15 100 Days Of School Shirt Ideas DIY

Alright, fellow trendsetters and last-minute crafters, the 100th day of school is looming.

You probably just realized it’s practically tomorrow, and your kid needs a shirt that screams “I’m 100 days smarter” without screaming “my parent pulled an all-nighter with a glue gun.”

Fear not, we’ve got your back with 15 seriously cool, totally doable DIY ideas that won’t make you want to hide under a pile of glitter.

1. The Smart Cookie Shirt

Best For: The brainy kiddo, future valedictorian.
Vibe: Adorably clever, sweet.
Why it works: It’s a classic for a reason and super easy to personalize.

Grab a plain white tee and some fabric glue. Then, attach exactly 100 mini chocolate chip cookies (the fake kind, obviously, or go for brown felt circles). You can even add some googly eyes to a few for extra personality. Expect to spend maybe $10-15 on materials, tops.

Pro Tip: Use a permanent marker to write “Smart Cookie” above the cookie collage for a clear message.

2. I’m 100 Days Brighter

Best For: Energetic kids, those who light up a room.
Vibe: Cheerful, optimistic.
Why it works: Visually striking and conveys a positive message.

This one calls for a dark-colored shirt – think navy or black. Cut out 100 small, bright yellow suns or lightbulbs from felt or construction paper. Fabric glue them onto the shirt in a scattered pattern. It’s simple, effective, and pretty hard to mess up.

Pro Tip: Add a touch of glitter glue to each sun for an extra sparkle factor.

3. 100 Days of Gumballs

Best For: Candy lovers, anyone who enjoys a pop of color.
Vibe: Playful, vibrant.
Why it works: It’s visually appealing and kids love the gumball theme.

Get a light-colored tee and grab 100 small, colorful pom-poms from the craft store. Arrange them inside a drawn or iron-on gumball machine outline. Secure them with fabric glue. This project might take a little patience, but the result is super cute.

Pro Tip: Draw a simple gumball machine base with a fabric marker before attaching the pom-poms to guide your placement.

4. My Future Is 100 Days Stronger

Best For: Aspiring superheroes, kids with big dreams.
Vibe: Empowering, heroic.
Why it works: It celebrates progress with a cool, aspirational twist.

Start with a vibrant blue or red shirt. Cut out 100 tiny superhero shields or stars from various colored felt pieces. Arrange them around a central “100 Days Stronger” text (use iron-on letters or fabric paint). This look is bold and impactful.

Pro Tip: Have your child help pick the “superhero” colors for the shields to make it feel more personal.

5. 100 Days of Growth Garden

Best For: Nature lovers, budding botanists.
Vibe: Organic, nurturing.
Why it works: It’s a sweet metaphor for learning and development.

On a green or brown shirt, draw a simple garden patch at the bottom. Then, glue 100 small green leaves, felt flowers, or even actual dried seeds (if you’re brave) to represent growth. It’s a gentle, earthy concept that’s always a winner.

Pro Tip: Use different shades of green felt for the leaves to add depth and texture to your garden.

6. The 100 Days of Legos Master

Best For: Builders, creative thinkers.
Vibe: Ingenious, structured fun.
Why it works: Kids adore Legos, making this instantly relatable and cool.

This one involves a bit of crafty magic. Cut out 100 small rectangles from colored felt or foam sheets. Add two tiny circles to the top of each “Lego brick” with a permanent marker. Arrange and glue them onto a plain shirt to form a “100” or a cool pattern.

Pro Tip: Use a ruler to ensure your Lego brick cut-outs are consistently sized for a neater look.

7. 100 Days of Friendship Hands

Best For: Social butterflies, empathetic kids.
Vibe: Collaborative, heartwarming.
Why it works: It celebrates community and connection.

Get a large white shirt. Trace your child’s hand (or their friends’ hands, if you’re feeling ambitious) 100 times using different colored fabric markers. It’s a bit time-consuming, sure, but each handprint is unique and meaningful. This shirt becomes a true keepsake.

Pro Tip: Use a variety of bright, washable fabric markers to make each handprint pop.

8. 100 Days of Adventure Map

Best For: Explorers, imaginative storytellers.
Vibe: Whimsical, adventurous.
Why it works: It visually represents the journey of learning.

On a beige or light blue shirt, draw a simple treasure map. Mark 100 “X” spots with fabric markers or small felt pieces along a winding path. You can even add a tiny fabric compass or a small pirate ship cutout. Arrr, matey, learning is an adventure!

Pro Tip: Outline the map path with a thin black fabric marker before adding the “X” marks for better definition.

9. 100 Days of Reading Books

Best For: Bookworms, quiet thinkers.
Vibe: Scholarly, cozy.
Why it works: Encourages literacy and celebrates academic achievement.

Start with a shirt in a calming color, like light blue or green. Cut out 100 tiny book shapes from different colored felt or paper. Arrange them on the shirt to form a stack or a bookshelf. You can even write tiny titles on a few of them. Genius, right?

Pro Tip: Use a fine-tip fabric marker to draw tiny spines and covers on some of the felt books for added detail.

10. 100 Days of Art Masterpiece

Best For: Aspiring artists, creative spirits.
Vibe: Expressive, colorful chaos.
Why it works: It’s visually dynamic and celebrates creativity.

This one is fun and messy (in a good way). Get a white shirt and 100 small paint splatters cut from various colored felt. Arrange them artistically, as if an abstract painting came to life. Or, let your child actually dab 100 tiny paint spots with fabric paint. Just supervise closely, unless you want a new “art studio” on your kitchen table.

Pro Tip: Place cardboard inside the shirt before painting to prevent bleed-through to the back.

11. 100 Days of Music Notes

Best For: Music lovers, future rockstars.
Vibe: Rhythmic, harmonious.
Why it works: It’s a unique way to represent progress in a fun, educational theme.

On a white or light-colored shirt, draw a few music staff lines with a fabric marker. Then, cut out 100 small black felt music notes (eighth notes, quarter notes, whatever floats your boat). Glue them along the staff or scattered around. It’s truly music to our ears.

Pro Tip: Use a stencil for your music notes if freehand cutting isn’t your strong suit.

12. 100 Days of Science Fun

Best For: Future scientists, curious minds.
Vibe: Intellectual, experimental.
Why it works: It connects learning with exciting scientific discovery.

Grab a white lab-coat style shirt (or just a plain white tee). Cut out 100 tiny felt beakers, test tubes, or atom symbols. Arrange them in a cool, scientific pattern. You could even add some “bubbling” felt pieces to a few beakers. It’s elementary, my dear Watson.

Pro Tip: Add a pair of fake plastic goggles as an accessory for the ultimate scientist look.

13. 100 Days of Sports Mania

Best For: Athletes, sports enthusiasts.
Vibe: Energetic, competitive.
Why it works: Taps into a universal love for sports and teamwork.

Choose a shirt in your child’s favorite team color. Cut out 100 tiny sports balls – think basketballs, soccer balls, baseballs, footballs – from felt. Glue them all over the shirt. This is a slam dunk of an idea for any sports fan. Consider adding a small felt “trophy” if you’re feeling fancy.

Pro Tip: Use a combination of different sports balls to make the shirt more dynamic and interesting.

14. 100 Days of Kindness Hearts

Best For: Empathetic children, those with big hearts.
Vibe: Sweet, compassionate.
Why it works: It promotes positive values and looks adorable.

On a pink, red, or white shirt, cut out 100 small hearts from various shades of felt. Glue them in a scattered pattern, or arrange them to form a giant “100.” This shirt is all about spreading love and positivity, which we absolutely adore.

Pro Tip: Write “100 Days of Kindness” with a fabric marker in a cute script at the top of the shirt.

15. 100 Days of Dino-Mite Learning

Best For: Dinosaur enthusiasts, prehistoric adventurers.
Vibe: Roaringly fun, prehistoric.
Why it works: Dinosaurs are always a hit with the younger crowd.

Get a green or brown shirt. Cut out 100 tiny dinosaur footprints from dark brown or black felt. Arrange them as if a herd of tiny dinosaurs stomped across the shirt. You could even add a few small felt dinosaurs. It’s a truly dino-mite idea.

Pro Tip: Use a small dinosaur toy as a reference for tracing accurate footprints onto your felt.

Our Top Recommended Finds

Fabric Glue: Seriously, get a good one. It’s the MVP of these projects. Look for one that dries clear and is washable.
Assorted Felt Sheets: Buying a multi-pack of felt in various colors will save you a trip (or ten) to the craft store.
Fine-Tip Fabric Markers: Essential for adding details, writing names, or drawing outlines without a permanent mess.

Which of these will you try first?

There you have it, 15 ways to conquer the 100th day of school shirt dilemma without losing your cool (or your mind). Pick your favorite, gather your supplies, and get crafting. Your kid will look totally brilliant, and you’ll get all the credit for being the coolest parent ever. Tell us in the comments which idea you’re tackling!