I think I will put one on every wall...

We have really awesome high ceilings with a lot of wall space in our home, but they aren't so awesome when the walls are bare! I would love to decorate our walls without going broke. Big pieces tend to be expensive and I have a lot of space to cover.
I was shopping at a craft store when I stumbled upon this awesome (and BIG!) monogram F. The best part is it was on sale...SCORE! I brought it home where it sat on my craft table, a.k.a. the table where I put anything and everything that could be used in a future d.i.y. project. It sat there for weeks (months, maybe) while I thought about the best way to make it snazzy. Should I paint it? Use scrapbook paper? Tissue paper? Wrapping paper?? After too much thought I decided to use fabric and Mod Podge...two things I have very little experience using. Lucky for me, everything turned out just right! I just might put an "F" in every room in our home (I'm kind of kidding...)

Materials:

Monogram

Mod Podge

Fabric & Scissors

Paint & Brush

Sawtooth Picture Hangers

Paint a medium coat of Mod Podge on your fabric. This makes the fabric stiff and easier to work with. It also prevents fraying. Let it dry for an hour or two.
P.S. Walmart sells these 18 in. x 21 in. fabric singles for less
 than a buck!! 

 

 

While you wait for the fabric to dry paint the edges of your monogram. I am super indecisive and bought 3 different colors. I'm glad I did because I ended up really unhappy with this gold color; it looked too funky with the fabric (see pictures below). In the end I chose to paint the edges teal and was a lot happier! 

Enough with my project mishaps and on to step 2: paint! Apply 2 coats (wait about an hour in between coats: cook dinner, run errands, work out...multi task!)

Now that the paint and fabric are dry (and you've crossed a few things off your to-do list) you're ready for step 3: trace. I used a carpenter's pencil and wiped away any markings left of my monogram. Trace on the back of the fabric. You don't want markings to show after all your hard work. 

 

Hindsight is 20/20: trace first; paint second that way you don't 

have to worry about pencil on your letter because the paint will cover it! That's my DUH! Moment...

Cut along the lines. It helps to have a three year old hold the fabric tight with her stinky feet! :)

Now it's time to glue the fabric. First, apply a heavy coat of Mod Podge...

Then, cover the monogram with the fabric and slather it up with some more Mod Podge (a light coat this time). Pay special attention to the edges and make sure you really glue them down.

Let it dry over night before installing the picture hanging hardware. I purchased hammer in hardware and followed the directions on the back of the package (place and hammer...)

 

I found these picture frames packed away and decided to make a photo collage.

 

One wall finished, several more to go!

~Meghan