Easier Fabric Covered Paper Mache Letter DIY

by Jami @ An Oregon Cottage

Our Christmas decor theme this year included adding touches of green plaid to our traditional greenery, mercury glass and gold. To add some of the plaid to our mantel, I decided to cover 8" letters to spell out NOEL, and I love how they look on the mantel - it's fun, a little unexpected, AND was a super quick DIY.
DIY

easier fabric covered paper mache letter diy, christmas decorations, crafts, decoupage, seasonal holiday decor

To cover the fronts of the paper mache letters, I had an idea of how I wanted to do it, but searched for a how-to, just to make sure I was on the right track. I only found tutorials for applying fabric with wet glue (like Mod Podge). I didn't want the mess, the dry time, or the possibility of glue spots showing through the fabric, so I went ahead with my own idea that I'm happy to say is WAY easier and faster!

Start with 8" paper mache letters to spell out anything you want: Noel, Joy, Peace, etc.

I think this DIY would also be perfect for kid's rooms, spelling out their names in fabric to coordinate with the room decor.

This is really a 10-20 minute craft, depending on how many letters you have. The only thing to be careful about is to make sure you're tracing around the letter the right way for display (letters like "L" especially).

And the quicker way to adhere the cut out fabric to the letter? Spray adhesive! Take each letter outside, spray the fronts, bring it back in and smooth the fabric cut-out on. The bonus is there's no dry time, so you can place them where you want right away!

The plaid letters became the starting point for our subtle mantle, along with a vintage sheet music wreath, greenery, antlers, candles and trees in various materials. Adding just one new element and using what we had in different ways really makes the decor feel fresh!

Get more of the DIY details, a supply list, and links to our other Christmas decor and how-tos at the url below!