Drop Cloth Pictures
It all started, as much inspiration does, with a picture.
I had purchased 4 frames to use in an arrangement on my bedroom wall.
I wasn’t sure what I wanted to put in them, until I saw this picture in my
“100 decorating ideas under $100″ magazine.
I loved these pictures.
They used burlap in the back, and pressed leaves under the glass.
I adapted the concept for mine, using painters drop cloth fabric
and printing black and white graphics right onto the cloth.
I started with some $5 frames from Walmart.
The price was perfect, but the color wasn’t. I wanted something light for summer,
something that complimented my new “Ocean inspired bed makeover“
So I pulled out the Krylon spray paint-love me some spray paint!
I also got some white mats to go with my newly painted white frames.
I got the mats at Michaels, I think they were under $2 each.
Before we continue the tutorial, can we just take a moment to note the ugly seam in my countertop?
Do we all agree I have just cause to want to replace them? It has been like that for 16 years….
Ok – moving on..
I decided I would use the painters drop cloth fabric I had left over from my bedroom curtains
as the backing in the pictures. All I did for the curtains was cut the fabric to length, fold top section,
and use clip rings to attach the fabric to the rod. Super easy Diy curtains!
I still have tons of this painters cloth – I love this stuff!
Here is a tutorial on some pillows I made out of it too-
I cut the cloth to fit the cardstock, then used spray adhesive to apply it.
I took care to smooth out any wrinkles when I placed the fabric on the paper.
I considered ironing it for about 3 seconds, then I laughed and poured myself a coke…
I put the paper fabric side down into my printer and printed out the image.
Note: My printer prints on the bottom side of the paper as it goes into the tray,
yours may be different! Find out before you run the fabric/paper through.
I downloaded the images from The Graphic Fairy -
A couple of them came black and white, but there were two I had to import into
my iPhoto program and change to black and white. I also had to adjust the
sizes of the graphics to fit the 8 x 10 paper.
I love the way they turned out!
This would be really pretty done in color too – I have just been on such a neutral kick lately..
Now all I had to do was put them all together -
Of course it was more difficult than it needed to be, I found out why the Walmart frames
were so cheap. They weren’t a standard size. So when I bought the mats that should have
fit them, they were too big. So I had to cut down each of the mats. Of course it is usually
worth it to me to save a buck or two! I am such a cheapskate!
Love Love Love!!!!
They were just what I wanted! And I love the way they look in the room.
These pictures don’t do them justice because it was kind of dark and cloudy when I took them.
I guess they ended up costing right around $7 each -
I am sure they could be done for less though, I know they often have frames at the Dollar Tree.
But I don’t feel too bad about spending under $30 for decorating a wall………..
Ok – it would be cool if I could have done it for $15 or less….free would have been even cooler..
Dang it, why can’t I ever be cool??
Speaking of cool – Thrifty Decor Chick did something similar on her walls for free!
Thrifty Decor Chick-Absolutely Free And Beautiful Art
She has a link to the New York Library where you can download free pictures.
Sigh… she is uber cool..
Well, did you enjoy my new project as much as I did? Cause I am loving it!
Thanks for coming by – you readers always make my day- hope I make yours better too!
I am linking up with some parties – go check them out!
Transformation Thursday @ The Shabby Creek Cottage
The Lumberjack's Wife
302 days ago
I love it! Very creative, as usual. I love how all your ideas are so affordable.
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Angela@Welcome Home
302 days ago
Those are beautiful! Great job!
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Sarah @ Thrifty Decor Chick
302 days ago
Girl, they look fabulous!!! Thanks for the link my friend.
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joanne
302 days ago
ohhhhh, very pretty. I think I could do that…well, sorta!
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Sharyl@Thelittlebrownhouse Reply:
July 19th, 2011 at 10:13 pm
You can do it!
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Sandy
302 days ago
These are really nice!! Love the black/white and the texture. I haven’t tried printing on Fabric…but you make it sound easy.
Also the LInk to Thrifty Decor chick. Looking forward to finding some prints for my extra frames!
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JD
302 days ago
Love this project!! Thank you for the inspiration. And by the way, taking the time to share your talents with us makes you uber-cool in my book!
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Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions
302 days ago
I think they turned out great, Sharyl! You know you’d pay over $100.00 from Ballard Designs for a set like this. I think you did great price wise. Love it in the black and white print with the white frames and mats.
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Lynn
302 days ago
They are very nice. I love the print on the fabric, looks great.
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Becki
302 days ago
Your pictures are fabulous! What an inexpensive yet beautiful set of framed art you designed for your bedroom. Great job!
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Tara
302 days ago
What an awesome idea! Definately going to make some of these after I get done with my gray painting in my living room/hallway/entry way (I’m on a neutral kick too and going with shades of gray everywhere haha!) I think they would match perfect! My only question is where did you get painters drop cloth? I’ve never seen it anywhere but since I’ve never been looking for it I’ve probably just never noticed it.
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Sharyl@Thelittlebrownhouse Reply:
July 20th, 2011 at 9:51 am
Thank you! I found it in the paint section of a local hardware store – I know Home Depot carries it. It comes pre-cut and folded up in a package, not on a bolt. Good luck! And I have been looking at shades of gray lately too! Love how people are putting it with orange and turquoise!
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April @ Chronicles of a Compulsive Decorator
302 days ago
These look great!!
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Jill @ Craft in a Northern Town
302 days ago
Great idea! They turned out super cute! I too have a love hate relationship with WalMart frames.
Thanks for the inspiration!
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Kate
302 days ago
Love love love this idea!!! Can’t wait to try it out myself. Did you use an ink-jet or laser printer for these?
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Sharyl@Thelittlebrownhouse Reply:
July 23rd, 2011 at 11:15 am
Ink Jet
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Lynne
302 days ago
I absolutely LOVE these! You could sell them for big bucks! I want to try and make some, but I’m kind of a dummy when it comes to knowing how to download things!
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Paula
302 days ago
I’m still amazed at your idea to glue the fabric onto cardstock and run it through your printer. I would never in a million years thought to do that.
I think it’s just beautiful, and looks way more expensive than $30.00!!
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Gloria
301 days ago
These are just beautiful. I’ve seen others print on fabric and have been scared to do it. I think I’m going to try it. Thanks for the tutorial!
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Melissa
301 days ago
Wow!!! Love these! I just made a shower curtain out of a drop cloth. I love how it turned out so I can’t wait to work with more of it. Your pictures turned out beautifully.
Visiting from the Shabby Chic Cottage Link Party.
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Cathy
301 days ago
What an excellent idea! I may be trying this myself.
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Stephanie (@junkernewbie)
301 days ago
Love this! I’ve never run fabric through my printer like that. Should that work with most printers?
Thanks for sharing this!
Stephanie
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Pam @ diy Design Fanatic
300 days ago
These are fabulous! I need to make a pillow using this method and I think you’ve inspired me! Stopping over from The Shabby Nest.
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Kylie@Stylish Settings
300 days ago
I really like these. I’ve read a couple of tutorials about printing directly onto fabric but I haven’t tried it yet. If you use the fabric for pillows, can you wash it or do you have to set the ink first?
Well done – really pretty
Kylie
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Sharyl@Thelittlebrownhouse Reply:
July 21st, 2011 at 8:17 pm
That is a good question – I would think you couldn’t wash them without applying some kind of waterproof coating to them? Any one else know the answer to this?
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Velma
300 days ago
I love your pictures! I have never used painter’s drop cloth, so I’m gonna have to check this stuff out!
Oh, and by the way, your pictures are just as cool as the ones done by Thrifty Decor Chick…I read her blog about her free diy project…so I know!
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Deborah
300 days ago
Positively INSPIRED!!!
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Cindy Adkins
300 days ago
WOW–these are amazing and so are your curtains!!!
XO
CIndy
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cyndi
300 days ago
WoW Sharly! Those look really great! You did a fabulous job!!
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Claire Rose
300 days ago
Love the pics-nice thinking with that Graphic Fairy idea! I’m a follower!!
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Claire Rose
300 days ago
Love this idea-the graphic fairy-the prints look beautiful!
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Erin
300 days ago
I ADORE these!! I’m scared to run fabric through the printer…but these pictures look so awesome I might have to try it.
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alsmouse
299 days ago
I love these. Such a clean looking effect. I want to do these for our River House guest room. Thank you for the inspiration.
alsmouse ~C8>
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Shelly
299 days ago
I love this idea!!! It has so man y possibilities! Thanks!
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Pam
297 days ago
They look GREAT! Thanks for the tutorial. I love The Graphics Fairy and using drop cloths. It looks like something I may have to try. Thanks for the inspiration.
Have a great week!
Pam
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Kate
297 days ago
Love, Love, Love!
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marlis
297 days ago
I came by from BNOTP and am so glad I did.. I love love your photos. What a great idea. Something I will have to “borrow”.. thanks for sharing with us.. xo marlis
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Jacki
297 days ago
Love it. Seriously.
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Lauren
297 days ago
These are awesome! I never knew you could print right onto dropcloth. Just finished a project and have some leftover, so I’m going to add this to my inspiration files! Thanks!
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Miss Char
297 days ago
Love this look, and its always great to find something new to create from drop clothes. Your pictures look fabulous and I can’t wait to get started on this for my living room. Thanks so much for sharing, I’m sure there will lots of bloggers following your tutorial to make their own pictures.
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Maggie
297 days ago
wow luv luv how sophisticate this is…
I’m inviting you to join our linking party every Wednesday
Have a fabulous week,
Maggie
http://passionatelyartistic.com
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Jen @ Noting Grace
296 days ago
Oh. My. Word!! Can I say GORGEOUS!! I have to try this. It turned out incredible. And I love the Graphics Fairy!! Stellar. Simply Stellar.
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Deb- What in the Craft
296 days ago
Love, love, love this! Brilliant! Can’t wait to try it out! Also thanks for coming over and visiting my blog! Great to meet you!
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Maddie
296 days ago
LOVE THEM!!!!!… you are right next to me in line over at GF so I wanted to pop over and say hi!!!
Maddie, of the Toothbrush holder.
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Kathleen Sigg
296 days ago
What a great tutorial and blog! Love your sense of humor. I wouldn’t have noticed the counter top if you hadn’t mentioned it, but it’s certainly something that would have bugged me as well. I agree, you should have a new one. Thanks and I’ll be back!
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Laura Ingalls Gunn
296 days ago
I am visiting via Today’s Creative Blog.
This is a fantastic project! Thank you for sharing.
Happy Tuesday!
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Christine
296 days ago
These are really cool! I love how you put them right through the printer…..BTW, don’t bother with dollar store frames if you are hanging them on the wall. They’re hard to hang up, two of mine fell off the wall the same night, I was cleaning up broken glass at one in the morning. Not worth the couple of bucks I saved…..
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June Scott
296 days ago
I think you are uber cool, too, Sharyl! These turned out totally amazing!!! Love, love, love! Thanks for sharing your technique!
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cheryl
295 days ago
dropping over from A2Z.
love love love these.
must try them.
thanks so much for sharing.
off to check out more of your blog!!
cheryl xox.
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Angela (Cottage Magpie)
295 days ago
This. Is. Brilliant. I am in love! Too bad it’s after midnight or I’d have to do be some shopping!
~Angela~
P.S. I know it’s been, oh, 4,027 YEARS but I am still going to finish your virtual makeover. I promise.
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Joan
295 days ago
I love this idea!!!!!!!!!!! So talented!!!!
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BornInaZoo
295 days ago
Here’s a hint if cardstock + fabric is too think to fit through your printer: iron freezer paper to the fabric & trim it to size.
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Mary Anne
295 days ago
Lovely, lovely, lovely, and brilliant too! The possibilities, oh my! My I ask what kind of spray adhesive did you use, and did you wash the fabric first? Thanks a mill!
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Vicki V
295 days ago
These are just beautiful! I wonder if I could swing making something similar?? I would be a little concerned about jamming up my printer. Is there another option, like transfer paper and an iron?
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Catherine
294 days ago
These are gorgeous!! What a great, great idea. I have a giant blank wall in my bedroom, and I think these may be just the thing to go there. Thanks for sharing.
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Mollydiane
294 days ago
What a clever idea!! I love your thriftiness! Thanks for sharing about the drop clothes; my Dad was a carpenter and had a gazillion of assorted age and wear. (wish I had them today!)
The photo collection came out “uber cute”. Great job!
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Bella's Rose Cottage
293 days ago
These are beautiful!! I just bought a drop cloth for a tablecloth, and this is perfect fopr the leftovers!! Thanks for the fun share!! I saw your title on the Blogher list and had to peak, so glad I did!
Bella
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Valerie
292 days ago
Love this idea! What size frames did you use?
Thx again for the inspiration!
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Christine
290 days ago
I saw these at The Graphics Fairy…they are absolutely wonderful! I am a huge fan of printing on fabric too…
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Tess Murphy
290 days ago
Cute cute! I totally love this idea, and am thinking of several things to print on drop cloths! Thanks for ideas!
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Morgan
289 days ago
I saw this today and was so excited I bought my card stock and some lightweight canvas.
Oh my … super easy and so pretty. Thank you!!!
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Sharyl@Thelittlebrownhouse Reply:
August 1st, 2011 at 7:14 pm
Yay! Hope you love your as much as I love mine!
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Amybug
289 days ago
Seriously brilliant. I’m going to be adhering all kinds of stuff to cardstock to print on LOL, you have a new follower =0)
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Mindy
289 days ago
Ahhh, I LOVE these!!!! I made a curtain for my patio like your bedroom one. That canvas is amazing. I’m pinning these pics for future reference. I think they are so awesome – love the botanicals you picked too!!!
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Madigan at madiganmade
288 days ago
Great tutorial for printing on fabric! And I loove botanicals. These look fabulous!
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Edwige
288 days ago
Lovely! Good Idea!
Très beau résultat! Merci de nous faire partager vos idées. Bonne journée créative! Edwige
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Ann Marie | white house, black shutters
288 days ago
Girl, those are amazing! I never would have thought you could do that… love the look and the prints you chose. Putting this on my pinterest right now!!
And you TOTALLY deserve new countertops.
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gina
284 days ago
Ooooo, I like them. A lot. I too worry about jamming my printer; I may have to try it anyway!
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Holly L
267 days ago
Beautiful! I have just started to experiment printing directly on the fabric – so much fun…This is just gorgeous!
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Roeshel
267 days ago
So pretty! I love the printed designs you chose on the texture of the drop cloth. Beautiful easy DIY wall art! Great job!
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rk
267 days ago
My first time at your site and you are so creative! I came via graphics fairy’s brag Monday link. I absolutely love your prints and thank you so much for the detailed steps! I can’t wait to try these (after the zillion other projects that I have bookmarked already!). Your sense of humor is wonderful
I will be a regular here from now on!
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cassie
264 days ago
that is such a cool idea. love the look you achieved!
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Alyssa
245 days ago
love this idea! now if only i could find drop cloth photos!!
also a quick question, i’m doing a similar project but i’m just putting regular photos. and i’m planning on spray painting my frames (got the exact same ones from walmart!) but i’m having difficulty removing the backing from them how did you do yours?
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Lynda
240 days ago
These are so gorgeous! In my opinion they look even better than the inspiration photo! Great idea, thank you so much for sharing
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Susan @ My Place to Yours
199 days ago
I just stumbled upon your blog and found this great project! Is your printer a laser or ink jet? My creative juices are flowing…
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Suzanne Callahan
75 days ago
I love your project. Thank you for sharing. I am just beginning to get my creativity flowing and I am just dying to try transferring images onto cloth for pillows, etc. and I appreciate all of the useful information I have discovered via Pinterest. Your pictures turned out beautiful.
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