Last week, we brainstormed about Crystal Light containers, and everyone had such amazing suggestions that I think we should have a Crystal Light container craft challenge. I’m a little too busy at the moment to set it up, but let’s keep it in mind, okay? This week, reader Stacey sent in another question for us, and I know you all will come up with some brilliant ideas:
I have four yes, FOUR vinyl roller shades in my garage that are about 40 ” wide. They are HUGE!!! I know there myst be something great that I can use them for. For example, I used one as a table cover for our kitchen table to protect it from our munchkins when they do art projects (glue, paint, crayons, playdough etc). I am curious what your readers (and you) would do with a HUGE roller shade.
Thanks, Stacey
Thanks for the question, Stacey! I love your table cover idea (especially for playdough! My boys have been really into that this week!)
I’m assuming you don’t want to use the shades as shades, but if you do, the photo at the top of the page is from a tutorial about dressing up roller shades over at Isabella and Max Rooms.
So readers, what would you do with wide vinyl shades?
7 Comments
Janell Beals
Thanks for the shout out! This is a super easy project that elevates the look of roller shades! Janell
Coleen
I would use them as canvases and paint pictures on them. You could use them for holiday decorations on a door or window, make scenery back drops for children’s plays, paint headboards and hand them at the head of beds. The possibilities are endless.
Bromeliad
At the blog High Heeled Foot in the Door she covered hers with fabric.
Dorothy
I used one of our broken roller blinds to make a “Welcome home” sign for my husband when he was deployed. I painted on it and bought two wooden stakes which I rolled up a few times on the side and glued. It survived the weather quite well.
I think you could hang one up somewhere with good lighting and use it as a “Photo booth” type backdrop too.
Samantha
Funny you should post this right now. Creative Juice on HGTV just ran (a re-run) on window treatments, and dressing up a rolling shade was one of the projects. She slid the plastic bar out from the bottom, peeled off the vinyl and then replaced it with fabric to make a nicer-looking rolling shade. (Yeah, I know it’s not exactly what you were asking for when you asked for ideas…)
I like the idea of using it as a tablecloth! And painting on it sounds wonderful as well.
*Maybe keep the vinyl part in the trunk of the car for when you have something dirty or messy to move around
*Use a piece of it underneath your picnic blanket if the ground is moist.
*How about making an apron? or a tote bag? Heck, if you can sew at all, I’m sure you could come up with a million things to make out of them!
I could go on and on… But I’ll spare you.
Tanya
They could be used as a screen for a projector, or you could cut out shapes or letters and use the negative space as a stencil. The vinyl would be good to line tote bags or possibly even art smocks (depending on how flexible it is), or to make a mat under a high chair. Personally, if they’re huge and in good shape, I’d probably donate them if I couldn’t use them. Blinds, even roller blinds, are pricy, and I’m sure someone could get lots of use from them.
neeley
i am a reading specialist at the elementary level. i have used roller blinds in the past to create hopscotch mats. one side has high frequency words, the other had letters. neat idea that i can’t take credit for. learned from my favorite, now retired partner. i am drooling at the thought of 4 that are such a large size. neat.