Using Vintage Tablecloths Part 2: EVERYDAY USE

For part 2 on Vintage Tablecloths I wanted to share two things... How to actually use  your vintage tablecloths on your kitchen table and an idea for salvaging irreparable retro kitchen chairs....

If you're like me, you love the look of vintage tablecloths but are scarred to use them!

I have two suggestions for this:

1. Buy cheap faded vintage tablecloths... which still are quite charming... and use them!  Don't worry about it... use, wash, and enjoy!   I have several tablecloths that are worn enough that I feel comfortable doing this with... 

2. Cover  your tablecloth with plastic or a glass top.  I cover my tablecloth with plastic...  This way I can enjoy the color and beauty a tablecloth provides without my children literally destroying it!  It's not quite as pretty as going without plastic... but for families with kids a nice tablecloth used on a daily basis is not really an option!   A couple pointers...  Keep a basic white tablecloth (I bought one a Target) on your table as a base under the vintage tablecloth.  This way, any size of vintage tablecloth will work.  You can find this type of plastic at most fabric stores... just measure your table before you go and make sure to buy it a little larger than your base tablecloth (maybe an extra inch or so on each side).  You can always cut it down later if you need to.

 

Awhile back I saw a pic on Pajama Mama's blog where she used glass on top of her tablecloth... check it out...

Okay... onto the retro kitchen chairs!

So ever since I was in high school, I've always wanted a 1950s chrome table and chairs.  Well, on my 19th birthday, 2 days before I got engaged, my then future mom-in-law gave me one!  Oh, I was thrilled!  She surprised me... it was bright yellow.  But, it didn't have chairs that went with it :(  Well, she found some very beat up chrome legged chairs and we set out on a mission to find new/retro looking vinyl for them.  We searched and searched, but had no luck.  Then she came up with the idea to cover them with fabric and the clear plastic vinyl (same stuff that goes on the table).  I had the idea to use a vintage tablecloth as the fabric.  It worked wonderfully!   I bought an average sized tablecloth and she managed to squeak all fours chair out of the one!   I treasure that table and chairs... so many memories!  ...bummed our family is too big now to use it  :(  

I don't have any specific tips for how exactly to re-cover chrome legged chairs... she did it for me :)  But they turned out perfectly and as far as I know she is not a professional is this field!  

Here's some pics of the chairs from our old house...

Do you have any creative uses for vintage tablecloths?  ...I'd love to hear...!!

Blessings,

Using Vintage Tablecloths Part 1: EASY CURTAINS

So I love vintage tablecloths...  This love stems from my love of 1950s Kitchen items in general! As a result, I've been gradually collecting vintage tablecloths since I was newly married.  I thought I'd share a few of my uses for them in this post and in another post later this week!

In our 9 years of marriage JJ and I have lived in 8 different houses...  this has forced me to get creative with window treatments!  I've used anything and everything to avoid the cost of buying new curtains for my ever-changing window needs.  One of my staples, has been using my vintage tablecloths for curtains...

Most of the time when you see tablecloths used for this purpose, it involves sewing and usually cutting the tablecloth.  I just can't do that!!  This idea involves no sewing and no cutting! 

I decided to draw some little diagrams for you instead of trying to take pictures of this  process!  so....

This works best with a square or almost square tablecloth...

 Voila!

I've used this method with various tablecloth sizes and on almost every window size... obviously though, a small tablecloth is going to work best with a small to medium window, etc..  Each window and tablecloth combo provides a unique version of this look.  ...so have fun with it!

Here are a couple examples from some of my past houses...

Here are some fun links and examples of more vintage tablecloths... Enjoy!

VINTAGE TABLECLOTHS ON ETSY

CUTE 1950s KITCHEN WITH TABLECLOTH CURTAINS

EXAMPLE OF SEWN TABLECLOTH CURTAINS

Blessings,

Happy Girl and a Play Room Bunting Tutorial

First an update on my status... and then a quick bunting tutorial!

I am now the proud owner of an iMac!!!!  And that makes me one Happy Girl....   My iMac arrived in the mail today so now I can blog... for the most part.  I still don't have my new programs though.  So no photo editing or designing yet... But hopefully in a few days I will be up and running.  I will have so much to learn though.  I haven't used a Mac since college and I will also have to adjust to the current version of Adobe Illustrator.  This will be kinda  major since I was operating on Illustrator 10.0!  That's really, really old :)

Due to my inability to design and blog, I've had to satisfy my creative inch in other ways.  Yesterday I made a quick and simple child's bunting out of vintage child's game cards.  You could use this same method on various paper items: photos, post cards, cut out shapes (see photo of a butterfly garland from girls' old room) , etc...

Let's begin!

Here's what you need:
old game cards or other paper items
twine or string (I used baker's twine)
craft knife
ruler or straight edge
large needle

First you are going to cut two vertical slits on each card... near the top about an inch apart.  I used my ruler as a guide for the distance between the two line and to ensure a consistent distance from the top of the card.

Then, cut your twine to the desired length and thread through the needle.

Finally string each card onto the twine, using the needle to push through the slits.  Make sure to start with the needle on the top side of the card, so that the twine goes behind leaving the pictures on the cards fully visible.

That's it!  I strung mine up over my girls'  play kitchen area.... very sweet... I think!

Blessings,
Amy J.

FABRIC COVERED MAT- HOW TO

Well, awhile back I promised I would show you how to create some of my favorite craft items... This one happens to be one of the items that my sisiter-in-law and I used to sell at craft shows. These simple fabric covered mats add big impact to a framed picture.  This tutorial is for creating a 8x10 mat that holds a 5x7 picture.

MATERIALS:

• a rectangular piece of cotton fabric approx. 11x13 in. or a bit bigger (it doesn't have to be cut perfectly)
• a 8x10 mat - you can either purchase a pre-cut mat or cut your own out of mat board
• spray glue -nothing beats 3M Super 77  You can find it here: 3M 86234 Super 77 Multipurpose Spray Adhesive, 13.44 fl. oz.
• a scissor - one you don't mind getting glue on
• a sheet rocking knife with a thin blade... an x-acto knife/craft knife will work, too Stanley 10-079 Retractable Blade Utility Knife  OR  X-ACTO 1 Knife, Z Series With Safety Cap
• Mod Podge  Mod Podge Waterbase Sealer, Glue and Finish (8-Ounce), CS11301 Matte Finish
• small foam brush  Royal Brush RFOMW-4P Foam Brush, 4-Pack

THE PROCESS:

1.With all your supplies laid out and ready to go, spray the back side of the fabric and the front of the mat with a generous coat of spray glue (outside).


2.Lay your glue covered fabric on a table, glue side up.  Carefully place your glue covered mat face down onto the fabric.  Make sure to center it, leaving equal portions on each side.  Press down firmly all over the back side of the mat.  Check the front of the fabric to make sure all air bubbles are out.

3.Cut off the corners of the fabric with scissors... careful to leave only a tiny margin by the corner of the mat (see close-up pic)

4.Pulling firmly, starting next to the corner, pull the fabric up over the mat, one side at a time.  Press down, smoothing out all air bubbles.

5. With your knife, cut the interior of the fabric diagonally out, starting in each corner -creating an X.  Trim edges.

6. Again, pull fabric up over the edge of the mat, starting in the corners. Pull firmly to ensure that the fabric is tight, especially in the corners. Use Mod-podge on your foam brush to help adhere, if fabric doesn't stick.  Once all edges are in place, use Mod-podge to go over the edges of the fabric for extra security and to prevent any fraying.  Also pay special attention to the outside corners.  These will need a dab of Mod-podge, smoothed down with your finger, also (second photo shows how corner should look before smoothing down).

7. Let dry thoroughly and place in frame!!

These also look wonderful in sets of coordinating fabrics.  If you have any question, let me know!  Happy Crafting :)

WANT TO SEE MORE FABRIC AND PAPER CRAFT INSPIRATION?  TAKE A PEEK!.....

Blessings,