Designing a Cloud Valance

Coordinate cloud and sky wallpaper with a cloud window valance.

Coordinate cloud and sky wallpaper with a cloud window valance for an added touch to a flying theme.

All About

Product Ideas

Materials:

1" x 6" lumber
miter saw
drill
nails
jigsaw
pressed paperboard
quilt batting
staple gun
screws
4 white terry cloth towels
2 L-brackets

Steps:

1. Start by making a wooden box-like frame to mount the clouds. Use a miter saw to cut two pieces of lumber to the necessary length (the featured project is 45 inches and extends beyond the drapery rod). Cut two smaller rectangles to fill in the ends. Drill a few tiny pilot holes and nail the pieces together (it won't have a back or bottom). Paint the entire piece white and let dry.
2. Use a jigsaw to cut two cloud shapes out of pressed paperboard (make one smaller than the other).
3. Wrap each cloud with quilt batting and staple it to the back. Place the smaller cloud in position, and then set it aside. Cut away some of the batting from the larger cloud where the two pieces overlap, leaving a clear space to screw the two clouds together and staple around the opening in the batting to keep it in place.

Figure A

4. Cover the clouds with terry cloth towels and staple them to the back. Remove terry cloth as above where the clouds overlap (figure A).

Figure B

5. Screw the pieces together from the back in the area where the batting was removed (screws get caught up in the batting). Screw the clouds to the front of the box after inserting a spacer of pressed paperboard behind the smaller cloud for support (figure B).
6. To turn two more towels into curtains, fold over the top edge and pin it in place. Sew two lines of straight stitches across the top to create a rod pocket.
7. Attach L-brackets to the box and secure them to the wall after hanging the drapes.