How To: Cloth Backdrop

With wedding and shower season in full swing, I thought I'd share a simple project that can really make the difference in decorating for an event. A cloth backdrop is the perfect way to add color and/or to a large room, spruce up less appealing space, or provide a photo booth back drop!

At our wedding, we used a cloth backdrop to cover up a hallway at front of our reception room. It also created a more dramatic entrance for the wedding party since there was not a door there, and acted as a pretty backdrop to the sweetheart table. 

You will need: 

3 yards each of 4 different solid colored cotton fabrics. Note: This could vary depending on the height and width of your wall or doorway. 

1/2'-3/4" Thick rope or cord approx. 18" longer than the width of your wall or doorway.

Measuring Tape

Fabric Scissors

1. Measure the height and width of the wall or doorway you the backdrop will cover before purchasing fabric. We used 3 yards each of 4 colors of cotton fabric--a mixture of shiny and flat textures. Our doorway was 98" long and we had a few inches for tying the strips as well. 

2. Unfold and layout the first piece fabric. You will be cutting into the shorter side of the fabric, making each strip 3 yards long (or as many yards as you purchased.) Measure and make an 1.5" cut into the fabric every 3". 

3. Starting at the snip you made in the fabric, carefully tear the fabric into long strips. The fabric will actually tear evenly and create a nice effect to the edges! Repeat with all 4 fabric colors. 

4. Lay out the fabric strips on the ground in the desired pattern. Cut off any loose strings. Lay the cord or rope across the top of your strips.  

5. Tie each strip to the cord. I left about 1.5" of each strip above the cord. Spread the strips evenly across the cord. 

6. Cut the bottom of the strips to be the same length, or stagger different lengths if desired. To store until use, fold the backdrop over a hanger and hang to keep from tangling. 

I tied my cord to 2 nails to hang the backdrop. A tension rod can also be used in more narrow doorways!

Wedding photos by Paige Overturf

How To: Baby Sock Corsage

There always seems to be so many birthdays and new babies born this time of year, which means lots of baby showers! I love seeing all the different themes for showers now, they have gotten so creative. I really enjoy making corsages for new momma being honored. Its just another little token to take away from the special event. 

Baby sock corsages are great because they can be easily disassembled and reused if the mom decides. Its definitely one of the prettiest ways to give a gift of socks!

You will need:

Baby Socks (As many or as few as desired, but use an even number for pairs!)

Floral Wire

Floral Tape 

Glue Dots

Hot Glue Gun

Silk flower with Anther to add a center to your sock flowers (small pearls can be used as well)

Silk Leaves

Ribbon

Scissors

Floral Cutters

1. With the heel on top, begin rolling the baby sock beginning at the toe.

2. Wrap the open end around the bottom of the coil that you've created.

3. Cut a 5" piece of wire, and feed it into the center of the bottom of the flower.

4. Bend the end of the wire into a loop, and pull the wire back down into the sock hooking the loop on the sock.

5. Wrap the bottom of the flower and wire with floral tape to create a stem.

6. Remove the center from the silk flower. Using glue dots, insert and secure into the flower.

7. Repeat with the rest of your socks. Use floral tape and glue dots to attach the roses together.

8. Secure the silk leaves to the back of the corsage. I used hot glue to adhere the leaves to the floral tape.

9. Create a bow with ribbon and wrap a piece of wire around it. Place the bow in the front of the corsage and secure the ribbon in the back by twisting the wire. Tuck the wire behind the leaves and snip off any excess wire.

10. Your corsage is complete! Please note, if you need more adhesive than offered by the floral tape and glue dots, you may want to add a dot of hot glue here and there. Just keep in mind, hot glue is harder to remove from the socks to be reused, so minimal glue is best.

There are so many ways to customize these corsages, I have made them with only one pair of socks, different types of leaves and ribbons, and even pearls or buttons for the flower centers!

How To: Floral Initial

Mother's Day is this week! If you are still looking for ideas, here is one that is personalized, and perfect for Spring! This floral initial can be hung as a unique twist on a wreath, or displayed on shelf or mantle. 

You will need:

12" Kraft Initial of choice

Assorted silk flowers (I used, 3 hydrangeas, 3 larger blooms, 1 sprig of spray roses, 1 sprig of a filler flower)

1" Thick foam

1.5" Thick ribbon

Sharp knife

Floral cutters

Hot glue gun

Scissors

1. Using your knife, carefully cut the front for the letter around the edges and remove. Also, remove and dispose of excess Kraft board inside the letter. 

2. Use your knife to cut pieces of Styrofoam to fill the initial. This may take cutting and fitting several pieces together. You will want to cover the entire area inside the letter. Use your hot glue gun to secure the Styrofoam down. 

3. Begin snipping your flower stems down leaving enough to stick into the Styrofoam. However, keep them short enough for the bloom to touch the top of the Styrofoam when stuck in--not pertruding any higher. 

Stick the flowers into the letter as desired. Fill the entire letter leaving no Styrofoam showing. Be careful not to let the flowers hang over the edge of the letter to much distorting the shape of the letter. 

4. Add dots of hot glue to secure the flowers as needed. 

5. Cut a 20" piece of ribbon to hang the initial. 

6. Glue one end of the ribbon to each side of the initial, glossy side down. 

7. Once the glue dries, your initial is ready to hang!