Saturday, April 30, 2011

Carpet Scrap Transformation - Door Mat Tutorial


 I am so excited about this project! I wanted to join in on the April Ucreate "Create With Me" challenge, which was to paint a rug. I didn't want to buy a rug to paint as I didn't need one - so I wasn't expecting to  partake in this challenge. Then one day I walked by my back door and saw this....


...and a light bulb went on. This is an old carpet scrap that came with our house when we bought it. I don't like throwing things away so it got stuck at the back door. This challenge was just what I needed to come out of my creative shell and do something I have never done before. This carpet scrap was getting a transformation. 

Here is what I did:
1) Prep the carpet: I washed the mat as best I could with a carpet cleaner. After it was dry I vacuumed it. 


2) Cut the carpet: I cut the carpet into a crescent shape. I drew the lines on the back and cut with an exacto knife and scissors. 

3) Paint: After a little bit of reading up on how to paint a carpet, I decided to buy latex paint. This little can was about $5 and I really didn't use much from the can. I stirred the paint with a popsicle stick and painted with an art brush. Latex washed up easily with warm water and soap. I used the carpet scraps to practice painting on to see how the paint went on and what I was going to paint.


I free handed painting on a silhouette of grasses. My inspiration was a stamp I saw in a Stampin Up catalog. I painted a black frame around the whole carpet.

4) Finish Edge: I sewed on an edge to finish the carpet. This took a LONG time. I found the biggest needle in my supplies - this was in my great grandmothers sewing kit. I used jute for the thread. I hammered the needle through the carpet - making sure I had the a double layer of scrap carpet underneath to save my floor. I had to start a new thread once in a while so each time I needed new thread I would double knot it on the bottom of the mat and cut off the excess jute. 


Four hockey games later, two of them overtime games,  I finished the edge of my mat. 

I am so excited about this transformation! My husband likes it so much he wants it at the front door.
Thanks for stopping by!

Linking up to....
The Stories of A2Z
Metamorphosis Monday
Sisters of the Wild West

Tip Junkie handmade projectsUndertheTableandDreaming 



A Marvelous Mess

26 comments:

  1. OMG! It does not even look like the same carpet scrap. You did a fabulous job! I love it!!!

    Dee

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  2. It looks fantastic - I'm really keen on the design you painted! It's so green to reuse what you have :-)

    Jem xXx

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  3. Looks really nice and definitely one of a kind.

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  4. WOW! It was worth the hard work! Love it!

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  5. This is so fantastic! I love how the jute looks on the perimeter! :)

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  6. Wow, I'm super impressed! Nice work!

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  7. This is awesome. I have some carpet scraps and am very inspired.

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  8. Hey Sue....I saw your feature on Ucreate! Congrats! If you'd like to feature this on my site, I'd love for this to be your project!! :)

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  9. awesome tutorial. great repupose!! i totally thought it was a store bought rug at first. i would love for you to link it up at our Sister Sunday link Party.
    Amy
    www.Sistersofthewildwest.blogspot.com

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  10. Awesome! I have a couple scraps that could be put to this use!

    Would love for you to share at Calling All Crafters!
    http://allthingsfee.blogspot.com/2011/05/calling-all-crafters-5th-edition.html

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  11. oh my gosh, that looks great! that stitch around the outside really makes it-that must have been hard!

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  12. Love it!! Great job freehanding. I would love it if you would link this up to my party A Marvelous Mess....each week I pick one project to feature on my sidebar!! Here is the link: http://marvelouslymessy.blogspot.com/2011/05/marvelous-mess-11.html

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  13. Now I wish I had a carpet scrap lying around! Looks great; thanks for sharing.

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  14. What a perfect idea!!! The edges look so nice too! Thanks for sharing. Your newest follower.

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  15. Wow Sue this is so impressive. I love the edging - so clever and creative! Thanks so much for linking up to the Sunday Showcase Party - I greatly appreciate it. I have featured this today.
    Hope you are enjoying your week
    ~ Stephanie Lynn
    www.bystephanielynn.com

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  16. Totally brilliant! Wish I had a carpet scrap....

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  17. WOW! This is great :) Please come on over and link up to MMM!

    http://www.creatingreallyawesomefreethings.com/

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  18. Kudos to you for hand stiching the binding on the carpet. I would not have the patience for that at.all.

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  19. What a cute idea, love how you gave it a finished look by binding the edges.
    I am your newest follower....would love for you to visit my blog.
    have a great day,
    Regina

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  20. This is great -- what patience you have to do all of that stitching! Turned out fantastic!

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  21. i agree. It really takes lots of patience to stitch such as beautiful rug like the one featured above. A good job indeed!

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  22. Beautiful! Thank you for instructions!

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