DIY Front door mat

I've seen gorgeous front door mats through Wayfair, Ballard Designs, Restoration Hardware and Grandin Road, but I can't afford any of them.

I'd been searching around to see if I could find an inexpensive coir mat - the brown kind with the stiff bristles?  Even plain ones are pretty pricey, so I just decided to forego a mat for our front porch.

UNTIL...

Walking through Dollarama today I found this:

  
It's a bit small, and it's not coir but THIS

is why I was okay with all of that.

Yup, $2.50!

I've seen funny mats that say "Nice Underwear", "Not you again" and the "Beware of dog" with a bite taken out of it - but my favourite was the one that read "The Neighbors have better stuff".

Did you catch that?

NeighbOrs.

I love my U.S. readers, but I can't be having any ORS on my porch.

Time to create a Canadian version:

I used my Silhouette machine and cut the saying out of adhesive vinyl.
(This machine really is paying for itself isn't it?!)

Stick the outline onto the mat:

Mix up a bit of paint.  I used an army green and a silver - for no particular reason other than I had both on hand and I wanted to see how it would turn out.

You can do things like that on a $2.50 mat. lol

Dab the paint onto the stencil until all the letters are filled in.

I did two coats because the green and the mat itself were pretty close in tone.

Remove the stickers….

And voila!

I opted to outline the "neighbours" with a red sharpie - just to be sure that burglars know where to go. lol

I used acrylic paint for this project because my front stoop is covered, so this area really doesn't get hit with rain or snow.

If you want something more permanent, I'd suggest an outdoor paint mixed with a fabric medium so that it stays and is washable.

I may have to go get more mats - I can see a chevron one, one with fall leaves all over it, one welcoming Santa, maybe a birthday one….

Sorry to throw you under the bus Lara & Fatima. lol



 

(or if my neighbours actually get broken in to!)

Have a great one!
  
 




Jockey P2P Look of the Day
Black camisole
Classic bootcut jean in dark wash
All wash and wear.  Sizes XXS (2) to XXXL (24

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Between Naps on the Porch