Curtain call for the walls

Hands-on time: 2 hours
Total time: Add time for drying and heat setting the fabric
Skill: Moderate
Cost estimate: Less than $30.00

Materials & tools

• Fabric of choice in a cotton or rayon blend with woven texture
• Scissors
• Large plastic sheet or plastic bags
• Painter's tape or masking tape, 7 centimetres wide
• Chalk
• Long ruler or tape measure
• Fabric paints by Pébéo (Setacolor transparent: cardinal red, sienna. Setacolor opaque: black lake, silver, shimmer pearl, shimmer wine, shimmer jet black, shimmer chocolate)
• Stir sticks
• Flat edge, 2.5-centimetre paintbrush
• Small paint tray and blotting paper
• A 5-centimetre faux-finish roller with a textured design
• A faux-finish comb
• An iron
• Black satin blanket binding, 7 centimetres wide and long enough to sew on top of wall hanging (with a sewing machine, or by hand)
• Bamboo stick and a braided cord with tassels to hang up the banner (optional)

This cosmopolitan-style fabric wall hanging with streamlined shapes and textured effects makes an ideal "uptown" accent. It adds character to a barren wall. Transparent, shimmery and opaque fabric paints are combined in formal browns, reds and blacks on a cream fabric panel. Textured accents are applied with basic faux-finishing tools.

Pre-wash the fabric without using bleach or softeners, dry and iron it. Measure and cut the fabric to the desired size. Tape a large plastic sheet or several plastic bags to the surface of your work area to protect it. Lay the fabric over the plastic surface and tape it along the borders for stability while you paint.

Measure three evenly spaced vertical rows on the fabric by marking it with chalk.

Stir the fabric paints well before using. With a small decorative paint roller, make three vertical stripes on the marked rows, using a different colour for each. Put some Setacolor transparent paint in a small tray, remove excess paint on blotter paper and then roll onto the fabric, making a long, straight line. Clean the roller between each colour application.

Repeat the steps to apply six horizontal stripes and one diagonal stripe over the vertical stripes. Let stand a few minutes.

Paint on several square and rectangular patterns using tape or templates to make the shapes. Fill in each area in assorted shimmer and opaque colours using a flat paintbrush, do not overload the brush. Use a faux-finishing comb to create texture over just applied paint where desired.

Remove the tape from around the completed banner and hang the fabric panel until it is completely dry. Set the fabric paints by ironing the panel for five minutes on the cotton or highest setting. Once the paint is set, the fabric panel is machine washable and dryer safe.

Instead of hemming the border, you can achieve a fringe look by pulling a few thread strands from along the bottom and sides.

Add a satin blanket binding trim at the top of the banner if desired. Leave both ends open to slip the bamboo stick through. Embellish with a braided cord with tasseled ends tied to each extremity of the bamboo stick, and hang on a wall.

Decorating with wall banners is a fresh change from conventional paintings or picture frames to personalize your home. You can also simply make a new wall banner to change your décor colour scheme for each season.

Variations

• Have your teens or tweens makeover and personalize their bedroom space. They can easily used Setacolor paints to add funky flowers or other shapes to their pillowcases, bed sheets, chair covers, pillows, and even the curtains. For fun decorative colours try Pébéo's fluorescent fabric paints.
• SetaSkrib fabric markers can be used to add fine details such as swirls, geometric outlines and dots to text, letters or numbers to embellish any fabric-painted item.

Tips

• Setacolor paints are suitable for various techniques such as assorted brush work, stencils, screen printing, even sponges or stamps can be used for creative results. They can be used pure or diluted with water to obtain unique watercolour effects.