girlie tee inspiration
I hang out at Target a lot. Partially because there are not a lot of other shopping options in my town, and partially because I can always find great stuff at a great price.
Yesterday I was chilling at Target {while my No. 1’s prescription was being made – an ear infection in May? Who would have thought} and I walked through the toddler section only to find the best deal ever on some great little tees.
So I grabbed a few with plans to embellish.
{see? great deals}
My thought is to applique something fun on each one {like the applique tutorial I did here}
I’m thinking something whimsical, summery and fun like these from miniboden:
Seriously? How darling are those?! I should probably just buy a few, but I think I’ll try my hand at making my own first {especially since they are $30 each – I like my $3 price tag a little better}.
I’ll let you know how they turn out …



















Meg
cute! I wish I had a girl, hmmm lets think of some boy designs…
Meg
Serah
I’m in LOVE with MiniBoden for my 6 year old son. Lots of cute graphic tees (with the appliques!). But like you, I don’t love the price tag. I’d love to see you do some for boys, too!
abby
Oh, what a great idea!!!! Yes I’m with you on cheepo T-shits. My little girls are always ruining one, so when I see them for $1.00 or $3.00 I snatch them up. Oh. I’m so excited to see how you do these!
Janell Beals
Oh, a great idea!! Never can have too many cute t’s for the little ones, they go through them so fast, which is exactly why you don’t want to pay $30 for all that cuteness! Janell
Jill
Ohhhh…cool. I just bought the blue one with the hearts too and would love to see what you do with that!
jaime
I always mark the tees in my mini boden catalogs to try & replicate too! The striped shirts (with the heart, star and anchor) are easy do with freezer paper & fabric paint.
lindsay
you know what would be cute, emily? if you did an offset ruffly “stripe” down the front of one of the t’s… like you did for her birthday invitation. {but using fabric or tulle and not tissue paper, obv.}
Dana
My 1st born also got an ear infection this week! so crazy. We also live in the same area as you. It must be all of this crazy May rain
There is also strep going around, so watch out!
Sarah
Your projects for your kids ALWAYS have me wishing for babies!
I think I just need to start making things for my future children and stock piling them I doubt I’ll have time and energy when I actually have them!
Anna
I was stalking the racks at Target yesterday too. Ours only had sweaters and when its in the 80s and high humidity I couldnt even touch them! I did get some t’s just like these for under $2 last year tho. Thats why I was shopping for shorts and skirts, to go with all the cute ts. Cant wait to see what you choose to go on them. (sorry about the ear ache. My 21 yr old was just real sick with one.)
Ash
Oh what a cute idea! I love target, you can find some neat stuff and great deals there – and they often have really good ‘trending’ home stuff.
hillary
can’t wait to see!
courtney
i always buy those tees on clearance. i try to buy the next couple of sizes up. and once appliqued they made great gifts!
Alima
ohhh this makes me want a girl! My husband is just not all about putting my son in appliques. But these look so cute and fun to make! Oh and I love mini boden! But really who wants to pay $30 for a tee that your child will outgrow in 3 months? Yours will be just as cute, I am sure Emily!
I might have to make one from Aubrey and bust it out when my husband isn’t around!
Lori May
I’ve always struggled with that mini boden price tag. Love to see how yours turn out!
Jennifer
These are great deals! I can’t wait to see what you make. I tried a t for my daughter after your last post/tutorial and it just looked ok. Nothing to do with your tutorial and everything to do with my fabric choice. It definitely needs more than 1 single fabric.
Carla
Usually I love every single post you have but today, no so much! Only because seeing those Target clearance stickers makes me so jealous! I MISS TARGET! Not to worry, we go on furlough in a month and I’ll get eight weeks to enjoy the clearance racks.
Thank you, as always, for the encouraging, inspiring posts. God blesses me through you very often. You are a treasure!
susan
so cute! can’t wait to see what you do! how i wish i had a little one to make those for! susan
Courtney
Oh My Goodness, I follow your blog daily, and just had to say- I bought the same Target T’s to make the minibowden shirts as well!! Too too funny. Excited to see how yours turn out- I haven’t been able to find the time with my 13month old running around and design business in full swing to do these. Thank you for the inspiration!!
Kristin
cute idea. Hope to have some pics soon of what you did for inspiration for the rest of us who like to copy your stuff! I just got back from Dr with one of my twins…ear infection…in May – funny you had the same. I got my pack of prints – LOVE.LOVE. Thanks for the deal!
Jenny
I actually bought some of those tees on clearance and used your tutorial to make a few shirts with iron ons – sooo cute!
Suzanne
Cute, cute! I think the blue would be cute with some patriotic embellishment.
Scorecard at our home this month: Sinus Infections: 2; Ear Infections 2: Family members left unscathed: 0.
By the way, I’m doing a benefit for my sister-in-law thru the end of May to help with expenses incurred due to several auto-immune issues she’s dealing with… if anyone would care to help, check it out at http://willowhousewelcome.blogspot.com/. Thanks!
Alison
I love appliquing t’s and I have a few patterns on my blog to share. You can check them out by visiting http://www.alischeaperbythehalfdozen.blogspot.com. Enjoy!
Karen
You should check out the great appliques at planetapplique.com, embroidery-boutique.com or appliquecafe.com for some really cute ideas and fabric choices. They are for machine applique embroidery but you will get inspired.
charis
great idea! i love target too. hard not to love target.
my recent post: 28 random things about bill
Rebecca
I love Target too, me and my girls go there way too often! I too, have been buying their t-shirts to applique ever since I saw your tutorial! It’s so easy to do, and you can make such a unique t-shirt!
Marisa Butterworth
ha ha ha! I love that I talked about Target a million times today! Those shirts are adorable and such a steal!!
kelly
can’t wait to see what you do with those, i am having a grandbaby (girl) in sept. and i love seeing the cute things you make for your daughter!
ashley
Ahh, I love miniboden. So funny that you posted this – I just splurged on several shirts for my little girl. Yes, my daughter wears more expensive shirts than I do! Post pictures with how they turn out! I would love to try this.
Amanda M.
OH yes, you can TOTALLY do that! I cannot wait to see!!
Marissa
Super cute. And since I don’t have a sewing machine, could you sell them?? Always looking for more great Jones Design in my house.
Lori
Hey Emily! I am a big fan of your blog and I had to smile when I saw your blog post. I just published a post on this very same topic! I, too, stalk Target for those cheapie plain tshirts. Please come on over to take a look (since we’re on the same topic!) And good luck with your experiements…knowing your blog and style, I’m sure they will be AWESOME! -Lori @ woolflaxandbeeswax.blogspot.com
Jennifer
Love that pear shirt tutorial! So cute:)
Rachel
Great minds, Emily! I’m in the middle of the exact some project inspired by thise mini Boden tees!
Tara
I love MiniBoden! I can’t wait to see what yours look like, I would be inspired to do my own too!
Candice
just made an applique t for my daughter’s 1st b-day….so easy and turned out just precious! also made another for a birhtday party coming up. thanks for the easy to follow tutorials! love your work!
Lisa
This is such a grand idea. I peruse the Target clearance section all the time. There are some great little finds there. Mostly basic, but thanks for the dressing them up inspiration!
Michelle Webster
This is my new favorite craft project for my kids. I made a monogram t-shirts for my girls plus a cupcake one for my three year old’s birthday. Each shirt cost less than $5.00 to make (perfect for a gift). They are adorable and so easy to do!
t-shirt time | jones design company
[...] few weeks ago I found some super cheap t-shirts for the kids that I’ve had stacked in my office waiting for inspiration {and time} to embellish [...]
Jackie Darrington
I have to agree those shirts with the applique embroidery designs are absolutely darling. I’m excited to see how your own projects emulating the same turn out. How do you have such creative ideas for things to do with appliques?