Burlap Canvas Sign Tutorial

Today, I'm going a little more in-depth about how I made the Burlap Coffee Sign that I have hanging over my coffee bar.

This tutorial is really so easy that I didn't take pictures of every step.  

Before I painted anything, I took a regular canvas with a wood back that I already had, and hot glued burlap to it.  I didn't put any glue on the front of the canvas, I just glued one side, then the opposite side and stretched the burlap so it would be firm.  I repeated those steps for the top and bottom, cutting the corners and folding so they would fit snugly.  Anywhere you cut the burlap, be sure to glue it down extra well so that it won't fray.

After I got the burlap attached to the canvas, I used chalk to lay out the pattern I wanted for my sign.  Using chalk first lets you mess up without any problems.  If you don't like it, just pat the burlap a few times and the chalk will come off and you can start again.

After you have your final design in chalk, outline with a paint pen or sharpie so the chalk won't dissipate while you paint the rest.  

I used a stiff paintbrush (aka a paintbrush that I forgot to wash out) to fill the color in.  Due to the fibers, the stiff paintbrush was actually easier to use than a normal brush to help rub the paint in and keep it in the lines.

And here is the burlap sign above our coffee bar...

This little project took me around 30 minutes or less, gluing the burlap and everything!  And I think it turned out to be a great thematic addition to our coffee bar!

A DIY Burlap Box

I made this DIY box shortly after we moved into our apartment this summer.

I didn't take pictures before or while I made it (sorry), but I assure you of three things:  it was time consuming, it wasn't that hard to do, and it used a lot of freaking glue sticks.

It started off as a cardboard box...a really sturdy cardboard box.  

It was the perfect size to fit in my small entertainment stand...and since right after marriage Tyler and I were moving in together and trying to merge all our things together, I suddenly had to accommodate for a ton of video game equipment in my tiny little entertainment stand.

I first glued an interior lining fabric to the inside, so it would be easier to clean dust and such things out.  Then I worked from the bottom up gluing the burlap (that was a leftover gunny sack from our wedding) to the exterior of the box.  After several hours and a jar of glue sticks, I now have a good way to conceal (or hide, as Tyler puts it) all the video games!

Probably the cheapest storage container we own!

(If you're looking for similar gunny sacks, you can buy them at Atwoods).

Burlap Lampshade Makeover

Not long ago, I set out to redo an old lampshade I had that had turned lumpy, dusty, and just not good.  I wish I had a picture of the old one so you'd know just how bad it was.

Most of the problem was there was no structure in the old lamp shade, just one circular piece at the top, and another at the bottom, with only fabric between the two metal pieces.  This was making the shade hang uneven and looked lumpy.

I cut the fabric off the original shade, and began to work on my new shade.

Here's what I used:

The metal parts of the original shade

Straightened wire hangers for extra structure.

Burlap

Trim

You'll also need a hot glue gun, scissors and wire cutters.

First, I attached the top part of the original shade to the lamp, and measured to where I wanted the shade to end...about 12 inches.

I then used my handy dandy cutting mat to cut my (already ironed) burlap to the correct length (remember to allow extra to glue around the metal parts).

Before attaching the burlap to the shade, I glued a strip of hot glue on the back around all the edges to prevent fraying while I worked.

I used the hanger strips as "lamp shade boning," per se.  I mainly needed to stiffin the shade between the top and bottom so it wouldn't end up lumpy like it was originally.  Then I started glueing the circular pieces to the fabric.

I added more structure, because it was still appearing lumpy.

Once I was finished with the basic structure of my new shade, I topped it off by adding some embellishments.

On the top, I glued a brown ribbon to cover the fray and hopefully keep the fabric from coming undone.

 On the bottom, I attached a floral white trim.

(This was actually supposed to be part of the garter that I never made...)

This burlap flower was attached to the wedding gift that Tyler's parents gave us.  She basically wrapped our gift in things she thought I could craft with - which was a great idea!

Here it is completed!

I put it in our living room behind the couch so that it flips on with the light switch!  

 I think the large flower really makes this lamp shade...plus I just love how it is no longer lumpy like it used to be!

And there you have it - our lamp shade redo!

P.S. Let's Drink Coffee, Darling is now on Facebook!  Don't forget to go and like the page!