Why J'Adore Burlap

It's got texture. And it's neutral. It's a little bit Frenchy. It's "Ballard Designs-esque". The best part is, it's way cheap. Don't let Ballard fool you. They sell gorgeous items featuring burlap at astronomical prices. Why pay that when you can make your own for much less?? 


Here are some of my burlap creations:

Ballard  bulletin board knock-off

Diaper Box Bulletin Board 

I shamelessly used this post from Choose to Thrive as inspiration. Genius!

Materials

Cardboard diaper box -If you have small children, you probably have at least one of those economy sized diaper boxes lying around.

Burlap - Enough to cover the cardboard

Ribbon - for bow and to hang (got mine from Dollar Tree)

Spray adhesive

Stapler

Glue gun

1. Cut two long sides of diaper box so that you have two rectangles

2. Spray colored side of each piece with adhesive and stick together. Weigh down with something heavy like a paint can for a few minutes. You want the brown side facing out.

3. Cut burlap long enough to wrap around one side with enough to overlap. (This is similar to covering a chair seat.)

4. Spray side to be covered with adhesive. Lay burlap on top, smoothing and straightening as needed.

5. Flip over and staple ends of burlap to the back. (Don't use hot glue unless you like burning your fingertips off. Not that I did that. I just heard it might happen...)

6.  Poke two holes about two inches apart in the top center of the board, about an inch down. I used a steak knife.

7. Thread ribbon through holes. Tie in the back so knot is hidden by the cardboard.

8. With a separate piece of ribbon, tie into a bow. Hot glue to the ribbon on the front of the board. This will hide the holes.

9. Hang your bulletin board and enjoy!

Because burlap is a wide-weave fabric, push pins don't leave holes in the fabric.

Burlap dining room chair seats

Burlap covered art mats

Fabric Covered Mat Tutorial:


I love these pictures. The top is of St. Philip's Church in Charleston. The bottom is of the Battery in Charleston. However, before I did this, the top one had a dark wood frame and burgundy mat. The other one had a white and blue double mat with gold frame. They couldn't go together. Because they are small, they had that "floating tiny picture on tiny wall" disease. Burlap to the rescue!


Materials:


Burlap or other fabric
Spray adhesive
Picture or photo frame with mat


1. Tear paper back off picture and gently pry back staples to remove mat and glass (Skip this step if you are using a photo frame, obviously).
2. GENTLY peel mat off of picture. If you go too fast, you risk ripping the picture. Again, not that I would have done this. :)
3. Cut burlap large enough to wrap around mat, just like with bulletin board, seat covers, etc.
4. Cut a square in the middle of your piece, again leaving enough to wrap the inside of the mat.
5. Spray mat with adhesive. I flipped the mats over to the white side so you wouldn't see burgundy or blue through the burlap.
6. Press burlap onto the mat, pulling tight and making sure weave is straight.
7. Make diagonal cuts to the middle of the burlap all the way to the corners of the inside square of the mat.
8. Flip mat over and spray it with adhesive.
9. Wrap and pull burlap pieces tight.
10. If you want, spray paint frame. I sprayed mine oil rubbed bronze.
11. Reassemble glass, picture, and mat inside of frame.
12. Push staples back down to secure.


That's it. Easy peasy.

Budget Blinging a Bookcase

Beautiful and interesting does not have to be expensive. Just about everything in this bookcase was thrifted or from a discount store (Wal-Mart, Big Lots, etc.) It doesn't matter if you don't like the color. Spray paint heals all. 

Here's the list and how I did it:

1. Birdcage - $5 (Animal Helpers ReTAIL thrift store) - It was an ugly mustard gold. I spray painted it Robin's Egg Blue (Michael's). It was REALLY blue so I mixed some Magnolia White acrylic paint with clear glaze and painted over it to soften the color. I stuck a couple of flameless candles from Wal-Mart inside.

2. Frame on top - free (I already had it.) It was silver. I spray painted it Heirloom White and rubbed some Minwax Dark Walnut on it. I made the Family Rules subway art on MSWord. Mine was inspired by thispost at Sassy Sanctuary.

3. Silver frame - free (a graduation gift) but it's from Patina Blu in Mount Pleasant, which I've never been to but probably can't afford!

4. Metal canister/pot thing (I don't remember how much it was but it's from Michael's.) I got it a year ago or so and they still have them. It was bronze. I spray painted it Heirloom White but let some of the bronze peek through. Flameless candle inside.

5. Lantern - $5 (Big Lots) It was orange or something. I spray painted it Rustoleum Oil Rubbed Bronze. 

6. Brown burlap frame with silver sand dollar - another graduation gift - LOVE THIS FRAME!

7. Green candle holder $5 (Big Lots) I hot glued a piece of burlap ribbon around it.

8. Glass dish - $2 (ReTAIL thrift store)

9. Covered books - I covered some old college textbooks in ivory resume paper with stick-on cameo thingys from Big Lots. I added another piece of burlap ribbon to the front book.

10. Fleur de Lis bookend - $5 or $6 (Big Lots) 

11. Magazine holder on bottom shelf - $7 (Michael's) The brand was 25% off plus I had a 40% off coupon. Sweet!

The hurricane and candle belong to the dining room table. I still have to find something to go there.

For those of you with kids (or large pets), get yourself some Museum Wax. Museums use it to protect priceless items from damage in earthquakes. It will not damage your furniture, can be removed and is reusable. I have two little earthquakes that destroy my house daily and they have not yet been able to break anything I've secured with this miracle stuff.

I have not found it yet in stores but you can order it from Home Depot for $10.49. It will probably last you a lifetime and save you a lot of money and hassle in replacing broken stuff.

I'm linking up to Southern Hospitality's Thrifty Treasures Party.