I've been eyeing those fancy schmancy monogrammed coco door mats you see in all the expensive catalogs. Like Ballard Designs, Frontgate, Brookstone and Williams-Sonoma, just to name a few. And of course the prices are out of this world. So I said, "I can make this!" and off I went on an Internet search for other DIY-ers who had made their own door mats.
I came across a few tutorials, all pretty similar in their instructions and tips. My favorite was by Michelle over at Sweet Something Design. It's pretty easy peasy and I'm SO glad I did it!
Warning: my photos did not come out as I had hoped, what with the light situation in my house at the time.
I started out with this.
Then I took a standard dinner plate to use as a template.
I just took a Sharpie and traced the plate onto the mat.
Then I found a somewhat smaller salad plate and used that as a template for the inner circle. Just be careful so that you don't leave any permament marks on the edges of your plates. Not like I did that or anything, I'm just sayin'.
I made my own monogram, in this case an "A," with my Microsoft Office Word program. I just picked a font and then increased it's size until it seemed about right. Then I printed it out.
Then I cut the letter out and placed it in the circle, making sure it fit properly before I started tracing it. After that you just trace it and paint inside the lines with black acrylic paint and a brush.
And voila.
I was one happy camper.
(I really need a wide angle lens, huh?)
Mine, $6.99 plus about $0.49 cents for paint. Theirs, anywhere from upwards of $64.95. Not bad for a day's work I'm thinking.
Unless it's possible to seal it in some way (and I'm just not sure about that), I would only use it on a covered porch or as an inside door mat. You could also go hog wild and paint even more on it if you're so inclined. I thought about painting a fleur-de-lis on either side of the monogram but stopped myself before going through with it. I liked what I had done and really didn't want to push my luck, if you know what I mean.
Well, I hope you're all having a great week!
Leave me a comment and let me know what you think about the mat!
Leave me a comment and let me know what you think about the mat!
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Great job on the mat - very nice. And you - you saved a lot of money doing it yourself. I just voted - hope it went thru. I had problems yesterday and sent her an email so she could add my vote.
Love the mat, you did an excellent job with that! Will have to try it myself. Have been voting for you daily.
Have fun,
Cheryl
What a difference a little paint can make. Richard from My Old Historic House.
Love the way the mat turned out. My post is about the trouble I've been having with mats:-) I may just use your approach on my new one. Very elegant.
Kathleen you are so darn crafty!! I love the way your mat turned out! And you can't beat the price! Great job!...And I do know exactly what you mean by pushing your luck *winks* Vanna
I said email - meant comment. It must have gone thru as it would not let me try again. :D
You are so smart, Kathleen. There are so many possibilities doing it this way customizing the font.
Wow! This turned out fantastic! Thanks for showing it off. :)
Beautiful and looks every bit as posh as those in the catalogs. Great job and thanks for sharing at this week's BFF Open House!
hi. i'm going to have to do this at my home. what a great idea. thank you for sharing. wow!!! i'm excited. i'm a new linky follower. would love it if you would follow me as well. so happy to have this blog hop. meeting lots of great people. have a great evening. (:
elizardbreathspeaks@gmail.com
http://elizardbreathspeaks.blogspot.com/
What a thrifty creation! Those are sooo expensive to order. Now I know I can make one! Thanks so much for the inspiration and the link. Can't wait to see what you share next week!
Hugs,
Patti
Great job! And if you do mark your plates with your sharpies, a little rubbing alcohol should take it right off. Or a bit of scrubbing with a scrub sponge. Unless you used a stoneware plate that was unsealed. Then you have a problem. Thank you for the tutorial! I've had the same mat for 2years now and I think we need a change.
Trudy
http://thriftscore42.blogspot.com/
Just wanted to let you know I featured this as part of my BFF Open House wrap up! Please feel free to grab a featured button from my sidebar if you like!
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