Thursday, April 4, 2013

Ruffled Burlap Table Cover Tutorial {and Spring Centerpiece}


It's Spring! At least, it is down here in our little corner of Texas. March showers have brought April flowers (the tune is a little different when you live in the South!)... which means it's time to bring those flowers inside to decorate with. :)

I love putting flowers on our kitchen table. But this year I wanted to dress it up a little more than I usually do. I was inspired by the ruffled burlap table runner that Chelsea over at Two Twenty One made. It was exactly what I wanted, except mine needed to be smaller. As in, it can't hang over the table.

Two troublesome toddlers + table runner=  DISASTER!

Trust me. ;)

So, off I went to JoAnn to gather my burlap and muslin. Although, when I saw the soft yellow broadcloth they had on sale, I immediately snatched some up to use instead of muslin. Afterall, yellow is my favorite color... so it was only right that I incorporate it into my table cover.


1 yard of burlap and 2 yards of yellow broadcloth was more than enough!
 
Here's what you'll need to make a ruffled table cover:
* burlap
* yellow broadcloth
* scissors
* 7/8" white ribbon
* needle and thread (or sewing machine)
* hot glue gun (optional if you have a sewing machine)


First you need to cut your burlap down to the size that you want.


Next, cut your broadcloth into 6 inch strips. They'll look like the strip pictured above on the left.


To create your ruffles:
1. Sew a running stitch through your fabric strips
2. Pull your fabric tight to create a ruffled look
3. Keep adding fabric strips and pulling them tight until your ruffle is the right length


Next, use your hot glue gun to attach your strips to the burlap. Be sure to attach them to the underside of the burlap. You could also use a sewing machine to do this, but I was feeling a little lazy!


Flip the burlap over. It should look like the picture above. The exposed edges looked a bit unsightly, so I decided to cover them up with ribbon.
 

To attach ribbon to table cover:
1. Cut out enough ribbon so that it will cover the edges of the burlap
2. Be sure to leave 1-2 inches of excess ribbon hanging over each side
3. Apply hot glue to ribbon ends
4. Fold ribbon over and press to secure underneath table cover


And this is what your finished table cover will look like! :) I topped mine off with tulips in a white ceramic vase from Target's Threshold collection. Then I placed the vase in this pretty scalloped bowl from the Threshold collection. (I kind of love Threshold, in case you didn't notice!) Something seemed to be missing from this centerpiece though...

So, I decided to add a few more flowers. I found these two small clear vases at Goodwill and decided to turn them into faux ceramic vases.

 
To make faux ceramic vases:
1. Find clear glass vases
2. Spray the outside of the vases with white spray paint (I actually used primer and it turned out fine)
3. Let them dry, then fill with flowers! :)

 
I cut some pink azaleas from our bushes out front and added them to my centerpiece. What do you think?
 

I really love how this centerpiece came together! It probably took me a total of 2 hours to complete- not too shabby! :)

Have you started decorating for Spring? What are your favorite flowers to decorate with?

 
Don't forget to join in our new link party, Much Ado About Monday! We would love for you to share your newest recipes, projects, tips and more with us! :)

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10 comments:

  1. Hello,

    I am visiting from two yellow birds. Love your table runner. You've inspired me to make a few for my booth today!

    Thank you for sharing and I'd love it if you'd stop by www.hisandherrestoration.blogspot.com

    Char

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    1. Hi Char! I'm glad you like it! I'd love to see how yours turn out. I was thinking of making a few for my next craft show booth, too. :) I will definitely stop by and check out your blog, too!

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  2. This is soo pretty!! Love those yellow ruffles! I am your newest facebook follower! I would love to have you share this over at my party!
    http://www.madetobeamomma.com/2013/04/homemade-by-you-45-brand-new-site.html

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    1. Thank you, Katie! I am love with the yellow ruffles. So glad I chose yellow over white. :) I will definitely stop by and link up with your party and return the FB follow as well! :)

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  3. this is sooooo pretty! and of course, I love the burlap- melt my heart :) stopping in from two yellow birds.. following you!

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    1. Thanks, Jodi! I've never really used burlap before- now I'm hooked! Thanks for the follow. :)

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  4. Everything is so cute!! What a cheerful tabletop!! I saw your link on the Inspiration Gallery party. Happy Spring, Lori

    www.marvinsdaughters.blogspot.com

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    1. Thank you for the sweet comments, Lori! I'm so glad you stopped over! :)

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