Thrifty Attempts # 2: Table Runner Art

So a project I did this week, because, well what else is there to do when you have a full week off of school because of SNOW, is a simple art piece for our small hallway. The materials included: a table runner (bought in exchange for a sweater from Christmas that didn't fit at Coldwater Creek... so in my mind it was free!), a TV box (free), a curtain ($7 at Ross), a staple gun and some craft glue. Yes, this only cost me $7!

Again, I got the inspiration from the Thrifty Decor Chick.

We have this switch box in our hallway that is so gray and ugly! We've been trying to find the perfect piece to cover it up, without covering up the light switch. 

Ok, so I am HORRIBLE about taking pics along the way. This is the pile of things near the end of the project.

I'll try to explain what I did...

First, off, the table runner I got from Coldwater Creek wasn't quite wide enough to cover the gray box.

So, I had to figure out something else to go behind it or around it. I thought about making a frame for it, but when I went to Michael's, it was going to take a lot of time, cost more than I wanted, etc. etc. 

Since I became a pro at stapling fabric during my last project, I decided I would cut a piece of cardboard (how perfect it is that we had a new TV box we needed to get rid of!) , and then staple some fabric around it. This would serve as a background/border to the table runner. 

So, after cutting out the cardboard and then stapling the brown fabric around it, we mounted the table runner by using the staple gun. You can't tell by just glancing that we used a bazillion staples to secure it to the brown border. 

Yes, my mom rocks and helped me with this project, too! Then we used some craft glue along the edges to make sure it stayed. 

We let it dry for a couple minutes, and then hung it up! 

I think it's the perfect piece for that hallway!

Close up! I LOVE this table runner! The wooden pieces are so cool and rustic. 

 

Before...

After!