DIY vinyl shade decals | How About Orange

September 22, 2008

DIY vinyl shade decals

Here's an inexpensive, quick project for decorating plain window shades: contact paper decals. This vinyl shade was from Home Depot (they'll cut it to size for you if you bring along the dimensions of your window), and if I remember correctly, it was insanely cheap. Something like $5. To spiff it up, add cut contact paper shapes. I made some speedy faux bois circles here, but you could do anything. Some type? A shape from here?

To make this, get some contact paper, available at Home Depot, Target, Amazon, hardware stores, etc. If you want something special and you've got a bigger budget, this place is a contact paper wonderland. Then either draw your design freehand on the back, trace it on with graphite paper, or use my lazy method below. Note that when you trace your design on the back, it will be reversed when you flip your contact paper over. So if this matters, you'd better flip your design first or trace it on the front of the contact paper.

I made some circles in Illustrator, printed it out tiled, and taped the sheets together. Then I taped the design to the back of the contact paper and cut out the shapes. I just eye-balled where to stick them on the shade. If you accidentally stick something where you don't want it, you can reposition it if you slowly peel it up, but you have to be very careful. And after your shade bakes in the sun for awhile, I doubt you'll be able to remove the decals, so plan wisely! If you want the circle design I made, download the PDF here. It's tiled onto separate pages with a 1/2" overlap.

28 comments:

Dottie said...

cute idea!

Ginger said...

what a great idea love your ideas here thought saying something cause i come here a lot.I love your blog.
hugs ginger

rocio said...

Absolutely genius! I love it, a cheap way of creating vinyl decals without needing a plotter! I will definitely use this idea when I move this weekend!

Anonymous said...

cute cute cute! seems so obvious when you post it, but i would've never have thunk it!

TranquilityKnots said...

Smart! You are so creative! Your brain must work overtimes! You should award your brain some food it craves, maybe some chocolate or icecream?
Thanks a lot!

Jessica Jones said...

Ah, two things I dearly love. I'm drinking a latte right at this moment, so my brain is happy.

Hello, other commenters. Hugs to you too, Ginger.

Nevis said...

Great idea!

Lotussooz said...

hey jessica- love the tut. and I love the little icon you have for your address now int he address bar... very cute. you should post a tut on how to do those.

Jessica Jones said...

Okay. :)

Anonymous said...

I love your blog. I read it all the time, but I forget to comment :)

Carissa(GoodnCrazy) said...

Geez, Love the easy dots idea? what? No orange?

Julie_c said...

very groovy!

PUMPKIN PETUNIA said...

Cute!

Andrea Q said...

Fun idea!

Anonymous said...

Very cool!

Pam Hawk said...

Oh darn that's a cute idea.

We move into our new condo this weekend and I want to spiff it up and decorate asap. For cheap.

This will be the ticket!
Thanks!

Julie said...

Cute idea and super easy!

Anonymous said...

what fun! this would be a great project to tackle for my dorm room!

Suz. said...

Very clever. There is not much that would make me wish I had vinyl window shades! But the decals are charming and hip. :)

Anonymous said...

cute idea!
i think i have the same vase as you but slightly different!
view here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mnique/467862355/in/set-72157600060903093/

Jessica Jones said...

Yup, they're cousins.

Danielle said...

I just wanted to let you know I posted a link to this in my blog today. Here is the link for your review: http://juanshappywife.blogspot.com/2008/09/this-week-thursday.html

Anonymous said...

I once revamped a shade using black and white cotton fabric and interfacing. First I ironed on interfacing to the fabric. Then I ironed the fabric onto the shade and trimmed the edges. It worked out pretty well because I always kept the shade in one position...pulled down. I'm not sure how happy I would have been with the results if I changed the position of the shade on a regular basis.

Shell in your Pocket said...

So cute! It gave that curtain some "personality"...love it!
-Sandy Toes

High on Hairspray said...

Thanks for all the great ideas. I have an award for you. Visit my blog.

MoModerne said...

Oh my gosh! I've been looking and looking for some window treatment ideas. Thanks so much!

Anonymous said...

Pretty interesting site you've got here. Thanks the author for it. I like such themes and anything that is connected to this matter. I definitely want to read a bit more soon.

Hilary Benedict

movers London said...

I love them! I've been looking for something similar for so long...