I was going to title this post –
How to Make Something Decorative Out of Nothing
but it was too long. Long or not, it was exactly what I did to make a decorative doorstop for the bathroom. I liked it so much, I made another for my guest room. I didn’t have to buy one thing to make either of these. I kind of challenged myself to see if I could use up some scraps and leftovers instead of buying new supplies. With thoughts of moving in the back of my mind, I am also looking at cleaning out everything. I am trying to get a jump start so if we do move, I won’t be so overwhelmed with things I will need to do.
I love the windows in my house to be open as much as possible, but the doors don’t like it – they slam shut if there is nothing to stop them when a breeze blows in. Problem solved with the added detail of a decorative doorstop.
I got the idea to make doorstops out of bricks from something my mother- in-law had in her home. She was into needle arts and had these needlepoint brick doorstops in every room. This one has a floral motif, but there was one with a butterfly and another with her initials.
A decorative doorstop is not only functional but a way to spread a pop of coordinating color to an unexpected place. Here are the two I made using the above one as a guide. I wove fabric scraps on the green and cream one and scraps of white and black ribbons from my stash.
It pays not to throw scraps out! I save them all so I can do projects like this. I didn’t even have to buy the bricks – just went to my patio and removed two that used to be exposed, but are now covered with ivy and no longer needed. I was determined not to have to run to Lowes or the craft store for anything – and I succeeded.
There is no right or wrong way to make these doorstops. I made each one a bit differently and will show you both ways to give you an overview of the options. You may even have a better way. I chose to weave the scraps I had on hand to wrap around the brick, but you could just wrap a brick gift wrap style with fabric, add some embellishments if you like and call it a day.
supplies needed:
- Brick
- Pattern – make sure to print it out at 100% – Pdf download here
- Scrap fabric – 1/4 yard or less or scrap ribbon pieces that are about
- 15” long for horizontal weave and 11” for vertical weaving.
- Liner fabric in a coordinating color cut to the same size as template
- Felt – cut to 3 1/2” x 8”
- Scissors
- Hot Glue and glue gun or Spray Adhesive
- Tacky Glue
- Heat N’ Bond Iron-On Adhesive
- Iron
- Corrugated Cardboard or a large pad of paper to pin on
- Optional: Water based Polyurethane and a paint brush
How to Weave Ribbon to Cover a Brick Doorstop
Here is my stash that I have collected – there are all different types and widths.
1. After printing out the pattern and making sure it is to size – lay it down on work surface. I have a piece of Homosote on my table that I am able to pin the ribbons down on. You could use a piece of corrugated cardboard or a large artist pad of paper as your surface to pin to. Lay the ribbons down in a way you like. Keep the ribbons in the lines of the pattern. If they don’t quite fit, don’t extend past the lines, overlap them in the center. This way when you get to the wrapping part you won’t have to cut the outer ribbons – it will keep things neater.
2. Pin all the vertical ribbons – top and bottom to the board. Start weaving the horizontal ribbons and then pin them in place. Continue weaving until the pattern is covered.
3. If you have any ribbons that are only one sided – like the cow fur you see here. Flip them over so the wrong side is up on each one.
4. Once you have woven all the ribbons make sure the ribbons are fitted nicely together and straight. Remove the pins.
5. Cut a piece of Heat N’ Bond Iron On Adhesive to cover the ribbons. Use an iron to press it on.
6. Let it cool and then remove the paper backing exposing the adhesive.
7. Lay fabric liner on top and press to adhere the ribbons to the fabric.
8. Flip over to the right side. See the cow fur is now showing because I wove it in upside down.
9. Center brick on pattern. Cut the ribbons/fabric following the lines on the pattern. You will have 1/2” all around to fold under to create finished edges. Cut diagonally at each corner.
10. Wrap the fabric around the brick and glue. Here I used hot glue, but it didn’t stick that well. Eventually it did, but I had to hold the fabric to the brick until the glue was cool. You can use some spray adhesive if needed.
11. Cut the ends as shown. Glue and wrap them around the edges of the brick.
12. Fold over the excess fabric in line to the size of the brick . Make a crease along the fold with your fingers and then glue to cover exposed side of brick. Repeat on other side.
13. Use Tacky Glue to attach a piece of felt to the bottom.
Now I have a perfectly coordinated doorstop for my guest room.
How To Weave Fabric to Cover a Brick Doorstop
I made a bunch of fabric strips for the waste can I transformed in my last post. I made extra and used some spray starch to stiffen them a bit to use for a doorstop. I hardly ever iron and the fact that I had spray starch in the house is SHOCKING! It is probably from the 1990’s.
1. I cut the fabric strips about 2- 1/2” wide. Lay them face down on your ironing board and then press the edges into the center. Make sure you create nice creases.
2. I didn’t have any more Heat N’Bond to attach the fabric and strips. Remember I was not going on a supply run – only to my supply cabinet. All I had was spray adhesive – so that is what I used to put this doorstop together. I used hot glue to attach the liner fabric to the brick. I glued fabric to fabric as well as to the brick itself.
3. Weave the strips on top of the pattern as shown (following the black and white ribbon directions above).
4. Since there is no Heat N’Bond adhered to keep the woven fabric together, I used a piece of cardboard to help me flip the woven strips over.
5. The back side of the strips is now facing up. I sprayed spray glue all over this side and let it get tacky. I also sprayed the brick.
To get the best adhesion with spray glue always spray both surfaces and let them get tacky – then attach them.
6. Place brick on the center.
7. Wrap around the long side of the brick first making sure to pull tight. Smooth with your hands. The sides will be a bit jumbled up, wrap the strips closest to the brick around the sides. Spread the others out with your fingers as shown. Your hands will be a little tacky from touching the fabric with the spray glue on it.
8. Fold the side edges over as shown
So they look like this- as wide as the brick.
9. Do the same to what will become the bottom edge. Fold the ends over – they should still be tacky. If not you can add another little shot of spray glue or some tacky glue so the fabric stays folded and adheres.
Spray a little more glue on this piece and then attach to the side of the brick. Repeat on other side. Add a piece of felt to the bottom.
Optional: I had a little bit of the poly left from my staircase project. Since this doorstop is in the bathroom, I wanted to make it waterproof and wipe-able if it gets dirty.
I put the brick on a foam plate and just poured the poly on top of the brick. I used a paint brush to spread it out evenly and on all sides.
It was dry in about an hour. I added a few more coats until the fabric was truly covered. Now it is cleanable with water. It’s now serving its purpose in my newly re-done bathroom.
Have you made anything with scraps and leftovers lately?
Fiona says
Hi Diane,
Great blog and interesting doorstop making technique!
Thanks for sharing
Norma says
I remember the needlepoint brick doorstops in my grandmother’s house….and frankly forgot all about them. My current doorstop is a sock that lost its mate, filled with a plastic bag of dried beans! :) It makes a lot of noise when I try to move it, and it looks like someone just left their sock on the floor and didn’t pick it up! I have a lot of scraps from quilting and other projects. This will look so much better than the old sock. Thank you for reminding me of what is old becomes new again. Time to get started!
Diane Henkler says
Hi Norma – My husband’s mom used to have a yarn shop and had the needlepoint brick doorstops at every door in her home. We inherited a few of them. I updated them to fit my style. I am sure your door and decor will thank you for making it look pretty and retiring the sock. :-)
Melissa says
I’m building a house and took a few bricks from the site to make door-stops like my grandmother made. These r awesome, and I’m going to do it just like u did. Thank u!
Diane Henkler says
Hi Melissa – that will make the doorstops even more special – that they are the same bricks used to build the house. My daughters like the ones I made. I have a feeling I will be making a few more to give them to use in their apartments.
Emily says
I came across your website yesterday and boy am I blessed!!:) All of your ideas are an inspiration… But yet so easy on a budget!!!:D thank you so much for your website!!! What a blessing and encouragement for me to keep on believing that someday we will get our own home too! And I can use these great ideas!!!
Blessings:)
Em
Rosemary says
Great tutorial. Thanks for sharing.
Jenny - French A La Beach says
This is such a good blog.- so much helpful information. Keep bringing the ideas & thanks again!
Diane says
Hi Jenny-
Thank you so much for your nice comment. I always wanted to be a magazine editor, but that never happened. Having a blog to me is the next best thing as I can be the editor in chief and do it my way.
abeachcottage says
That is so creative! such lovely colours and patterns, great idea! Thanks for sharing at Beach Cottage Good Life Wednesdays.
Diane says
Thanks Sarah
Ruth Easterling says
Thanks so much for making these well written instructions. I’ve had a needlepoint brink cover that my Mother made years ago and she died in 1978 so I thought I’d try and tackle it. So thanks so much for doing this. I hope it turns out as well. Ruth
Madigan at madiganmade says
Don’t know what I love more about this idea… the weaving tutorial… or the fact that you made a brick look so stinking cute!
Great job, Diane. I’m loving the black & white one!
Marion Creutzberg says
This is beautiful! Thanks to show how it’s done! Marion
[email protected] says
My mouth dropped when I read this post, you are so amazing in your creativity and your tutorials! I couldn’t believe how simple yet so genius this was! The possibilities are endless as to the design you could do for something like this! You should be working for Martha Stewart, or a contributor to DIY magazines, you could teach them a thing or two!
Ayana says
Just brilliant! Never thought of using the brick in this way. Thank you so much for the share :)
suzanne says
I used to live in a house that needed door stops for almost every door. I thought that the reason that all the doors closed by themselves, was that if was a 100 years old.
However, one day as I was reading an HGTV forum a man mentioned that the easiest way to fix the doors was to pop out one of your hinge pins, take it out side, give it a few hits with a hammer, return it to the door and wa- la door now stays open without the doorstoppers.
I jumped up from my computer and immediately tried it. It works great- the idea is to rough up the hinge pin enough to create some friction. Only problem is what to do with all of your pretty doorstoppers?
I really like your doorstoppers – just thought that I would share what worked for me.
Betty Baker says
What a magnificent idea – now if someone would send me a brick I will get started-just kidding I think I can find one – thanks for the tutorial
[email protected] says
Wonderful idea! The doorstop I find are either ugly or beautiful but way too light… And I have bricks at hand that I found in the back yard! Great.
Missy G. says
I love it!! And now I’m thinking that maybe I could recreate this on a pillow… hmm..
Diane says
Hi Missy-
Thanks. Weaving fabric or ribbons in this way using the Heat N’ Bond does work perfectly on pillows. I am thinking it could even be matted and framed to create an interesting piece of scrap art for a wall.
mary beth says
Just brilliant! I love finding ways to use up scraps of anything! I am a hoarder when it comes to scraps from other projects- these are just too cute! thanks for sharing and for such detailed instructions!
Diane says
Thanks Mary Beth-
I couldn’t decide which tute to post – so I figured why not show both as everybody can figure out what way works best for them. I have quite a stash of scraps, but when I really need some scraps- I head to my friend Karen’s house. She keeps everything and has it all perfectly organized by color too. I just keep mine in a pile on a shelf in my basement.
Surabhi says
Very unique DIY! Great job!
Mary at Sweetwater Style says
I was just getting ready to write a post about this….I have been doing this for a long time! They work so well. Yours are WAY cuter than mine….now maybe I need to spiff some of mine up!
Thanks for sharing!
Diane says
Hi Mary-
Thanks. I have to thank my MIL for giving me the idea. It has been around for a long time.
[email protected]{Shaped by Grace} says
Genius! I’m a teacher & now totally want to make one of these for my classroom door!! :)
Diane says
Hi Reannah-
What a great idea. I remember those school classroom doors being big and heavy – plus dangerous if a student was standing near one when a breeze abruptly slammed it shut.
The Miller's says
AMAZING! Serioulsly I would never have thought to do something like this.
thanks for sharing!!
the miller’s
prezidential life
p.s…. new follwer…. this is too awesome and I need to see the other amazing things you do :)
Diane says
Thanks so much. This is truly an old crafty idea. I guess the saying is true that – Everything goes around, comes around. I would add – just tweaked a bit. :)
Lisa @http://www.lminteriorsllc.blogspot.com says
Amazing pieces..so creative!
Diane says
Thanks Lisa
I love making something ordinary – pretty and useful. Doing it without having to spend $$, makes it even more enjoyable.
Rachel Tatem says
too cute!
Diane says
Thanks Rachel
Carol-Anne (Use The Good Dishes!) says
These are too nice to be used as door stops! I think they could be centrepieces!!
Diane says
Carol Anne – you are so cute. Love the way you think – out of the box and seeing new potential in everything around you.
The enchanted home says
Wow you are good! A great business idea is born….you should consider it. You have this down pat and they are just gorgeous!!
Diane says
Thanks! Not sure I am quite ready for a production line, but in this case a good idea taken from the past is still a good idea today.