Things You'll Need:
- Stapler and staples
- Plastic tablecloth
- Felt-tip pen
- Yardstick
- Thumbtacks
- Large piece of cardboard
- Case knife
- Large map
- Household glue
- Yardstick
- 60-inch-wide felt fabric
- Scissors
- Round curtain rod
- Cup hooks
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Step 1
Use the yardstick and felt tip pen to mark a line across the plastic tablecloth about 8 inches from the end. Fold the tablecloth along this line and then open it back out. Staple the tablecloth above the window along this line. The end of the tablecloth will hang down over the stapled area once you've finished and create a valance effect. If the window is very wide, use two tablecloths to cover it completely.
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Step 2
Grab a large cardboard box you used to move stuff in, and cut off two large sides. Use the yardstick and felt tip pen to mark a line 1 inch from the outside edge of each panel of cardboard, and crease the cardboard along this line. Position one cardboard panel across the window like it was a wooden shutter. Push the thumbtacks into the 1-inch 'spine' you created when you creased the cardboard to fasten it to the wall. Repeat for the other panel.
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Step 3
Draw a line on the back of the map using the yardstick and pen. Cut the map in half and glue one half to each cardboard 'shutter.' Cut a large arrow out of the leftover cardboard, and thumbtack it below the window. Twist the arrow to hold the map-covered cardboard shutters closed at night.
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Step 4
Find felt in ½-yard lengths to make great café curtains---and no sewing is necessary. Cut nickel-sized holes in the top edge of the felt and thread the round curtain rod through the curtain. Put the curtain rod up with cup hooks. Or use the felt on the curtain rod at the top of the window for an inexpensive valance.
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Step 5
Thread the sleeves of that silk bathrobe or kimono you never wear onto a round curtain rod and use cup hooks to hang the rod and garment over the window as a curtain.
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Step 6
An old lace tablecloth works very well to hang over a kitchen or dining room window. Use the openings in the lace to thread it onto the curtain rod and hang it from cup hooks.
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Step 7
Look for inexpensive tulle and buy it by the yard, in a length about 3 inches longer than the window. Make a curtain rod pocket by folding down about 1 inch of the top edge of fabric. Use a running stitch to sew or seam the folded-over edge to the rest of the curtain. Hem the other end of the curtain. Slip the curtain rod into the pocket, and hang the new tulle curtains using cup hooks to hold the curtain rod.
