: 40 seconds
  • Allow the transfer to cool for 2 - 3 minutes with the tissue still on.
  • Carefully peel off the tissue, if the transfer lifts, try reapplying the iron-on steps.

Notes

Tips for Creating Your Designed Shirt: 
  • Buy the Correct Transfer Paper: There are different types of transfer paper for light vs. dark fabrics. Make sure to choose the correct one and follow it's specific instructions. The processes of application are slightly different. 
  • Iron Without Steam: Steam can make it difficult for the design to adhere to the fabric. Remove all water from the iron before using it on the transfer paper and fabric. 
  • Washing & Maintenance: Before wearing your T-shirt, wash it inside-out in cold water and allow it to hang dry. And don't use an fabric softener while washing since this may cause the transfer to fade, crack, or peel.