A couple of Saturdays ago, I got together with Melony, from CleverlyCreativeGirl, Kennita, from RandomActsofKindness, and Stacy from Sleepyhead Designs to make burlap footballs and canvas paws for our front doors! Lots of teams represented, so it was fun to have so many different end results!
What you will need:
Burlap or canvas material
Poster board for template
Scissors
Chalk
Paint
Tulip brand puff paint for outlining designs
Paintbrushes
Stapler
Recycled plastic sacks
Ribbon
Florist’s wire (if not using ribbon for hanger)
For the burlap footballs, we started with a template using poster board, tracing the design onto the burlap using chalk. Chalk mistakes easily brush off :).
For the canvas paws, Kennita created a template using butcher paper and traced it directly onto the canvas.
Then, we cut out our designs and again, used chalk to create our team logos, letters, and football laces.
Using coordinating acrylic paint, we painted the footballs and paws. **Note…for painting burlap, use thick butcher paper or cardboard underneath. Newspaper is too thin.
I chose to create ribbon hangers, but you could also use simple florist wire. To attach the ribbon, staple the ribbon to the back layer, so once assembled, the ribbon will be hidden. (Shown in above photo before the top layer of the football is attached).
To secure the back and front of the footballs, simply staple the edges all the way around the football, leaving an opening (shown below) for stuffing with plastic grocery sacks. If using canvas as shown in Georgia paw below, you can hot glue the edges to secure.
Fill the football (or paw) with recycled plastic sacks to the desired puffiness, and staple (or glue canvas) to enclose.
You can embellish the “hanger” in countless ways! Have fun here! I chose 6 or 7 ribbons of varying sizes and designs to match the team colors. Using a little more than a foot of each ribbon, I tied a simple knot at the top of the ribbon hanger.
Kennita chose used a dowel rod to display her Georgia Dawg paw! Hot glue the dowel rod to the front piece of canvas on the inside to secure.
Melony’s completed footballs shown above and below…one for her kids’ school and one for the Hogs!
If you are a house divided, make one for each team!
**For reference, the Ole Miss, Auburn, and Woo Pig Sooie footballs are 18 inches. Melony’s LRCA and HOGS are 20 inches.
Have fun making one of your own!
Linking to:
4 Blessings says
I LOVE these! Thank you for sharing. I cannot wait to make one for our house. GO HOGS!
Blessings,
Amy
Kristin says
Those are super cute!
HappyascanB says
PA-recious! I absolutely love these! Especially love the Go Dawgs paw! 🙂
Laura says
Those are pretty darn cute! Thinkin’ bout a tiger paw… wheels are turning…I could so do that!
Nancy says
Love your blog. So glad you stopped by mine. I’m gonna follow yours if that’s ok!!
You are so creative!
Lindsay says
I am sooo making one of these Hogs footballs! I even happen to have leftover brown burlap from my daughter’s birthday party table from last weekend!
One question–do the staples really hold it well?? I’m all about no-sew (since I don’t!) but I just wondered…Thanks for sharing this super cute idea!
Heather says
The “Hogs” material is it Burlap? Did you free hand the words onto your football?
Anonymous says
Are they weather resistant? Do they hold up the yard unprotected or need to be under a cover/porch? Did you treat it with anything to make them weather /fade resistant?
Amanda says
To Anonymous…no, unfortunately, they are not weather-resistant. My front doors are under an awning/entryway and I also display them inside. Perhaps there is a protectant spray if your front door does get wet?
farmhouse mama says
Thanks for sharing this. So cute. Will have to make one for my door. I live in the upper midwest though… Go Huskers!!!
Sara @ Mom Endeavors says
These are absolutely adorable! Totally want to make a Nebraska one! 😉 I pinned them!
hannah singer says
adorable! the uga paw is my fave;) go dawgs!
Beth Bryson says
Super cute! Love this!!!!!
Linda@Coastal Charm says
I have been thinking about making one of these…so now I’m to get my supplies ready and get to it!!!
Blessings,
Linda
Kelli @ RTSM says
Thanks so much for the inspiration Amanda! I just realized my pin didn’t link back directly to your tutorial, so I added a link back to your step by step in my blog post:)
Amanda Trought says
I think these are great idea too, thanks for sharing! Amanda
Morgan says
Just made some footballs for my front doors! I blogged about them and linked to this post for some DIY tips!
Alice @ Playing House says
These are adorable! So happy to find a tutorial for these… can’t wait to make them over Thanksgiving! Hotty Toddy!
Diana - FreeStyleMama says
These are adorable! I’m hosting a new weekly meme called Thematic Thursday. Each week has a theme and accept any type of link-up that relates to the theme. This week’s theme is Super Bowl – Football. I’d love to see you link this up!
momto8 says
great idea! I never would have considered burlap!
Teri@thefreshmancook says
Your footballs are adorable, and so clever! I’d love for you to drop by and link up to my Super Bowl Eats and Treats Party!
http://www.thefreshmancook.blogspot.com/2012/01/super-bowl-eats-treats-blog-party.html
Hope to see you there!
Thanks!
Teri@thefreshmancook says
I just love these. I am going to have to make one! I can’t help myself!! Thanks for sharing at my Super Bowl Eats and Treats Party!
Sassy Shelli says
Love these and can’t wait to make one!! Have a question about the staples…in your pics, your staples look pretty hidden, did you paint an outline around the ball covering the staples or are the staples so close together that it creates an outline??
Amanda says
To Sassy Shelli,
You are a “no reply” blogger, so I couldn’t email you back! Hopefully you are checking here.
I did not paint the staples, and was worried about them showing, as well. Turns out, it does kind of make an “outline” or edge, and they are nearly unnoticeable!
I’d love to see a photo if you make a football!
Amanda
Sassy Shelli says
Thanks a ton! Sorry about the ‘no reply’ thing…I signed up the first time this morning before work. I’m new to the blog thing! I own a boutique, Sassy Frass, and have a website and just recently started ‘Sassy Classes’ (DIY classes) once a week in the evening at my shop. Thought about showing my ‘students’ how to make these (that is if I can make one as cute as yours!)
I started making my football late this afternoon and will finish it up tomorrow when the paint dries. Can’t wait!!!
If you have a chance you should find me on facebook or check out my website:) http://www.shopsassyfrass.com
Thanks again!
JESGood says
These are super cute! Cutest I have seen!!! And thanks for the step by step tutorial with pictures!!! I was wondering what type of paint you used…?? I am planning to make some for each holiday as well as a football for football season but I didn’t know if fabric paint is the best option or if you can use acrylic or ?? Yours turned out great so I wanted to find out from you! Thanks!! ~Jasmin~