Color Combo: Kelly's Current Favorite

Here are 4 great oilcloths that I'm currently crushing on!! One of our new prints, Red Bloom, takes center stage! Combine it with green gingham, dot on red and yellow and white stripes and you've got summer all wrapped up!! 

Come back on Friday to see what I'm doing with these 4 prints!! Tutorial Spoiler: No-Sew Picnic Mat!!

Porch Party: DIY Oilcloth Buffet/Bar

Oilcloth Addict

On Friday I needed an extra table to serve as a bar for my Junie porch party. I have a lot of pretty tables but none of them were the right size and shape. So I pulled out one of our small show tables, you know those folding 2' x 4' tables that most of us have on hand.

I got this idea last week when a customer ask if I could make a tablecloth to cover one of these tables, that she uses one as an outdoor buffet. She wanted the tablecloth to hang to the ground so you couldn't see the legs. The cost for a tablecloth of this size would be very high so I suggested that she do this instead...

Folding Table Bar Tutorial  

 Time: 5-10 minutes

Oilcloth: 4 yards 

Cost $32.00 

Supplies needed: 2'x 4' folding table, scissors, staple gun.

I grabbed up some not-so-gently used green gingham oilcloth that I had laying around in the storage room, it was perfect for my quick and dirty project. As you can I see, I didn't even use proper scissors! Did I mention that I made this 30 minutes before the guests arrived?

 I used 3 panels of oilcloth that measured 22" by 47". I started on the sides and stapled them so they just touched the floor. I made little pleats to make the corners nice and pretty.

 Two ends complete. I left the back open since no one would see it.

I took the last panel and stapled it across the front of the table.

What I like about this is that you can lift up the front panel and stash extra bottles under the table. It's great to have extra's close by but out of sight.

I used a Scalloped Splat Mat from the stock to use a table topper. I picked the yellow hibiscus to match the settee that's also on the porch.

It' worked out nicely!! I'll be able to take out the staples, roll up the fabric and have it for my next porch party or craft show! Easy-peasy!!

Happy Summer,
Kelly

Papel Picado's Tutorial for Cinco de Mayo

I have always been drawn to the Mexican Culture, maybe it was those trips to Tijuana as a 
child and teen. The market's were exciting and terrifying all at the same time. I will never 
forget the face of the little boy singing for money or the Mamma slinging her babies. What an impact those images have had on me. It's very cool that I started Modern June out by 
selling oilcloth totes in a local farmers market.

So, in celebration on Cinco de Mayo, I have a very simple project for you! We're going to make Papel Picado's out of oilcloth. This is a fun and easy project that you and the kids can do together. Even the self-proclaimed "I'm not crafty" peeps can get in on this action.

First a little history... 

Colors schemes selected for papel picado are frequently linked with specific festivities. Sky blue or pink and white are commonly chosen for celebrations in honor of the Virgin Mary, yellow and white for patron saints. Vibrant pink, orange and purple are the key tones employed for ofrendas (offerings) associated with the Day of the Dead. Shades of purple are also widely used at Easter. The colors of the Mexican flag--red, white and green--are set aside for venerating the nation's patroness, La Virgen de Guadalupe, as well as for commemorating Independence Day, September 16. Rainbow hues are appropriate for Christmas and non-religious festivities.

Let's get started...

What you need:

• lace oilcloth
• cutting board
• rotary cutting blade or pinking shears
• hole punch and/or leather punch 
• exacto knife 
• foil (used to sharpen the hole punch)
• Gnome (optional) 

1) Cut your flag to 12" by 17" with a scalloped rotary cutter blade or use pinking shears for a fun edge.

2) Start by working on one half of the flag and then use one of the following cutting methods to start your design. Find an interesting  place in the lace print to start cutting, I focused on the cutting out the white and leaving the red design.

use a blade 

use a hole punch

use a pair of snips

3) Once you have a good start on the first side you want to fold it in half so you can match up your cut outs. You want to end up with a mirror image.

4) Now start to cut out the other half. This is a bit tricky, the print is not always a exact mirror image so you'll want to cut from the printed side of the oilcloth so you get into the white spaces. It's a bit back and forth at this time, fold find the cut out and then flip it open to find the print and then cut. Repeat until you are happy with your papel picado.

How fun is this?  It's very easy,  I do hope you will try this out. If you do please send me a link to your project so I can share it in our Show and Tell segments.

Whatever the occasion, papel picado invariably transmits the mirthful message: ¡Viva la Fiesta! ¡Viva Mexico!

The Oilcloth Alfresco Series, Chalk Cloth Menu Board

Well this tutorial is long over due tutorial.   It is an easy-peasy one, one I have wanted to do for two months now.   I started out with an old framed print that I found at Goodwill, while the print wasn't my style the frame was a good color and it was a perfect shape and size for the space.   I had hoped that I could find something in my attic because free is so much better than cheap but no luck, it you ask around I am sure you can find something free.   

Stuff you gotta have:

• 1/2 yard of chalk cloth 
• old framed print
• pliers
• screwdriver
• scissors 
• tape measure
• duck tape
• spray adhesive 

1)  Give your frame a good whip down and remove any screws and brads.  

2)  Pieces and parts... discard the print and your left with the plexi-glass and cardboard

3)  Use cardboard insert as template, cut chalk cloth an inch and a half larger then insert.

4)  Spray Mount the chalk cloth onto cardboard.  

5)  Do some fancy cutting and then tape corners around to the back of the cardboard insert.  Don't worry about the corners looking to perfect, they will be well hidden.  

6)  Cure your chalk cloth before put everything back together.  For full instructions see the "cure me" post!  

7)  Now it is time to slid it all back together.  Chalk Cloth/Cardboard combo goes in first and then the plexi-glass.  Bend the brads back in place locking the menu board into the frame.  

All that is left it to plan your menu and invite some of your close friends over it is BBQ time!  

Kelly's Easy-Peasy Potatoes 

Cut up new potatoes into bite size pieces.  Place in a bowl, salt (Kosher) and pepper to taste and toss with butter and fresh rosemary.   Using heavy-duty recycled foil  make a little potato packet.  Wrap it up tight and throw it on the grill about 10 minutes before the meat and it should be done by the time you have the table set.   Careful opening the package up, don't let the steam get ya!  

This was the first dish that I mastered when I started grilling.   A friend used to make it the summer I worked at St. Louis Opera.  We had nightly cookouts on our high-rise rooftop, while looking out across downtown, we had the best view of the Arch!    It was very fun, every night was a party!  Any way this dish still remains one of my favorite "go to" side dishes.   

The Oilcloth Alfresco Series, NO-SEW Chalk Cloth Bunting!

Todays project is a NO-SEW Chalk Cloth Bunting!   Even those of us that have been sewing for (WAY to many) decades love a good no-sew project.  With just a few tools and a little chalk and oilcloth you can make a cool banner that you will use at all of your parties and celebrations for years to come!   I hope you enjoyed making it as much as I did!  

The number of banner pieces you will need depends on your desired greeting, think Birthdays, Graduations, and Barbecues!  

stuff you gotta have:  

• 1/2 yard of Chalk Cloth yields 15 banner pieces.  
  
• 3 Fat Quarters of Oilcloth, each F. Q. yields 6 pieces. 
  
• Rotary Cutter, ticked out with fancy blade!
  
• Cool Ruler
  
• Cutting Mat
  
• 2 spools of 1/4" ribbon 
  
• cloths pins (optional)
• chalk and a white colored pencil 

step one.  Cut chalk cloth 6" by 8" and oilcloth slightly larger at 6 1/4" by 8".   By doing so you get a peak of the back side of the oilcloth--it hints that there is something fun to be seen from the back too.  

step 2.  Once you have all your pieces cut out clip them together.

step 3.  Use white colored pencil to mark your cutting line.  Careful not to clip to close to the edge.  

step 4.  Fold both layers of fabric and clip.

step 5.  You're now ready to string the ribbon through the slits.  I like wrapping the end of the ribbon with a piece of tape to make this easier to work with, think flat shoe lace tips.   Alternate the look by sliding the ribbon in from the top and then on the next piece come up from the bottom.  

step 6.  Now you are ready to chalk it up!  

It should say Happy Summer!  

Everyone wants a pretty backside!