DIY Dalmatian Print Roller Shade

Learn how to create a custom Dalmatian print roller shade using vinyl!

I’m slowly getting all of the projects wrapped up in my Bonus Room makeover and I can’t wait to show you the entire room when it’s finished. One of my favorite things about doing a DIY project, is figuring out a creative way to overcome a challenge in my space. This weekend, I tackled one of the things I’ve had on my list for a while… a new window covering for the large window in the room. Before, I just had some too-short curtains that had to be tucked behind my craft table every time we wanted them closed. I needed something that would fit inside the window frame, like a roman shade. But, considering my sewing skills are limited to pillow covers, I decided to explore a few more options. I ended up finding a plain roller shade at Home Depot and customizing it with one of my favorite patterns, Dalmatian print, using my Cricut Explore! It turned out even better than I imagined in my head! (I love it when that happens.)

The best thing about this project is that you can create any pattern you can think of, with just a few supplies:

• Indoor Adhesive Vinyl (I used 12 x 24″ sheets of black vinyl)
• Transfer Tape (I used the Cricut Transfer Tape 12 x 24″ sheets)
• Electronic Cutting Machine (I used my Cricut Explore Air)
• Roller Shade (I used a Bali brand vinyl roller shade, cut to fit at Home Depot)

Make sure you measure your window dimensions before you go to buy your roller shade, and they will cut it to fit your window perfectly! Once, I got my roller shade home, I laid it out on the floor and measured where I needed my pattern to cover. It ended up being 59 inches tall, by 45 inches wide. So I would need 9 sheets of the 12 x 24″ vinyl to cover it. I found an image of a dalmatian pattern that I liked and create two separate png files that fit together to make a 24 x 24″ pattern. I uploaded the files to my Cricut Design Space and it was so easy!

I set my Cricut Explore dial to the “vinyl” setting and it cut perfectly! Then it was time to apply the transfer tape.

 I started at the bottom corner of the shade and applied the first sheet:

Next, I printed the other pattern design (I had created a left side and right side so they would fit together.) I continued to apply these two patterns, matching them up the best that I could, until the entire shade was covered!

I did have to trim a few of the circles to get them to match up and I created a few of my own “spots” with leftover vinyl to fill in any gaps. I couldn’t be happier with the final result!

(It does pull all the way down to cover the entire window, it just made it too dark to take pictures! I chose a room darkening shade to help keep the afternoon heat out of this room in the summer.)

One of my biggest challenges in the room is now checked off the list! So, what do you think? Would you try this project?

Linking up this post with some of our favorites:

*The Party Bunch

*Link Party Palooza

*Creative Collections