by Lois Breneman, © 2006, Heart to Heart
Sheer Bunched Up Fabric on a Table
I unexpectedly came across several pieces of gorgeous sheer fabric on sale, thinking of an idea for it. It looks very pretty all bunched up, in hills and valleys, on a small round table in our dining room. The raw edges and selvages simply get tucked under, so there is no sewing whatsewever! A centerpiece of napkins in a lead crystal bowl, a teapot and votive candles in lead crystal holders placed in the valleys of the fabric add a finishing touch.
Centerpiece of Cloth Napkins in a Lead Crystal Bowl
To make a centerpiece of napkins in a lead crystal bowl, use an assortment of cloth napkins. The napkins may all match or be two or three designs, complimenting the decor of the room. Press out flat. Pinch the very center of a napkin between your fingers and shake out the napkin. Use this same method for at least a dozen napkins, then tuck them all into the lead crystal bowl. Fill in the empty spaces with bouquets of small silk flowers in colors that compliment the room.
Fabric Wall Coverings
Do you have bedroom walls with holes remaining from nails, greasy marks from sticky goo and other evidence of past wall hangings and posters? Is that wall crying out for paint? But how does a beautiful temporary quick fix sound to you? You may like it so much that it will end up being permanent.
A decorator fabric, purchased on sale and fastened to a wall with upholstery tacks is just what you need! I chose a beautiful piece with large burgundy flowers, dark shades of green leaves and shades of beige as the background for a bedroom. Measure the width of the wall that you want to cover to determine the yardage needed. At this point, this job works best with two people. Using a 60 inch wide piece of fabric, turn under the edge, stretch the fabric until it is tightly drawn, and either push or hammer in an upholstery tack along the edge, about 10-12 inches apart.
Start at the top and hang the fabric horizontally along the ceiling edge. Turn under and tack along the sides, then the bottom. Just be sure to choose a fabric pattern that is not vertical only. In most cases, the fabric would reach down as far as where a chair railing would normally be. For the effect of a chair railing, you could add a stained or painted strip of wood or crown molding along the bottom edge or simply use more upholstery tacks to fasten the fabric. You may choose to decorate only one wall - or all four. The choice is yours!
A Unique Decorating Idea Using Paint Strips
My future daughter-in-law, Emily, shared with me how she has seen beautiful mosaics of flowers, butterflies, etc. on the walls in a dorm - using paint sample strips! This unique idea would be fantastic for any age (rooms for babies, young children teens or adults) - depending on the design chosen. For ideas, a coloring book is a good source. Some paint samples are already in the shape of squares. They will need to be cut apart. If they come in rectangles, they can be cut into smaller squares, as well.
Be creative and arrange the hues in lights to darks - all in one color. Another method would be to go from pinks to reds or go all the way through the rainbow colors - Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet. Use your imagination - or your child's!
Be creative and arrange the hues in lights to darks - all in one color. Another method would be to go from pinks to reds or go all the way through the rainbow colors - Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet. Use your imagination - or your child's!
I called an office supply store to ask what product they would recommend to stick posters and light pictures to the wall without leaving a hole or residue. I was told that "Stickem," a 3-M product, is a puddy-like substance that will not leave a greasy mark - no residue at all. It can be found in the tape aisle.
As I got to thinking about this unique idea, I thought it would also be fun to use paint strips as a border. One way to do a border would be to stick about three squares along the ceiling edge, then jog down to the bottom of those three squares and stick three more squares in a row, continuing on to give a checkerboard effect. If you need a substantial amount of paint sample strips, it would be best to ask the store owner if you may purchase a stack of strips.
Fabric Covered Foam Fireplace Seat or Dormer Window Seat
Increase your seating capacity by using the fireplace hearth as a seat. Measure the seating area. Purchase a piece of four inch thick dense foam at a fabric store and cover it with upholstery fabric. Sometimes you can purchase fabric to match your sofa, but if not, check out the fabric stores for a coordinating fabric. Now, I know I said these were all no-sew projects, and this one no different!
Several years ago I wrapped a thick piece of foam with matching sofa fabric as I would wrap a gift, and secured it with long straight pins, sticking them in at an angle, so as not to jab anyone when they sit on it. The sides should be wrapped as neatly as possible and the seam, of course, should be on the bottom. The pins have not presented a problem in our home, even with a toddler grandson, but you be the judge on this one if you have toddlers.
Some of these projects are such that when you get tired of them, you can still use the fabric for something else, as is the case with the sheer fabric, the fabric-covered wall and the foam seats! So why not try some of these ideas and unlock those creative talents of yours!
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