Garden Umbrellas - Create your Own Design!
I have been eying these lovely hand painted umbrellas by for years now. But handpainted means pricey and are a bit out of my price range. I have been thinking about sprucing up my faded umbrella, so I have done some internet surfing to check out the options. It's now or never!
So here is what I found on the DIY Network
To paint an outdoor umbrella you will need the following materials:
1 large patio umbrella
umbrella stand
paint and brushes
textile medium (for painting on cloth)
mixing container
stencils or stamps (optional)
water repellent spray
1. Check your umbrella fabric before buying your paint; if you're unsure which paint to use for your fabric, ask the staff at your local craft store. Michele Beschen used regular house paints and acrylics for her vinyl and nylon umbrellas.
2.Make sure your umbrella is clean before you start painting. I use a high power spray gun, that my hubby uses to wash the car with. It get's rid of just about anything you aim it at.
3. If you're painting on canvas or other cloth material and are concerned about your paint's flexibility, add textile medium to your paints according to the manufacturer's instructions.
4. Take apart your umbrella so you're only dealing with the top half. Put the pole in an umbrella stand, and your umbrella should be at a good height to work on.
5. Be original with your paint designs. You can paint the whole umbrella or just do accent designs, paint freehand or use stamps and stencils.
6. Spray the surface with a water repellent after the paint dries. The colors may fade, but they'll still look good. Pictures to follow once project completed!
This will have to be a Spring project! In the meantime here are some other umbrella designs I thought look great.
