Decorate an Umbrella with Fabric Paint!

They say that April showers bring May flowers. And in some parts of the country this year there've even been April flurries to herald in the blooms! While Mother Nature keeps us on our toes, here's a colorful springtime project that really brings the flowers when it rains. It's just one of a slew of ways to decorate an umbrella with paint (because let's face it, sometimes a purple umbrella isn't quite bright enough). It's part pop art (a gumball machine!), part impressionism (Monet's gardens at Giverny) -- and a whole lot of color to brighten any dreary day! We often think of fabric paints in the context of T-shirts and other wearables, but it's fun to experiment with paint on other fabric-based surfaces: embellished pillows, couches, canvas director chairs, curtains, and...umbrellas!

What you need:
-a plain umbrella
-Tulip Soft Fabric Paint in a variety of colors 

(I used Azalea, Lime, Mandarin Orange, Linen, Crimson Red Matte, and Holiday Green Matte)
-Tulip Sponge Pouncers (foam paintbrushes)
-paper plate (to use as a paint palette)

Check out the how-to video I did for About.com, or scroll down to follow the step-by-step photos.

Open the umbrella (I know it's considered bad luck, but you'll have to get over it -- or take the project outside if the weather's nice!). Squeeze one paint color onto your palette and use the pouncer to start making dots around the perimeter of the umbrella. Make them close together at the bottom of the umbrella and space them farther apart toward the top.

Wash and dry the pouncer before changing colors, or start with a fresh brush. Squeeze out a new dollop of paint and press dots around the base of the umbrella, interspersed with the first color. Reinforce the fabric surface on the inside of the umbrella with your other hand (just slide it under, palm up).

Continue to add colors the same way, and your "garden" will grow more and more lush. It's repetitive, but incredibly meditative, too!

When you've added all of your colors, let the umbrella fabric dry completely. Now that you've completed this "rainy day activity," you can take part in a new one: go outside with your umbrella and jump in the puddles!

It's a nice vibrant splash of color while we wait for the flowers to poke through.

31 Days of DIY Halloween - Creepy Cobweb Umbrella

When I designed this spooky umbrella with Tulip® Soft Fabric Paint™, I thought it would be fun for mommy or daddy to hold when walking the kids around the block. The kids will know exactly where you are! Oh, and wouldn't it be fun to hang several from the ceiling to decorate your Halloween party?

Materials List:
– Tulip® Glam-It Up!™ PDA: Personal Dazzle Assistance™
26641 Clear

– Tulip® Soft Fabric Paint™
BI15790 Crimson Red
BI15793 Grape
BI15797 Lime

– Paintbrushes – Liner, Round
– Umbrella – black
– White chalk pencil
– Small round sponge
– Water dish
– Foil
–Pattern (click here for pattern)

Instructions:
1. Set umbrella in “open” position. Referring to photo as a guide, use chalk pencil to lightly sketch cobweb lines all around umbrella.

2. Print out spider pattern and flip over to backside. Trace design with chalk pencil then flip back over and place chalk side down onto umbrella. Run hands over paper to transfer spider design in chalk onto umbrella.

3. Squeeze puddles of each color of Soft Fabric Paint onto a piece of foil. Using Liner brush, paint Lime over cobweb design. Note: two coats may be needed for optimum brightness. Let dry between coats.

4. Using the Round brush, apply two coats of Grape to spider. Let dry between coats.

5. Sketch hourglass shape onto spider with chalk pencil, then apply two coats of Crimson Red to hourglass and “button” at top of umbrella, letting dry between coats.

6. Allow all paint to thoroughly dry, then wipe away any remaining chalk with damp sponge.

7. Peel crystals from backing and stick onto eyes of spider and all cross-sections of cobweb.

Craft on! Click here for today's daily giveaway!

Polka Dotted Paper Parasol

Some people are summer sun worshipers, other ghostly white people like myself tend to hide in the shade. There is no reason that your shade should be boring and lame. Customize a plain paper parasol to make all those savage tan people green with envy.


Supplies
Paper Parasol
Decorative Paper
Paper Punches
Collage Pauge Instant Decoupage Medium


Punch Paper
Some of my favorite decorative paper of all time is the wonderful collage work of Traci Bautista. I've used it to make art and jewelry so why not an umbrella. Using various size paper punches make a pile o' polka dots. You can get old school and trace coins and cups and cut them out with scissors too.


Collage
Once you have as many circles as you are going to need apply the dots to your paper parasol using Collage Pauge Instant Decoupage Medium. Allow to dry completely.


Made in the Shade
All that is left to do is take your umbrella out for a spin on a sunny day. Think of using fabric on a regular umbrella with a little Fabric Fusion Glue. I'm dreaming about how to make paper ball fringe to add to the edge of my parasol, any suggestions?