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THIS PROJECT IS GREAT FOR ANY SIZE WINDOW SHADE! SEND US PICTURES OF YOUR WINDOW DECORATING MAKE-OVERS, WE'D LOVE TO SEE THEM!

FABRIC COVERED SHADE

fabric shade

THIS PROJECT CREATES A CUSTOM LOOK FOR INEXPENSIVE VINYL SHADES. WE ONLY COVERED THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THESE PICTURES BECAUSE A "SPONGE" PAINTING DESIGN WAS APPLIED ON THE TOP PORTION.

MATERIALS LIST:

  1. SCISSORS OR ROTARY CUTTER FOR FABRIC
  2. INEXPENSIVE VINYL PULL SHADE IN PREFERRED SIZE/WIDTH
  3. CHOICE OF FABRIC (MEDIUM OR LIGHTWEIGHT) ABOUT 3 YARDS
  4. DECORATIVE TASSLE
  5. UPHOLSTERY CORD EDGING IN COORDINATING COLOR
  6. SPRAY ADHESIVE CRAFT GLUE
  7. FABRIC OR CRAFT GLUE (WE USED ONE CALLED "WELD-BOND" AVAILABLE AT HOME IMPROVEMENT STORES NEAR THE PAINT)
  8. SEWING NEEDLE AND THREAD IN MATCHING COLOR

fabric shade STEPS:

  1. UNROLL THE SHADE ON FLOOR OR WORKING SURFACE LEAVING THE STICK IN. (NOTE: MAKE SURE YOU ARE PLACING FABRIC ON THE CORRECT SIDE SO THAT WHEN IT ROLLS UP IT DOES SO FROM UNDERNEATH THE TUBE.)
  2. MEASURE AND CUT FABRIC TO FIT THE SHADE, LEAVING ABOUT 2 INCHES OVERLAPPING ON SIDES AND BOTTOM. YOU CAN EITHER COVER JUST THE BOTTOM PORTION (ABOUT 2 FEET) AND DO A PAINTING TECHNIQUE ON THE TOP OR COVER THE ENTIRE SHADE.
  3. SPRAY THE PORTION OF THE SHADE TO BE COVERED WITH THE CRAFT SPRAY ADHESIVE.
  4. PLACE THE FABRIC OVER SHADE AND PRESS DOWN AND WORK OUT ANY WRINKLES. (BE CAREFUL BECAUSE THE ADHESIVE MAKES IT LESS WORKABLE IF IT IS NOT PLACED ON STRAIGHT)
  5. USING THE FABRIC GLUE, TURN THE SHADE OVER AND GO ALL AROUND THE EDGES AND AROUND THE OVERLAPPING EDGES ON THE BACK AND SECURE. WHEN SECURING THE CORNERS, CUT A DIAGONAL SLIT IN ORDER TO FOLD EVENLY BACK.
  6. AFTER THIS DRIES A FEW MINUTES, USE THE NEEDLE AND THREAD TO TACK THE FABRIC ON EACH END AND IN THE MIDDLE A FEW TIMES ON ALL SIDES FOR EXTRA SUPPORT.
  7. NOW, IF COVERING THE WHOLE SHADE, GLUE THE DECORATIVE CORDING ONLY ON THE LOWER EDGE. IF JUST COVERING THE BOTTOM PORTION, USE THE CORDING TO COVER THE TOP OF THE FABRIC. RIBBON CAN ALSO BE USED INSTEAD OF CORD.
  8. ALSO USE THE NEEDLE AND THREAD TO TACK THE CORDING ON SIDES AND IN THE MIDDLE FOR EXTRA SUPPORT.
  9. USE THE NEEDLE AND THREAD TO SEW THE TASSLE ON IN THE SAME MANNER IN THE MIDDLE BOTTOM EDGE OF THE SHADE JUST ABOVE THE STICK FROM THE BACK.
  10. LASTLY, TURN OVER AFTER ALL GLUE HAS DRIED AND TRIM THE BACK EDGES TO MAKE THEM STRAIGHT. THE ROUGH EDGES CAN BE COVERED WITH RIBBON IF YOU LIKE.

*NOTE* WHEN PUTTING THE BRACKETS UP, THEY MAY HAVE TO COME OUT MORE THAN NORMAL IN ORDER FOR THE SHADE TO HAVE ENOUGH ROOM TO RETRACT FULLY.

**VARIATIONS**
ADD EVEN MORE DECORATION BY GLUING FLAT-BACKED JEWEL BEADS, FLOWERS, CHARMS OR OTHER "EXTRAS" TO MATCH YOUR DECOR.

Click here for great eBay values!

ALL OF OUR PROJECTS ARE EVIDENT OF OUR PERSONAL APPLICATION OF THE STEPS INVOLVED, WE DO NOT GUARANTEE THE OUTCOME OF ANY SUBSEQUENT APPLICATIONS AS WE CANNOT CONTROL THE APPLICATION OF THE STEPS BY THIRD PARTIES. **SAFETY AND CAUTION MUST ALWAYS BE USED WHEN ATTEMPTING ANY CRAFT OR PROJECT.