Reupholster an old chair

I found this awesome chair by the dumpster and needed to rescue it! Here's how I did a bit of a fix up on it:

(supplies needed: old chair, fabric, staple gun, scissors, batting/stuffing optional)

1. Figure out how the seat bottom is attached (these kinds of chairs are usually screwed down), and remove it. 

2. Cut some fabric slightly bigger than the seat, enough to be able to fold it over the top surface. Put some stuffing in between the fabric and seat if you would like some padding.

3. For this part just fold the fabric over the edges and staple it down, making sure the fabric is tight. I didn't have a staple gun so I hammered pins around the edge and glued it a little bit at a time. I wouldn't recommend this but if you're like me and don't feel like investing in a staple gun for one project, this will do it, but take longer.

Also- remember to leave marks or cuts so you can find the screw holes again.

Here's what it will look like when the fabric is attached:

 6. Re-screw the seat back in and you're done! I touched up the wood with a bit of acrylic craft paint, and of course I got the awesome fabric from Scrap DC (they have a lot to choose from).

How To: Make a Frame Jewelry Holder

I've been seeing cool DIY jewleryholders on the internet and there are tons of things at Scrap to make one with! 

So here's a way to do it-

Supplies:
-scissors
-holey fabric (burlap) or wire mesh
-frames
-hot glue

1: Pick out an awesome frame. (I like the idea of having separate ones for earrings and necklaces but you can have them all on one big frame if you want.)

2: Cut the burlap to the edge of the frame.

3: If your frame is the wirehanger kind, just glue the burlap to the edge of the very back (leave the hanger wire exposed). But you'll need a main part to hang necklaces if this isn't just for earrings. I've seen all different solutions to this, such as lace ribbon, wire, or hooks. I'm gonna some wrap wire with yarn. Make a bend in the wire and hot glue it underneath the front edge of the frame like in the pics above.

4. If your frame doesn't have a wire just glue the burlap to the inside edge. That way you can hang it on a nail.

5. I found this (candle holder?) thingy that I'm gonna glue to the bottom and use as a tray. You never know what you'll find at Scrap so just get inspired by specific things you find!

And done! I use the jars for stud earrings because removing them would probably be a pain. Also clips make the necklaces easier to deal with. And you can put some cards and stuff on top if you have a thick frame! 

See the SCRAPpy Artists at Artomatic 2012

Artomatic is back in DC!

Have you been? This time around, over 1000 artists occupy 10 floors of a former office building in Crystal City, VA -- open and FREE Wednesdays through Sundays until June 23. Artists who replied to our e-mail seeking SCRAPpy works have our logo to display, and any one of them will gladly talk with you about why "reuse" beats "recycling." We're posting their booth numbers and web links so that you can take yourself on a "SCRAP tour" of Artomatic. We're likely missing some -- please make us aware if you catch more!

We're also offering a few workshops of our own, with guest instructors presenting a range of activities. See our events calendar for those details.

floor-booth name/Artomatic page - website

1-168 Theresa Wells Stifel - Stifel & Capra

1-198 Kathy Turner - Arlington Arts Directory

2-122 J.L. Hussey
3-106 Adam Chamy - Art Adam Chamy

3-148 Jessica Toga - JessicaToga Photography

3-235 Barbara Bitondo - Pythagoras' Daughter

3-317 Marcia Fry

4-110 Laurie Brown - Antelope Glass

4-126 Linda Elliff - Linda Let Designs
4-191 Chuck Baxter - at Mid City Artists

4-376 Q - at Family Art Cafe

7-267 Tommy Urbans - Tommy Urbans
7-281 Judith K Claire

8-136 Nire Nah - The Ice Cream Truck

8-217 Katy Kincade - etsy shop

9-108 Forrest McCluer - 30 computers

9-0147 Lunsford Graphics - etsy shop

9-187 Dorothy Hickson - Extinct Flightless Arts Collective on Flickr

9-0191 Michele Late

9-236 Lisa Schumaier - Keen Things
10-1154 T'kes Guerilla Art Foundation

11-0262 Mishka Jaeger - Mishka Jaeger
11-295 Thalia Doukas - Thalia Doukas on Zenfolio

11-366 Caitlin Phillips - Rebound Designs
11-391 Brendan L. Smith - DC Mixed Media

11-1170 Alayna Rasile - Alayna Rasile 
11-500 Alex Bako

We'll try to have more about these artists shortly, maybe even some interviews. In the meantime, go check them out, and please tell them SCRAP-DC sent you!