Relax And Enjoy Free

I was reading a book the other day (a romance novel of course) and the author said that romance was incredibly important in todays world. Romance is the cornerstone on which love and families are created. A good family loves each other but great families have couples that are still activily romantic. I love it!

I was reading in a book on business, yes I read everyday, that romance was a form of intelligent stress relief and creativity of the mind. It went on to say that creative, relaxed people tend to be brilliantly smart. I couldn’t agree more.

So, to encourage others to have strong families and brilliant children….let me tell you how to make 4 fabulous (cheap) canopies for your bedroom.

Asian Canopy (it isn’t really asian, just inspired)

A bamboo shade

mounting hardware

screw driver

curtain rod

Take a bamboo/twig roller shade the wideth of your headboard. I like the kind with the built in vvalance. Attatch midway between the foot and head of your bed onto the ceiling with the hardware provided. Attatch a curtain rod at the ceiling (on the ceiling or the wall – doesn’t really matter much – to taste)

Thread the shade through the curtain rod to creat a nice drape – let the rest fall behind the head of the bed to create a headboard.

Ta da!

Kid’s pirate canopy

muslin fabric

mardi gras beads (gold preferred)

red or black bandanas

scissors

four mug hooks

some fishing net (or dirty looking tulle)

Shred the muslin – make it look worn and dirty (or as dirty as you can handle – I’m neat freak and can’t handle much) Tear up the tulle too.

Attatch the mug hooks one at each corner of the bed into the ceiling.

Use the gold beeds to “tie” on the shredded fabric. Stretching it this way and that, over and around the four hooks. You’re just going for messy drapes. Add the bandanas at the four corners as well. (I snuck in some zip ties for added stability) Top if off with a Jolly Roger if you can find one (try Ebay).

My daughter has this – and a wooden bed frame. It looks awesome. All said and done I got the supplies at Walmart for about $10.

Romantic Garden Canopy

Arching Garden Trellis

Fake flowers in mass

Fake butterflies

white twinkle lights

Tulle (about 6 yards)

Ribbons

One arching trellis is perfect for a twin size bed. However if you bed is larger than purchase two trellis’ and use them together to make one big trellis. I originally purchased a trellis in a box – and just simply put them together to arch over the head of my bed. Play around with this. I’ve also discovered that you can just buy PVC piping that will arch over your bed. (About 16-18 feet of PVC a skinny flexible size – put them in a large flowerpot filled with heavy rocks or plaster of paris. Intertwine for added character.)

Thread the twinkle lights then the tulle over the arch. Follow with tucking in the flowers and butterflies. Add a nice droopy bow at the center twining extra ribbon over your fancy creation.

You could even hang a simply chandilier here but NEVER LIGHT IT!

NO-Sew Floating Canopy

Flat sheet the size of your bed.

Fishing line.

Screws

safety pins.

Chandelier bobs (or pretty matching tassles)

At the four corners of your bed screw in screws – half way.

Lay the sheet on your bed adjusting it so that it drapes evenly all the way around. Put safety pins on the four corners. Using four strands of fishing line cut exactly the same lenght (go for about 1.5ft) tie them onto the safety pins.

Mark off two inches on the fishing line – wrap that amount around the screw in the ceiling that matches the saftey pin and finish put the screw in.

Attach the chandelier bob onthe underside for sparkle! Adjust as needed (at the safety pins) All done!

I hope you already have wonderful romance in your life but if you don’t start by adding a canopy to your bedroom!