How To Make a Fabric Covered

Decorating Backdrop

Hello~Hello!

I hope everyone had a great weekend! We did some junking, I got over a nasty headache, we procured a new vehicle to replace the one that got totaled… & Jimmy is pulling the ceiling out of our shower!

It’s just all magic & rainbows over here! hahaha.

Real quick though, before I jump into How To Make a Fabric Covered Decorating Backdrop project I’m sharing… while I was trying to shake that headache, we snuggled up on the sofa and watched SPY. The new DVD release starring Melissa McCarthy. Have you seen it? Well, I swear the laughing is what made me headache go away. I’ll be watching that again for sure!

Now then, are you ready to move onto my super simple fill-a-big-blank-space “backdrop” layering filler-y thing project. About time right? Sorry… you guys now I am a talker!

What do I even call this!?!? Typing in a title for a post is one of my most hated tasks. Ugh. Is “How To Fill Empty Spaces When Decorating”  searchable, so someone can find what I’m sharing? Um… I don’t know… maybe? hahaha

I’m telling you, this blogging is HARD. Making me use my brain and stuff. Pfft…

Here is the deal – I’ve got open cabinets in my kitchen. There is a lot of blank space above the shelf and I was trying to figure out what I could put there that would be kind of there-but-not-there. A space filler. Something temporary. I like removable, then when I change my mind five minutes from now, I can.

I know it’s great if you’ve got some reclaimed lumber just laying around… or some super-fabulous architectural element, or shutters… etc… to use those for layering when decorating, but if you don’t have that handy, then this might work for you!

I knew what I did have,  I had a few blank canvases that I picked up real cheap. I thought why not cover them with some really neutral fabric and see how that worked? So I did! I was easy and they are light, and they don’t take up much room to store!!

YOU WILL NEED:

• Blank Canvas
• Fabric
• Scissors
• Staple Gun (I specifically bought an electric one [here] affiliate link and I loooove it.)
• Staples

Optional:

• You might also try; tacks, spray glue and/or possibly a glue gun to secure your fabric. I grabbed them and popped them in the photo too so your could see what I was thinking.
• If you have an old canvas with a painting on it you don’t care for, paint a primer coat on it so the scene doesn’t show-thru your fabric and use that!
• You can also build a wood frame and cover it with fabric. 

1 – Gather your supplies.

2 – Ensure your staples are the correct size.

(long enough to grab you fabric well & short enough that they do not go through the wood frame)

3 – Lay out your fabric, place frame on top, cut.

(leave enough length so the fabric covers the side and folds over the back to attach)

4 – Get ready to staple.

(work on a smooth, flat surface)

5 – I like to start at the bottom. Work from the middle to your corners.

(for continuity, complete all your corner folds in the same way)

6 – Next do your sides, middle to the corners and then finish up with the top.  

If you have any staples that didn’t go-in all the way, no biggie, just tap them down with a hammer. I get a lot less of that with my new stapler. I just used it to recover my dining chairs [here] and it’s so nice to work with.

It takes staples and brads! I got it at Ace and I just picked up the less expensive Ace brand staples to use in it. 

I hope I never have to use a manual one again. I had no hand fatigue after using this one. I see many more “staple-y” projects in my future!! I hate to say “this isn’t sponsored” because I give my honest opinion regardless… but this isn’t sponsored. The electric stapler/nail gun was like ten bucks more that the manual ones. And when I saw that cord, it was a no-brainer for me. Last time I recovered chairs, Jim had to help me because I couldn’t hold the fabric and use both hands (which was necessary) for me to even use the stapler. Damn man tools! hahaha.

I hate to admit it, because most tools are not a problem but that one required man-hand strength. And I can hold my own most times when we are doing DIY but I don’t have the world’s strongest hands. 

The new, fabric covered canvases do just what I wanted, so all-in-all, I’m pretty pleased with how it turned out!! As soon as I’ve got somewhere to work, I can definitely see making a much larger version for the fireplace!

The fabric is such a pretty, soft gold and the pattern is very calm. It should blend beautifully with my decor all through the Autumn season.

As you can see, the decor I paired them with is really simple. A candlestick on each side, an urn with a pumpkin and the Pheasants on one side and the pitcher & roses on the other. It’s muted… and, I like it.

I hope you do too!

If you decide to make a fabric backdrop after seeing this, I really hope you will share it with me!! I’d love to see it. You can email me at foxhollowcottage@gmail.com or tag me on Instagram!

Have a great week!! If I get a spare minute, I might throw a little something up for Halloween before it’s actually here… I still can NOT believe I haven’t done anything? Inconceivable. (read that like it sounds in The Princess Bride) You know, just for fun.

Really though, it might not, and I am okay with that.

Take care now!! xo Shannon

Click [here] for Halloween past!

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SOURCES:

• Staple Gun –  Stanley Electric Staple Gun [order online here] affiliate link
• Fabric – Waverly
• Candlesticks – HomeGood [here]
• Urns – Thrifted
• Pheasant – Vintage 101
• Galvanized Metal Tray – HomeGoods
• White Leaf Dish – HomeGoods
• Lanterns – HomeGoods
• Linens – HomeGoods
• Casper Pumpkins – Safeway
• Roses – Safeway
• Velvet Pumpkins – Safeway
• French Script Pillows – HomeGoods
• Pallet Runner – DIY
• Dining Table – Estate Sale
• Dining Chairs – Goodwill
• Seat Fabric – Waverly
• Rug – Rugs USA [here] (direct link)

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