DIY Fabric Design {Tutorial}

Don't you hate when you just can't find the perfect fabric? You know what I mean? You have this perfect project in your mind and the vision is there but you can't find the fabric that you want. Well that happened to me recently and of course my DIY brain came up with the simple conclusion of making my own design. Why not? So simple. Make the design I want, with the colors I want, and the spacing I want. It was the perfect solution and I am just glad it worked out even better than I envisioned. So of course I want to share it with you so you can see how simple it is and how fun it can be. Now this tutorial is for the more simple geometric type styles of fabric deigns that can be created this way.

{Supplies Needed}

-2 kitchen sponges {I got a 2 pack at the dollar store}
-Sharpie
-Scissors
-Fabric {I like the duck cloth for painting} The picture makes it look tan but it was white
-Paint {I used craft paint}
-Paper plate
-Paper towels
-Drop cloth

{What I did}

First I wanted it to be a little bit of an aztec look with the triangles and imperfectness that the sponges gave it was awesome so I went with using a sponge as my template. If you wanted it to be more perfect crisp lines you could tape it off and paint it. I just drew a triangle the size I wanted on both sponges {one for each color of paint} by hand with my sharpie.

Next you will simply cut them out with scissors. Your scissors will cut through the sponge really easily so there is no need for any specials exacto knives or anything. Lets make this as easy as possible. And there you have your templates for your design. You could do circles, squares, any design you wanted and any sizes you wanted. The possibilities are endless really and this is just up to your creativity and what you are wanting.

Then you will lay your fabric out flat on a drop cloth on the floor. You will want to make sure to have a drop cloth, garbage bags, a tarp or something under it because it will bleed a little bit just to warn you. I made this for a tent {that I will be sharing the tutorial with you very soon} for my little Holden for his birthday and so I wanted it to have the triangles going the right way on each side of the tent. So when it was laying flat I needed them to go opposite of each other if that makes sense. I measured the middle of the fabric and then I measured 10 inches side to side and 10 inches down of each new triangle but I am not going to lie I just kinda eyeballed it.

Next I poured some paint onto the paper plate tested it out on a paper towel to make sure it was how I wanted it to look and then went to town on the fabric.  Make sure to press firmly, I was able to get two to three triangles out of each soaking of paint.

I just followed them in a straight line across the fabric and then like I said for the next row I just measured 10 inches down.  Also to go along with the tribal aztec boy feel I did some very random yellow triangles here and there.

Here is is all complete. there is two more rows on the top they are just covered from draping it over the fence. You can also see right where the middle is which is where it falls over the wood to make the tent.

Love the imperfection. It is what makes it just what I wanted.

Linked up HERE

 House of Hepworths, Shabby Creek Cottage,

Two Yellow Birds Decor, Somewhat Simple, 

Here is how it looks draped over the wood. 

 

So tell me what you think? Would you venture out and make your own fabric design for your perfect projects? I hope I was able to show you how simple it can be and that you can have just what you are looking for and it is much better on the pocket book which I am always a fan of. Do it Yourself! You will be so proud you did. As always if you have any questions or would like to share with me your custom fabric you made you can email me @ wjwiki07@hotmail.com 

 

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USA Silhouette Slate {tutorial}

I am loving these wood slates from the Wood connection and this smaller one was perfect with a little glitter and paint.  Simple but great to show some love to our country and remember to be thankful for our freedom and for those still fighting for it and protecting us. Plus who doesn't LOVE glitter and pretty things to put in their home?!

{Supplies I used}

-Small Slat Sign {The wood connection}

-White and blue craft paint or spray paint

-Paint brush

-sand paper

-Gold glitter card stock {American Crafts can be found at Michaels}

-Craft cutting machine or scissors

-Mod podge 

-Painters tape

 {What I did}

-First I took some white spray paint that I had on hand. You could also use white craft paint but I liked how fast the spray paint was and that it got in all the slates. 

-I sprayed the whole thing white and made sure to get the sides and in the crevices.

 -Once the white paint is dry I took some painters tape and taped off two of the slats and all the sides.

-Next I painted the remaining slats with Navy Blue craft paint. You could spray paint them but I just used some craft paint that I already laying around from my last two projects HERE and HERE.

-I painted three coats of blue paint and when the last coat was mostly dry, but still a little wet I removed all the painters tape. This gave it the crisp line and prevented any of the paint getting on the other slats.

-While the paint finishes up the drying processes I moved onto the Glitter United States silhouette. It was easy peasy. I did mine with a cricut mini machine but if you don't have a cutting machine you can simply trace and cut with scissors. I found the silhouette I wanted in the Cricut craft room and cut it out on the gold glitter card stock. 

-Next I sanded down the edges and parts of the surfaces of the wooden slate to give it a worn look. 

-Lastly I painted mod podge on the back of the glitter paper and placed it in the middle of the slate. Then I put wax paper over it and laid a couple heavy books on top to make sure it was on there really good. Then after about 10 minutes everything was dry and finished.

I love how it turned out! And love seeing it on my little shelf everyday for this next month.

 Linked up HERE

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Destination Craft Not just a housewife,    Him and Her,

 Nothing But Country, Adventures of a DIY mom,

Snap, Sew Much Ado, The Trendy Treehouse, Someday Crafts,

Lil Luna, Sugar and Dots, Southern Lovely, Rolled up Pretty, 

 House of Hepworths, Shabby Creek Cottage,

Two Yellow Birds Decor, Somewhat Simple, 

 The Shabby Nest ,Chic on a Shoestring Decorating,

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 Nap time Crafters,  Funky Junk, Be Different Act Normal,

 Six Sister's Stuff,   Classy Clutter, Under the table and Dreaming, 

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Dining Room Wall Art {Poppyseed Projects}

I LOVE poppyseed projects and was so excited when I first discovered them about 6 months ago. I instantly fell in love with their frames, their crafts,  projects, how easy it was to create, and all the possibilities of using their materials and my own creativity. Not only do they have great products but the owners and staff are all so helpful and sweet. So Today I am going to share how I transformed by dinning room wall with functional and one of a kind art.

First things first I headed to Poppyseed Projects store on a serious mission to find something for my dining room wall. I LOVE their design frames with a capital everything so I knew that I wanted to use them some how. I picked the frames I wanted and then I saw the wood letters and knew I had to have them. I played around with a few words and then decided on the simple word EAT. So I walked out the door with 2 4X6 Eleanor frames, 1 5X5 oval frame, and the letters E A T in their smaller size of the wood letters and knew just what to do. Now to the fun tutorial. 

{Supplies I Used}

-2 4X6 Eleanor frames {poppyseed projects}

-1 5X5 oval frame {Poppyseed projects}

-Wood letters spelling EAT {poppyseedprojects}

-White paint

-Red paint 

-foam paint brushes 

-sand paper

-Stain {Minwax Early American}

-Cloth

-Chalkboard vinyl or paint

-Command Strips

-Your favorite recipes printed out

{What I did}

Once I had everything picked out I started to paint. I painted the letters white first {just 1 coat}. Then when the white dried I painted the red on top so that when I sanded them later some white would show through.

Then I painted the Eleanor frames white and the oval frame red. I did 2 coats of paint to make sure they were covered nicely. Then I set them aside to dry.

Once the paint was dry, I sanded down all the edges on the letters and the frames. Then I took my stain and rubbed it on the sanded edges.

On the two white frames I rubbed some stain on the surface and then wiped most of it off with a dry cloth to give it an aged look.

Next, I printed off two of my family's favorite recipes and put them in the frames. I loved displaying our favorites, they are easy to switch out and it is functional so you can see the recipe when you are cooking.

For the oval frame I wanted it to be chalkboard so we could put little messages to each other in it, what was going on that day, or what we would be having for dinner that evening.

You could paint the frame backing with the chalkboard paint, but I decided I would use the chalkboard vinyl that I had on hand. It was so easy and no drying time. I just traced the oval shape backing on the vinyl and cut it out. Then just simply applied it with a squeegee.
  

I prepped it by rubbing chalk all over it covering the whole thing then wiped it all off. This makes it so it doesn't leave a ghost on the chalkboard from each message you write.

Then I hung up my EAT letters on a piece of custom wall art that I had made {I will be sharing all about where I got the plans for this beautiful pallet art in a post really soon with a fun giveaway}, with command strips. I love the color and dimension it gives.

I also hung up the frames with the command strips. I love these things, you have to check them out. If you have never heard of them they are great to hang up pictures and small pieces of art, because they leave no holes or damage to your walls.

I think what I love most about sharing this wall is that it is great for both home owners and renters. This is something you can all do. We are renting and although there is a lot that we can't change that I would like to {Like that lovely light fixer...eek} I am able to bring my style, personality and make it feel like my family's home in other ways painting furniture, DIY projects, color and of course art like this wall.

I love how it turned out and the best part of all their unfinished frames, blocks, letters and plaques is they are completely customizable. You can use any color, technique, pattern, and put anything in them that fits your personality and decor style.

Now I just need a big Poppyseed frame and dry Erase Calendar to replace that one on the right, to tie it all together. That also is not our table we are just borrowing it while I transform ours. It is sitting in the garage drying and almost done as we speak! Oh and I love it! Post coming soon. It will update it even more and make this area look stunning! stay tuned.

My Dining Room Wall Art is linked up HERE

Not just a housewife,  Him and Her, Adventures of a DIY mom

Snap, Sew Much Ado, Someday Crafts,Lil Luna, 

Sugar and Dots, Southern Lovely, Rolled up Pretty, 

 House of Hepworths, Shabby Creek Cottage,

Two Yellow Birds Decor, Somewhat Simple, 

 The Shabby Nest ,Chic on a Shoestring Decorating,

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