I love polka dots.
They are so cheerful and happy looking. I have them all over my house.
I polka dotted up some plates on my mantle and in my kitchen:
And I made some polka dot pillows to go on my banquette:
I even added a little bit of polka dots to my lamp makeover on my desk:
I have been looking for a runner to go by my sink and dishwasher for so long with no luck. It seemed like everything I found was like $100 and I would have to order it. So last week I was tearing through WalMart with my kids, running to get toothpaste, I spotted some colorful little rag rugs. They were turquoise and kind of Spring-y and fun. I picked up three to see if I could make some sort of runner out of them. At $5 each — I figured it was worth it to give it a try.
I spotted this ribbon right before I hit the check out line. {and I actually didn’t end up using all of it — just 3 rolls of the polka dot and about 1/3 of the roll of black satin}
Here’s what I started off with at the beginning.
And here’s what I came up with at the end. If you want to give it a try, here’s what I did:
I laid the rugs out on my craft table. I pinned the edges together so they would stay shut. Then I took the wide satin ribbon. {It’s actually outdoor ribbon and kind of rigid and crinkly} and pinned it on the back of the rugs with about 1/3 of it sticking out over the edge. I ran this ribbon all the way and around all the sides of the runner. Then I took it and ran it down the seams in the middle where the rugs came together.
Then I hot glued the ribbon onto the rugs. Pressing down as I went to get the best adhesion that I could. I made sure to run a continuous line of glue at the edge of the ribbon. Make sure that you still have that 1/3 of ribbon that is sticking out over the edge.
After that was done, I flipped the whole rug over and took my polka dot ribbon and matched up the edge of the wide ribbon that was sticking out from underneath and pinned that edge to the edge of the polka dot ribbon. I went all the way around the whole runner pinning it together. And where the rugs came together in the middle, I pinned ribbon over those seams too.
Then I hot glued the two ribbons together. I took the pins out and lifted up the edges of the ribbon and put a line of glue in the middle. I pushed down as I went so the ribbon would be smooth and would adhere to each other all the way around the runner. I hot glued the two lengths of ribbon at each of the seams too, smoothing the ribbon as I went so there would be no rippling.
**Make sure as you are going along, that you are making the edges straight. It’s helpful to have your cutting pad with the grid on it underneath the runner as you work to make sure that everything is straight. I also am not sure if the rug is washable because of the hot glue. For now I am shaking it out and spot cleaning. But eventually I am sure I will try washing it on cold and letting it air dry.**
So now I have a bright, Spring-y runner and it has polka dots too.
Makes me smile every time I see it.
Let’s see what else can I polka dot-up around here – LOL!
XOXO
Update! My friend Michelle added this about washing this rug — Michelle has left a new comment on your post “Polka Dot Project — My Polka Dot Runner {rugs}!“:
If it helps any I wash my daughters hairbows that I make and they have hot glue, just don’t dry it. I’ve ruint a few bows by accidentally drying them, it heats the glue back up. I love the rug and can’t wait to give it a try.
so I came across this post, while attempting to set up my new blog. i love this rug.
this post is so ancient you probably don’t even have it around anymore. but i loved the creativity it showed and had to use it as i take off. so i’ve shared it @ http://www.polkadotprojects.blogspot.com
any words of advice, as I am such an amateur?
I am SO totally trying this! Thanks for the tutorial! I need a red one in my kitchen! Now I'm going to have to make them for every room in my house! 🙂
I love your decorating style! We even have similar cabinet hardware 🙂
Just found this and I love it! The pillows are fantastic ~ hoping there is a tutorial about them. LOVE polka dots ~ 🙂
Pat
I love it! You are really so creative. I really find polka dots so pretty.red area rug
I featured this on my blog today.. Hope you don't mind. 🙂
Such a great idea! I have been moving my rug around because I like to stand on it when I cook and when I do dishes. Love the idea of putting more than one together!!! Gonna have to use this idea for sure!!!
I have a red rug like that from Walmart. I don't know about the hot glue, but those rugs don't hold up well in the wash. They fade and fall apart after a couple washes. 🙁 I would just spot clean.
http://brandyscrafts.blogspot.com/2010/05/floor-runner.html
Jen, I was inspired by you and made a runner for my kitchen! I LOVED yours and it matched the color scheme in my kitchen, but I wash my rugs every couple of weeks. Wash and Dry…so I had to alter my version. Thanks for sharing your idea!
Oh my heck I love it. Love the color combo. Ack…gorgeous.
Super cute! I have a long area in my kitchen that desperately needs a rug. I can't wait to give this a try
Thanks!!
That is fantastic!!! I love it! I can never find a rug that I like AND is the right size AND is inexpensive.
Brilliant!
This is so cool, who would have thought about using placemats and ribbon. Great Idea, can you make me one pretty please??!!
YOU make me smile. I love your talent.
Love, Bree
How DARLING!!! Your house is lovely and the project is adorable!!
You are so creative! I love this!
Adorable! I love polka dots too!
I love polka dots and that rug is so cute. Well done…as usual.
Oh how cute. My guess is you'll be showing how to do this one the next time you are on tv…great look!
That runner is so stinkin cute! I love it!
Fabulous! I love the polka dots with the turquoise.
of course I love it…..why?….because you are little miss creative Jen! and I always love all your stuff! 🙂
Love your runner! The colors are fabulous, so fun. I love polka dots too. 🙂
Those rugs look great, and they add such a pop of color in your kitchen!
Absolutely love it Jen. So cute!
♥ Amber
That is one of my favorite projects!!! LOVE!
Very creative, Jen! I love this idea! The color is great and the polka dots are fun.
oooh, super cute!!! I love turqouise & black polka dots together 🙂
What a fantastic run! I love it!
So stinking cute. Love it! And I just read on another blog that hot glue IS washable. Whoulda thunk? 😉 Great news considering fabric glue isn't so strong.
If it helps any I wash my daughters hairbows that I make and they have hot glue, just don't dry it. I've ruint a few bows by accidentally drying them, it heats the glue back up. I love the rug and can't wait to give it a try.
Hello sweet Jen – love all your polka dot yummy-ness! I'm a polka dot lover too. I especially like the way your pillows turned out! The chocolate one is calling my name! So fabulous.
Blessings,
Marie
http://emmacallsmemama.com
I love all your polka dot things, but that runner is amazing! I love the turquoise and black together. That is so cute and would make me smile too. 😉
I am not sure what I was expecting when I saw the rugs and ribbon by them selves. Ingenious! They turned out great
I used an upholstery needle and embroidery thread to sew some rugs like that together once- this would be a great way to jazz them up!
http://www.theiheartblog.com
Oooh! I love polka dots too. ♥ Such a pretty runner. Great job! I am actually doing a project with polka dots too. 🙂 Can't wait to finish it up… for FRIDAY. Yay!
Blessings!
-Sarah
LOVE this! awesome, awesome, awesome!
This couldn't come at a better time! I have an old seagrass runner in front of my sink that is badly in need of replacing. Actually, the seagrass looks great still but the red border is ugly. This gives me some inspiration to get some ribbon and get gluing! Love it Jen!
So cute! I love this runner!
I love polka dots too. Love all of yours. I will definitely have to try to make a runner, too cool. Thanks for sharing, Angek
Love this, Jen!!!
I want to do this…with a brown and ivory polka dot ribbon-thanks for being inspiring!!!
I just love polka dots! Your runner is super cute!
That runner is AWESOME!!!
You know you did good when you get so many responses to it!
SUPER polka sweeet! So creative. I was quite drawn to the "Procrastinate now and freak out later" polkapillow. I want one! 🙂 [and thanks for the nice post on my newbie blog]
LOVE IT!!! And even more b/c it is w/ the glue gun 🙂
That is a PERFECT idea for in front of the sink, does it slide around though?
Cute!! You are such a clever lady!
Rock on with your bad self!
xoxos
I really love it!! You are so very creative!!
That is too cute and super simple to create. Once again, you are a genius!
This would really work well in my kitchen! Great idea! Thanks! ♥
I ADORE that Black and White Ribbon. I have it on hand at all times. I don't think my friends and family would accept a present from me without it being attached somewhere. And every time I "brave" WalMart…I grab a roll. Just in case. It goes with every color, hot pink, turquoise, red, yellow. It's completely versatile. I think I want to BE that black and white ribbon when I grow up.
Was that the longest way EVER to compliment your rug? Oh well. I love it! There.
You're CRAZY! Absolutely crazy! I always wonder what on earth you are going to come up with next and I am always amazed. You really are an inspiration. Thanks for sharing all your wonderful ideas.
I LOVE THAT RUG! SO CUTE! And such a great and cheap idea. I will for sure be trying this in the future, thanks for sharing!
http://jeansandatshirtmom.blogspot.com/
Oh what are you doing to me? hehe I'm finishing up other projects of yours. Now, I have to put this on the list. haha You are incredible!
I love this! I have been thinking about a unique way to do a rug for my laundry room. Nice to see something different! Too cute :)Thanks for the inspiration!
<3
Risa
You are amazing and your house is so beautiful! I love to look at your blog!
Can you please just come live with me and decorate my place? Thanks…:)
now THAT is talent, sister.
I think you are the polka dot queen! Super cute!
You have done it once again! That is such an awesome rug. I would totally buy that in a store!
I love it Jen! Once again another fabulous creation. Man I wish we lived next door to eachother!!! :0)
i wish you were my neighbor. i'd just buy the supplies, some wine and chocolate and come visit while you whipped up two of them :o)
You ROCK! 😉 I LOVE seeing your stuff!
So very cute! I love polka dots too…I think I need to add some more to my house so keep the polka dot ideas coming!
This idea is genius!! You could sell these at a craft show. 🙂 I love polka dots too. Great job!
Found you on Tip Junkie. Love the idea of the kitchen runner. Very inventive.
Just went back and read….found the answer….Walmart! I would have to be Walmart, wouldn't it? I loathe Walmart. Only something this cute will entice me. Thanks for sharing!
Amazing! Where did you find those rugs? I'm redoing my sewing room in red and aqua, and I'd love to make something similar. (Only with red and white trim.)
Oh this will be perfect for my new kitchen..it's long and narrow. I love polka dots too!!! Can't get enough of them!
Okay, that is FANTASTIC! I love it! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
SHUT UP!!!
And I only mean that in a nice way….
Oh how I love that rug and I think I just found an idea for a similar problem in my house!
LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!!!!
Your creative mind never stops does it Jen? 🙂 I absolutely love this runner rug! I think I must make one now!
so clever! what a wonderful solution
Seriously your talent never ever ENDS… this rug runner… is by far the cutest rug I have ever seen. I wouldn't want anyone standing on it, unless they were in socks… HA! love it. I ADORE POLKA DOTS TOO. p.s. I WANT THE "PROCRASTINATE_ freak out… pillow!"… so cute.. did or have you shown a tutorial on how to make those darling pillows? LUV YA! jenn
I am a polka dot addict!
oh jenn, that is beautiful! i love it! the turquoise and polka dots go well together and you would never know it was separate rugs.