budget custom shirts/clothes for WDW?

[NeedaDisFix]

So, does anyone have any thoughts on how to have cute matching/coordinating shirts and outfits for our disney days? I know lots of people make their own with help from the creative disers, but the more I look at the options, the more I think I'm going to break the bank trying to have matching shirts for each day of our trip!

I've also looked at making pillowcase dresses for my 2 dds and I've checked on etsy to see what's available already made. The cost of doing it myself would probably come close to some of those prices, but then I start thinking of the total investment (family of 6 on 7-day trip!) and I think I need to scrap the whole idea!

Anyone have thoughts on this? Who has done it and how much did it end up costing? Any ways to lesson the expense?????

 

[Pakey]

I did shirts for our grand gathering. I got the tees for $4 apiece and got designs here on the disboards. With transfer paper I was still under $5 each. I did 50 shirts total.

I did one set of shirts from zazzle for a lot more. The quality of the tees I did myself was better.

 

[NeedaDisFix]

Wow! Ok, Pakey, that sounds encouraging! Where did you buy your shirts and transfer paper from? Did they hold up well? I keep reading that you need a certain kind of transfer paper if they are going to hold up.

 

[Diegosmom]

I see some people doing the tie-dye (sp? lol) micky shirts. You could just buy some hanes t-shirt those are pretty cheap and 2 or 3 colors and do everyones shirt. I havent priced it out yet but that one would be pretty cheap.

 

[LisaNJ25]

I get my t-shirts from the craft stores when they are on sale from 2.00 to 2.50.

I get all of my iron on from Amymickey over on the creative dis bords. I have been getting them from her for years and the hold up so much better than the ones form the craft stores.

I have had ones from the craft store peel and even run when they got wet. The ones from Amy hold up for years

 

[ldvcshop]

How many people are you trying to coordinate and what sizes?

I am a room-mom from way back. My friend and I made a major find one day when we found t-shirts at the 99cent store. You have to plow through them all, and find those without blemishes, but for $1 you can't go wrong. I've seen them in colors or white.

Iron-on sheets are at the computer store, however, sometimes the dollar store/99cent store have them. The big cost is the colored ink for your computer printer. Keep it simple and it will cost less. Maximize your printing on one page and cut them to size for each shirt. We've also used fabric paints for simple designs. Or, a fun one is to incorporate a handprint into a design. At the animal kingdom, (Donald's Breakfast) they have wall murals where they used handprints to make dinosaur skeletons (very clever). The best part about this is, only one color paint!

As a family, when the kids were small we always just coordinated colors of our clothing. When the boys were small, they were playing at a playground with white clothes on. When I looked for them all I could see were kids in white and blue jeans. That's when we started a collection of park and vacation clothes. On our large family vacations, we thought about matching Tees, but the girls wanted to look cute, a boy cut T-shirt is not very flattering. For my boys, their clothing colors were coordinated so that even in a crowd I could pick them out easily, usually bright greens, yellows and turquoise. This way they could use the shirts for other occasions as well, I bought them big so that they could wear them for at least 2 years or more. Now, they're taller than me, we use cell phones.

When we go to have family photos at the parks, we try to stay within a complimentary group of colors so that no one person stands out too much. Even with patterns and mixed colors if they are are complimentary, it works to find people, identify our group and look better in pics.

 

[weluvdizne]

I have ordered shirts from Jiffy shirts. They really are fast, and they have great prices, selection of colors, styles of shirts and the reviews of the shirts are great for helping you decide which ones to purchase.

I also second the pp mentioning that the transfers from amymickey are the best. The price is comparible as well.

Have fun. We did the iron ons last trip in 09 and had a blast with it. Oh yeah, did tie dye too. this trip, I am making the custom outfits. Really, you can make pillowcase dresses for next to nothing. Depending on the ages of your DD's you can do it for a yard or less of fabric, and not much else in supplies. Come visit us on the disbotique thread on the family board. Lots of great ideas and lots of sewing help, too. Great group over there. I heard JoAnn's is having their Disney fabric on sale 50% off March 25-27. Good time to get some fabric if you decide to sew.

 

[elainesj]

I am not crafty at all. And was sticking to a very limited budget so that ruled out even $5 t-shirts from Michael's.

I ended up with 4 t-shirts we got from some event we went for. I have a crafty friend and I got her to draw a simple spiral Mickey on each shirt with a Sharpie. She made us name tags to cover up the event logo on the t-shirt.

Voila - we had t-shirts for essentially free.

We loved our family ts and I will likely make more next trip. One thing I didn't think about this trip but will keep in min is the suggestion for coordinating colors. That is even more budget friendly with an added bonus of being fashion friendly.

 

[Redwitch]

Although not as cute as matching shirts.... If you coordinate your outfits for each day, at least family pictures look good. Pick a color theme for each day - red, light blue, whatever. Perhaps do one or two matching sets for the trip. Also, check the clearance area of your Disney store or on-line. I was once able to get "Tiki" Disney shirts for all of us for $2.99 each. We each had a different character, but they were all themed the same.

 

[Pakey]

I also got my transfer paper from AmyMickey. The instructions were easy and the quality is very good.

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

We keep it budget by only doing matching shirts one day of the trip. The other days we just wear coordinating colors like another person mentioned. I have yet to try the tie-dye shirts, but I would like to.

 

[gillenkl]

I get my t-shirts from the craft stores when they are on sale from 2.00 to 2.50.

I get all of my iron on from Amymickey over on the creative dis bords. I have been getting them from her for years and the hold up so much better than the ones form the craft stores.

I have had ones from the craft store peel and even run when they got wet. The ones from Amy hold up for years

Totally agree that AmyMickey transfers are the way to go - they will last for more than one season. If you're going to the trouble to make the shirts - you don't want them to be crappy after one washing.

 

[las3888]

My neighbor did tie-dye for their trip last year. I saw her outside doing it - they were really cute and all matching and very eye-catching. We ourselves did Land's End matching polos at Sears, but there are not that many of us and I caught a decent sale. I will really admit that it was VERY helpful matching to find and identify family members as well as fun.

 

[NeedaDisFix]

Thanks to all for such amazing tips and ideas!! I think I will jump in and try some shirts. We still have 3 months till the trip so I can spread the expense out over time. I'll also start stalking the disney store- 2.99 shirts sounds AWESOME! Doubt I'll be that lucky, but you never know! Love the tip on Joanne's disney fabric sale- thanks so much for that! I bet my mom and I could do a lot of pillowcase dresses with that and then easily coordinate colors for the boys. I'm scared of the tie dye, but I'll probably give that a whirl too.. I need something to do as I count down the days till WDW anyway, right?

Thanks again for all the help for a new post-er! Ya'll never disappoint!

 

[Coll0610]

We've also picked up matching shirts at Old Navy when they go on sale for $5 near the Fourth of July. They aren't Disney, but they match, they are cheap and the quality is pretty good. I've also made the tie dye ones. I'm not terribly crafty so I thought it was a lot of work, but we really like them. Unfortunately DS has outgrown his

 

[weluvdizne]

If you are going to do the tie dye, get a coupon for Michael's and get the dye there for 40% off. Or, you can do the same for Hobby Lobby. I'm sure some of them, maybe even Jo-Ann's, will have the tie dye kits on sale around the time school gets out, or even when Vacation Bible Schools start up at the beginning of summer.

 

[graygables]

Love Jiffy Shirts (I used to own a t-shirt company).

Get you some of this:http://www.dharmatrading.com/html/eng/620804-AA.shtml
You will also need a small fine-mist spray bottle and some bleach.

Now, take a solid color t-shirt, or you can use one that you've hand-dyed or tye-dyed as long as the color is fairly even.

Cut out a shape from a heavy cardstock, Mickey ears, Mickey full-body silhouette, Princess crown, pirate hat, whatever you like. You can also cut letters to personalize. This is much easier if you have a Cricut, or know someone who does.

Fill your washing machine and add the Bleach Stop per the directions.

Place a flat priority mail box inside the tee to hold it flat and protect the back and put it on a table or the concrete outside. (Make sure you are wearing old clothes)

Mix 25% bleach with 75% water in your spray bottle. Lay the desired pattern on the shirt and lightly spritz around it with the bleach solution. Carefully lift the pattern to avoid any dripping (you can blot w/ a paper towel first), remove the shirt from the box and deposit in the washing machine. When all the shirts are done, run the wash per the instructions on the bleach stop.

Easy, cheap, and you can make dozens of them for pennies plus the cost of the shirt.

FYI: Father's Day is coming up...do the same technique, but use tools and interestingly-shaped hardware laid on the shirt for the pattern. Definitely wipe with the paper towels to avoid dripping, then rinse and dry the tools well. Kids can help lay out the design.

 

[BigDaddyWill]

We had never done matching shirts but I thought it would be fun. I went to www.cheapestees.com and got 30 shirts (yeah I know, but 6 of us at 5 days) mixed sizes for $89 dollars with free shipping. They are Gildan shirts (which is what most shirts you find pre-printed are) and they are great quality. So it can be done without breaking the bank.

Will