DIY Rainbow Tapestry

I’ve been so intentional with our home in the last few years (letting go of things we didn’t love + trying to create more functional/meaningful/beautiful spaces).  It usually means dealing with blank white walls until I find something I love AND can afford.  And sometimes it means making that thing instead 🌈 That’s how I ended up making this DIY rainbow tapestry!

TIP: To see a video of this project, head to my Instagram and click on the DIY Rainbow highlight!!

This was one of those spur-of-the-moment late night projects that just sort of materialized … it took MAYBE 20 minutes. I didn’t overthink it or make a plan. And somehow I love it even more for how easily it came together.

Here’s what you’ll need to make your own …

Supplies:

• Cotton/Linen Fabric size 26”H x 38”W (make sure to include an extra inch on each side for hemming - the finished project is 24”H x 36”W)

• Fabric Paint in a variety of colors

• Paintbrush (40mm)

• Tape

• Scissors

• Hem Tape

• Nails/Hammer for Hanging

PREPPING

Start by measuring + cutting your fabric to the right size and hem each side. If you don’t know how to hem the traditional way, hem tape is a simple/cheap alternative!

Next, quickly iron your fabric and secure it for painting. Tape it to a safe surface (like a large piece of cardboard) by running a long piece of scotch tape across the top (about 2 inches from the top edge). Do the same along the bottom and mark the middle of each piece of tape for reference.

PAINTING

For my project, I used acrylic paint. It’s the only thing I had on hand & looks great BUT I highly recommend using fabric paint. Just follow the instructions on the back of the product!

When picking my colors, I used darker/medium shades of pink, orange, yellow, sea green, and blue. Then I blended each color with white paint until I found the shade I was looking for. Have fun with it! Remember you can tie in colors that accent your room - you don’t have to stick with the pallet I’ve used!

For the arches, here are 3 tips to help you freehand:

1. Use the right size paintbrush.

2. Keep your brush flat against the fabric as you paint.

3. Start with the littlest arch and work your way out.

Prep the color for the littlest arch (I mixed dark blue + white). Don’t worry about mixing it perfectly - just blend quickly and move on!

When painting, place your brush flat against the tape that’s running across the bottom of your tapestry. I started with the inside of my paint brush about 2-3 inches from center. Then, keeping the brush flat against the fabric, make your first arch.

Don’t overthink it or try to measure everything perfectly. Part of it’s charm is that it’s NOT perfect. I just painted an arch, moved over an inch, and painted another arch. You can always do a test run on paper or try to mark where each arch begins + ends … but it doesn’t have to be that complicated. (This is coming from a girl who overcomicates everything … so if you can relate, just TRY to trust me here.)

Once you’re done painting, peel the tape off the top + bottom, let it dry, and hang it on the wall using two nails.

I hope you guys have fun making this rainbow tapestry. Let me know if you have any questions and tag me on Instagram using @laceandlu so I can check our your creations!!

With love,

Lace

DIY Photo Display

Hi all!

For Luna's first birthday, I created a photo display with pictures from her first year.  It was a fun way to share our memories and so easy to make!  Here's how I did it:

Hobby Lobby is my favorite place to shop for DIY supplies.  I bought this 16 x 20 inch Barnwood Open Frame from there for about $14.00.  It was originally $35.99 but it was on sale and I used a 40% off coupon which you can find here. 

I also picked up a pack of Flea Market Fancy Stained Clothespins (Medium) which were $3.99 for a 30 pack.  I couldn't find the exact product on their website so I recommend just checking in the store :)  I used the clothespins to hang the photos from hemp string that I already had on hand.  Twine also works if you have any lying around!

Once I had everything together, I glued one end of the string to the back of the frame on the right side.

Next, I wound the string all the way around the frame 5 times.  I didn't do any measuring for this - I just held the ball of string while I wrapped it around.  When I got the the bottom, I cut the string and glued the end to the back of the frame.  Then I readjusted as needed.  Don't worry about making it perfect - the variation adds to the charm!  As long as there's room to fit photos between the strings, you're good to go :)

Speaking of the photos, I used 4 x 4 prints from Wal-Mart.   I originally planned to use Social Print Studio because I really like the quality and feel of their product.  Their photos are pretty resilient as well - perfect if you're using them for an outdoor event like ours!  Unfortunately, I didn't have time to wait for shipping.   So I went with Wal-Mart and I'm actually really happy with how they turned out! 

What I love most about this display is the flowering garland along the top left corner.  It's such a pretty detail and really makes the whole thing look more put together!  The piece was a bit long so I trimmed it using wire cutters.  Then I tied it to the frame in several places to keep it secure.

And that's it!  This project was so much fun to make and a great way to preserve our memories.  Plus, it'll be easy to swap out the photos when we're ready!

If you have any questions about how to make this photo display, let me know in the comments below!  And be sure to share your creations on Instagram using #laceandlu :)

Good luck!

Lace