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DIY Printed Slipcovers

Printed_Slipcovers
If you have kids in your house, or pets, or heck, husbands, you know how hard it can be to keep the furniture clean, especially light colored furniture. Slipcovers can make life easier in this regard but at the same time you are often confined to what is available, and unless you are willing to pay for something custom, what is available is often very plain. But it doesn’t have to stay that way. Turning simple, inexpensive and plain slipcovers into something unique and outstanding is really just a freezer paper stencil away. For my slipcover I was inspired by a print from my favorite purse, but you can do anything that strikes your fancy. You could even create different prints for different seasons!

Things you need:
Slipcover in a natural fiber fabric (here I used a plain white twill cover)
Fabric paint
Foam paintbrushes
Freezer paper
Scissors
Pencil
Iron
Sewing pins

Things to do:
1. Decide where on the slipcover you want your pattern and how big the pattern should be. Mark this out with pins while the cover in on the piece of furniture.
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2. Trace or draw your images onto freezer paper and very carefully cut the image out. Anything that is cut out will show up on the fabric so be careful!
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3. Remove the slipcover from the chair and spread over your ironing board. (Don’t fold or layer your fabric here, make sure only the layer you are printing in on the surface of the board)
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4. Using the pins as a guideline up the freezer paper templates onto the fabric and press carefully with a dry, well heated iron. Get the edges as smooth as possible so that paint doesn’t seep under the edges. * If you are doing a large area you’ll need to work in sections, ironing on, painting, allowing to dry with each section before moving to the nest. Also, if the fabric is thin, slip scrap paper under each of the template areas before you paint.
5. Working from the edges in, apply paint to the open areas of the template. Give the paint a moment to soak in and check to see if a second coat is needed.
6. Peel the template off and discard. Allow the paint to dry and heat set according to the directions on the label.

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Learn to Make Hair Bows – Loopy Hair Bow

loopy_hair_bowThings you need:
6 – 2-1/2ft of assorted ribbon (You will want to vary the ribbon widths, patterns, and material of ribbon for a fun bow)
Ruler
Scissors
34 gauge Wire
70mm Hair Barrette
Clothespins
Fray Check or Clear Fingernail Polish (You could also use a lighter)

Things to do:
1. This is the fun part! Pick six different kinds of ribbon of your choice. Play with the patterns, textures, colors and widths to make your hair bow fun and unique. Once you have cut your ribbons cut in 2-1/2ft sections, use Fray Check or clear fingernail polish on the ends to keep the ribbon from fraying. You could also use a lighter get the same results. Just be sure that you do not burn the ends or yourself. Once the ends are dry or cooled down, stack the ribbon on top of each other and keep them flush with each other. Use a clothespins to hold one end of the stacked ribbons together.
2. Carefully take the hair barrette apart so that you are able to work with it easier. Don’t worry everything will go back pretty easily once you have finished your bow. Set pieces aside.
3. Take the top part of the barrette and pin it to your ribbon using another clothespin. Be sure that the little prongs are facing away from the ribbon when you are pinning it. This clothespin is temporary and is only needed until you have wired the ribbon down, which is the next step.
4. Carefully but firmly begin wrapping your wire around the ribbon stack and one end of the hair barrette. Be sure when you are wrapping the wire to wrap inside of the little prongs. Leaving the prongs free will help when you are putting the barrette back together. Wrap the wire around the stack and barrette a few times until the stack feels firm and doesn’t move around. Do not cut the wire.
5. Hold the stack of ribbon in your hand and gather a small section to create a loop. Be sure that you are keeping the ribbon stacked neatly as you are doing this.
6. While your fingers are holding the loop tightly, bring the loose wire around and wrap around the stack again. Again, wrap the wire around the stack and barrette a few times until the stack feels firm and doesn’t move around. Do not cut the wire.
7. Create another loop. Make sure that your second loop is the same height as your first loop. Repeat the wiring instructions stated above. Continue creating and wiring loops of the stacked ribbon until you run our of ribbon and your entire barrette is covered. Remember to push the ribbon loops close together to create a more full bow.
8. Once you have reached the end of the barrette, wrap the end of the barrette tightly with the wire and cut the remaining wire off. Be sure to tie the end of the wire off so that does not unravel later. Push the loose end of the wire under the wrapped section so that it does not poke out. You can also add a dab of hot glue to the end to ensure that is does not come loose.
9. Put the barrette back together. Carefully separate the ribbon loops and fluff to your liking. You can also run the loose ribbon ends to a prettier points if you wish.

Project Notes:
Once you are comfortable with making the loopy hair bow, play! These instructions tell you how to make a specific size, once you are comfortable with the technique you can create different size bows.

Instead of using wiring, you may also use needle and thread. At the beginning you would thread your needle through the entire stack of ribbon at one end. Then stitch the thread through the hole of the barrette. Then wrap the thread around the ribbon stack and barrette just as would with the wire. Then use the wire instructions stated above but use your thread instead.

Once you have finished the bow completely you can cut some of the ribbon loops, making ribbon ends through the bow. You can also incorporate fun things such as small feather boas into the ribbon stack to add a little flare to your bow. You could also stick or glue on small rhinestones for a little glam. Have fun and be creative!

Photo Credit: My Couture Bebe

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