Home Decor for Horse Lovers: Three Easy Projects

Finding themed home decor, no matter how simple, can turn into a hassle. If you're a horse lover, you can spend all day looking in the stores and find very little. Then you can look online and chance ordering from some companies you've never heard of before - and wonder if you will ever see the merchandise you just ordered. The best solution is to decorate your home with custom items, not the kind that costs a fortune to have your name imprinted, but the kind you make yourself. Keep reading for three easy projects that incorporate a horse theme into home decor items.

No-Sew Fleece Blanket
A fleece blanket is one of the quickest and easiest fabric projects to complete. Many craft and fabric stores carry a large assortment of fleece materials. Joann Fabrics, in particular, carries several nice horse patterns. If you cannot find the horse print you want in the store, check online as well. Some craft stores offer selected fabrics and fleeces on their websites.

Fleece may be available either in prints or panels. With a print, you can cut the pattern at any point. You will need to determine the size of your blanket if you purchase a patterned fleece. A fleece panel, on the other hand, contains a picture that comes in one piece. If you buy this type of fleece, you will make the size of the blanket the same as the panel. In either case, select a plain coordinating fleece to form the back of the blanket. Purchase a yardage of this coordinating fleece that matches the yardage of the front horse-themed fleece.

Wash and dry the fleece first. Next, use a sharp pair of scissors to cut a row of fringe around all four edges on each piece of fleece. Cut the fringe anywhere from two to three inches long, and each fringe strip about one inch wide. After you have finished cutting identically around both pieces, place the wrong sides together so that the front is facing out toward you. Match up the fringes on the front with the fringes on the back and tie a knot with each pair. Continue around all four sides of the blanket. You're done. Wrap it up or throw it over the most comfortable sofa in your home.

Framed Scrapbook Page
You don't have to limit scrapbook layouts to your albums. Spend some extra time on a horse-themed scrapbook page and frame it for a unique piece of art for a wall in your home. If you do not already have the necessary supplies, check your local craft or scrapbooking store. You could check for papers, stickers, stencils, die-cuts, and other scrapbooking supplies that feature a horse, cowboy boots and hat, saddle, horseshoe, and more.

The possibilities for a scrapbook layout are limitless. If you want to use several pictures, you could make a collage. You could also balance one or two pictures with journaling blocks. Lay out the page and play with the elements until you are satisfied with the look of the page. Next, attach the pictures and other items to their positions on the background paper. To keep your photos in good condition, use adhesive strips or dots labeled as acid-free. When you have finished your layout, frame it in a traditional frame or a shadowbox.

Cross Stitch/Crochet/Knit Pillow or Afghan
The great thing about graphs is their versatility. Often with minor or no modifications, you can adapt a pattern to fit your needs, whether you stitch, crochet, or knit. Shona's Place contains some excellent horse patterns. You can use the same pattern in a variety of ways. You can cross stitch on Aida fabric, cross stitch on a single crochet block, filet crochet, or crochet/knit with different colors. For a quick project, you could complete one or two blocks for pillows. You could also complete several blocks and join them together for an afghan. If you are a real go-getter, you could make an afghan plus a couple matching pillows for a set that is sure to grab the attention of anyone who visits your home.

With a little time and minimal expense, you should be able to create decorations for your home that reflect your fascination with horses. Or you can create a personal gift for the horse lover in your life. Now go wrangle up your supplies.