kittynpink19
a fabric stretcher is simply a wooden frame. you have to staple the fabric to the back of the frame (start in the center) then stretch carefully (you do not want a crooked image) down and staple it in place. alternate vertical and horizontal...like make a "+" first to make sure the image doesnt shift. ;)

kittynpink19
KenoCasino, you dont need to buy a fabric stretcher! lol...you can go to an arts and crafts store and BUY stretched canvas! silly...you would need to KNOW how to stretch your own canvas and buy gesso and yea...a hell of a lot cheaper if you just buy them already stretched. ;) i'm an art teacher, and i don't like to stretch my own canvas...too much work for something so simple.

zappatoamore
i'm a photogrpaher and though i never visited the idea of displaying my own artwork in my home, I was surprised how soothing, and of course how inexpensive it was!

KenoCasino
Where can you find a fabric stretcher, or how can you make one? ~Thanks

talking horse
if you have oodles of small, low-cost souvenirs or sentimental bits (refrigerator magnets, small knick-knacks, baubles, or trinkets, consider gluing each to a small magnet. then use the magnetic paint---topped with a colored paint of your choice---to paint a small piece of furniture that has simple lines (a wooden stool, a wooden chest, a small table. now you can attach the bits and baubles and trinkets and mementos to the furniture piece and have an Op Art 'memory piece.'

talking horse
if you care to do so, cut out a myriad of shapes, colors, pictures, and patterns from wrapping paper, scrapbook paper, or magazines; decoupage them so to cover a door in the room or to cover the space inside an empty frame hung strategically on the wall. go a step further and maked the door/framed area into a giant scrapbook page, using a decoupage medium to adhere the papers to the surface. a nice idea for the door to a child's room or a storage closet.

talking horse
we hung just such a "statement piece" flush against the ceiling in a corner area of a large room. it created a visual 'nook,' adding coziness and atmosphere to the area. we threw in a few well-placed plants, an occasional table, and two simple rocking chairs and voila!!! a breakfast or reading area! the same could be accomplished for a designated children's play area, an office area---let your imagination or needs dictate, and choose the fabric pattern to set the tone.

talking horse
we hung just such a "statement piece" flush against the ceiling in a corner area of a large room. it created a visual 'nook,' adding coziness and atmosphere to the area. we threw in a few well-placed plants, an occasional table, and two simple rocking chairs and voila!!! a breakfast or reading area! the same could be accomplished for a designated children's play area, an office area---let your imagination or needs dictate, and choose the fabric pattern to set the tone.

talking horse
if the chalkboard-black wall is a little dark for your taste, brighten it or jazz it up with molding. consider framing the entire wall with molding finished to your liking (varnished, stained, painted, as is, etc.). variation: nail the molding to the wall in an evenly- or variedly-spaced slanted position, a horizontal position, or a vertical position. further variation: find inexpensive (or free!) frames at yard sales, give-aways, or thrift/bargain stores, again finishing them according to your liking. hang the open frames (no glass) in random or patterned positions on the wall, creating special places in which to chalk your notes or chalk doodling.

talking horse
similar idea: purchase a length of crown molding from your local home-improvement store, being sure it will project at least 2" from the wall. finish it according your your taste (varnish, stain, paint, as is) and nail it to your wall at a height that serves your purposes. now you can display the framed wallpaper/fabric/scrapbook paper by sitting them in a pleasing arrangement on the crown molding. mix it up now and again if you like, giving the room a bit of a change = )

MrsAHoffman
Here's a link to a great tutorial:http://howaboutorange.blogspot.com/2007/1
0/how-to-make-fabric-panel-wall-art.html