Pink Chalk Studio » Blog Archive

Switchplates

Mar 19th, 2008 by Kathy

Switchplates were the March 2008 theme for my Out of the Box creativity challenge. I took some in progress photos but not a full-blown tutorial. I even forgot to take a stylized photo of the one I traded that night, very unlike me! Fortunately making these are extremely addictive so I had plenty more for that purpose. Guess which is Leil’s and which is Caitlin’s?

Feel free to ask questions about missing steps.

I used a standard white plastic switchplate for the base, Yes! paste and Mod Podge Gloss Lustre. I started off trying to use Mod Podge as both the adhesive to attach the fabric and as the top coat. Everything slipped around so I changed to Yes! paste for attaching the fabric. It provided just the right amount of tack to keep things in place.

The other construction element I experimented with was the center hole. I tried cutting a slot in the fabric and bending back the wings to paste them to the backside, a standard technique when using paper or contact paper. I wasn’t satisfied with this technique for fabric. The fibers tended to fray and it was difficult to get the tiny bits of fabric to hold well. I made a simple facing for the hole and was very pleased with the tidiness of the final result.

To make a facing:

Punch some holes for the screws:

The missing steps:

push the facing fabric through the switchplate hole, bring all the seam allowances to the back, use Yes! paste to glue it all down
brush the front of the plate with Yes! paste and smooth the fabric down
turn back the corners and slather with paste to get them to stay in place (see final photo of switchplate back to get an idea of how I did mine)
apply a good thick layer of Mod Podge to the whole thing
try to be patient while it dries, start unscrewing every switchplate in the house

Finished switchplate now residing in my friend Margret’s home (I sure like the fabric on this one! the feedsack fibers gave it a fabulous texture):

Back sides of finished plates:

Posted in Craftiness | 57 Comments

57 Responses to “Switchplates”

on 19 Mar 2008 at 5:04 pm1christine

cute! Thanks for the tute. I will have to make one to match my dd’s room.
on 19 Mar 2008 at 5:32 pm2adrienne

HAHAHA! I love it!! I have now seen a bound buttonhole on a switch plate. I must show this to all my sewing friends!!!
on 19 Mar 2008 at 5:32 pm3Jen

This idea and tutorial is fantastic. Thanks so much!

- Jen (sewandsox)
on 19 Mar 2008 at 5:51 pm4KathieB

My thought too–a bound buttonhole! The switchplates are pretty darn cute. Great idea.
on 19 Mar 2008 at 6:11 pm5Pam

You’re killing me with the faced switch area. You’re a genius! Love it.
on 19 Mar 2008 at 6:18 pm6Sarah

They’re very pretty! When I was a little girl I remember my mother always searching for cute switchplates for our rooms. Too bad she didn’t come across this idea. She would have been hooked!
on 19 Mar 2008 at 6:22 pm7Darby

OK, that looks like the most fun and addictive project ever. I actually work for a company that makes switch plates, so the temptation will be staring me in the face until I succumb.
on 19 Mar 2008 at 6:33 pm8April

Your covers turned out way cute. What a good idea. Thanks for sharing.
on 19 Mar 2008 at 6:33 pm9Kathi D

I find covering switch plates with fabric too hard and fussy for me (lazy!) so I photocopy my fabric onto plain printer paper and use that to glue onto the switch plates. I copied my bedsheets to make matching switch plates in the bedroom.
on 19 Mar 2008 at 6:37 pm10Covered Porches

Pretty Slick— I just love these.
on 19 Mar 2008 at 7:04 pm11Anina

Those out of the box things are so fun! I love the switch plates.
on 19 Mar 2008 at 7:36 pm12Rebekah

what an excellent idea! I will definitely have to try this out around our house to spruce up some boring white light plates. : )
on 19 Mar 2008 at 8:21 pm13Carrie

Oh. My. I had no idea you could do this. Never thought about it once. I can’t wait until we have a home to redecorate!!
on 19 Mar 2008 at 8:47 pm14Jane

So cool!
Where’d you get the awesome ladybug fabric?
on 19 Mar 2008 at 9:18 pm15Berlinswhimsy

Wow, I love it! I might have to upgrade my own switch plate on my room…
on 19 Mar 2008 at 9:20 pm16Mary

What a neat idea! Inexpensive, unique, and wonderful!
on 19 Mar 2008 at 9:40 pm17Melissa

Absolutely darling! I think I’m going to have to make one for my husband using his favorite spongebob fabric— so much cheaper than trying to buy one that actually looks good.
on 20 Mar 2008 at 12:08 am18susan

Wow, just in case I was getting low on the house projects, along comes this!! Too cool, definitely on the list.
on 20 Mar 2008 at 4:22 am19erin

so cute, kathy! thanks for the tips.
on 20 Mar 2008 at 4:56 am20Christine

I LOVE covered, funky switchplates!! I have as many of them in the house as I can find..but now I can use all that fabric I have to cover some of them. Very nice tute! thank you so much for spelling it out.
on 20 Mar 2008 at 5:03 am21Donna

Gorgeous idea - love it!
on 20 Mar 2008 at 5:41 am22Laurie

Out with generic and in with unique! Major wow factor! You are one creative cookie—thanks so much for sharing. I’m redoing the kids’ BR, and I see a gnome switchplate in the near future. . .
on 20 Mar 2008 at 7:11 am23carmell

wish you had done this months ago! i did the hole for the switch the hard way! pulled it tight though so it would look neat! good job!
on 20 Mar 2008 at 7:54 am24katrin

those look pretty cool!
love the one with the bugs ^-^ … though the polka dotted one is also very cute… i couldn’t decide which one i like better.
too bad we don’t have those switchplates here. the lightswitches over here look completely different, but it might be fun to try to re-do them!
on 20 Mar 2008 at 9:44 am25Administrator

Jane: The ladybugs are an Alexander Henry fabric called Juicy Jungle Blooms. I ordered it from Hanococks of Paducah:
http://www.hancocks-paducah.com/Item–i-AH-8039-A
on 20 Mar 2008 at 10:20 am26lynne

Oh what i cute idea. I will definatley have to try this soon.
on 21 Mar 2008 at 9:06 am27Jessica

Could you explain how you did the facing part? I don’t understand the pictures and I feel like the biggest dork, but I want to do one of these Thanks!
on 21 Mar 2008 at 9:07 am28Jessica

*headsmack*
I just figured it out - I didn’t notice which sides were right and which were wrong. I got it now. Just had to look at the photos a few more times

Off to the hardware store for switchplates!!!
on 21 Mar 2008 at 10:34 am29kelly

Just found you via the Craft: blog. I have to say that the facing idea is *brilliant!* Makes me want to go back and re-do all the ones I’ve done. Well, maybe not.

But going forward, I am definitely doing this — thanks for sharing!
on 21 Mar 2008 at 11:58 am30Liz

I love them. I have got to make one for each of my kids. Thaks for the instructions
on 21 Mar 2008 at 4:00 pm31Noel

I love this idea….great tutorial too! My grand kids would like these for their rooms….what am I talking about I want some for my rooms….lol! Thanks for sharing.
on 21 Mar 2008 at 8:48 pm32mrspilkington

I think you need a TV show! Lovely as usual.
on 22 Mar 2008 at 3:06 am33IdaDown

What a cool idea. Going to do up a funky design for my daughter’s room.
on 23 Mar 2008 at 2:02 am34Denise

This is pretty but I’m very concerned that this is a fire hazard.
on 23 Mar 2008 at 7:30 am35Marisa

Wow! What a great idea! I love it!
on 23 Mar 2008 at 12:48 pm36Switchplates « Artquiltmaker

[…] clipped from pinkchalkstudio.com […]
on 23 Mar 2008 at 5:49 pm37Administrator

To respond to Denise’s concern (which concerns me too!):

I did a lot of web surfing to try and research this issue. In general, I did not find anything conclusive on the safety of modifying a switch plate. I read a few threads on electrical forums. Most related to questions of wallpapering a switch plate. There did not seem to be a feeling that this was dangerous. It did seem that many were against it because by modifying a UL rated item (the switch plate) the contractor’s work may not pass inspection.

I’m going to continue researching the issue. If you have information about this please e-mail me.

One thing I did find were insulting foam layers for switch plates:
http://www.amazon.com/Thermwell-OSS6H-White-Plate-Sealer/dp/B000F5IAVG/ref=pd_sim_hi_title_1
This would provide a layer between the actual switch plate and the electrical box.
on 24 Mar 2008 at 9:59 am38Administrator

One more bit of info on the safety concerns. Mod Podge is a non-flammable product.
on 25 Mar 2008 at 3:07 pm39Sandy

How fun. I’ve been doing this with wallpaper for years. Will have to try fabric.
on 26 Mar 2008 at 12:14 pm40DIY Fabric Covered Switchplates » TipNut.com

[…] Today’s feature is from Pink Chalk Studio with a tutorial for Covering Switchplates With Fabric: I used a standard white plastic switchplate for the base, Yes! paste and Mod Podge Gloss Lustre. I started off trying to use Mod Podge as both the adhesive to attach the fabric and as the top coat. Everything slipped around so I changed to Yes! paste for attaching the fabric. It provided just the right amount of tack to keep things in place. […]
on 26 Mar 2008 at 7:48 pm41Cookie Sunshine

This is wonderful! I love it. Thanks for your sweet reply to my note and for coming by my blog. I would like to feature you sometime in the next week. If you are interested, please send me a couple of photos that you would like to show. I prefer 500 pixels with a 72 dpi if possible. You have so many wonderful goodies here. This is a great place to visit.

Wishing you a great Thursday.

Cookie
on 27 Mar 2008 at 4:42 am42Sally Bramald

Lovely idea, is there any product you know off which would make them cleanable? In our house switch plates always seem to get grubby.
on 27 Mar 2008 at 9:28 pm43NerdMom

I would like to mention this on my blog. Could I use your top image? Oh, you said you changed the paste under. Did you still Mod Podge over the top?
on 28 Mar 2008 at 11:23 am44Administrator

Sally: I did a little research. I didn’t turn up any specific products but I saw a lot of people stating they used a ‘waterproof acrylic sealer’ on their custom switch plates. Hope this helps!
on 29 Mar 2008 at 8:30 pm45Matching Pegs » Blog Archive » Alphabet gone awry

[…] A photo tutorial that Kathy Mack put on her blog Pink Chalk Studio got me thinking about a way that I could do the inside “holes” in the letter. Kathy’s tutorial is for covering switch-plates, (the cover around the light switch). Decorative switch-plates is not something that you see much of in Australia, although my Brother-in-law and Sister-in-Law just bought a house with ceramic, hand-painted, floral switch-plates. Perhaps it is a trend that is yet to come? […]
on 31 Mar 2008 at 8:16 am46Tracy

This is a great idea, Kathy! Thanks for sharing! Happy Days to you & yours )
on 31 Mar 2008 at 8:28 am47Dianne

Kathy Your idea on fabric covered switch plates is a grand idea, I would never have thought of it. Think of all the possibilities that can be done with them. Love and Hugs Dianne
on 31 Mar 2008 at 8:38 pm48Regina

LOVE this tutorial. I’ve been a lot more interested in the switchplates in my house since seeing this. I’m adding this to my tutorial list for sure!!!
on 04 Apr 2008 at 11:54 am49Nikki

I do love these switchplates. I have to say they are even better in person!
on 12 Apr 2008 at 9:03 pm50Martha

I really liked this idea, and tried it out on three switchplates today. However, I found that the facing adds bulk to the inside hole where the switch or outlet goes, and I couldn’t fit my switchplate covers back on properly with the facing. I ended up just taking the facing off
on 14 Apr 2008 at 8:59 am51Indie-guest » Blog Archive » customize your switchplates!

[…] dall’attivissimo pink chalk studio, ecco un modo molto semplice e rapido per rallegrare le piastre degli interruttori di casa. l’occorrente si limita ad avanzi di stoffa, una taglierina, della colla e forbici. […]
on 14 Apr 2008 at 8:38 pm52A Crafty To-Do List « BittyCakes

[…] Fabric-covered switch plates! This is just the beginning of my plan to cover everything in my home with fabric. […]
on 15 Apr 2008 at 1:15 pm53Little Crafter Curriculum « HomeWork

[…] PinkChalkStudios is covering light switchplates with fabric and mod-podge; taking this down a notch paper collages would make it easier for little fingers […]
on 21 Apr 2008 at 12:38 am54tururu

wauuuu!!!! fantastic idea!!!

tururu from http://x4durosdesing.blogspot.com
on 24 Apr 2008 at 12:23 pm55Tutoriais « Craft Corner

[…] A Kathy Mack ensina passo-a-passo como fazer. […]
on 02 May 2008 at 6:24 am56Kelley

Hi. I think these are adorable. As a crafter and artist, I’d love to do this for my house. As an electrician though, I can point out the possible danger of having fabric on the inside of a switch plate. A switch is an electrical device that controls the current to a circuit to either turn it on or off. Electricity is somewhat unpredictable. If there is any sort of arc — technically a slight spark, the fabric could catch on fire. If the wires are somehow pinched in the box and short out, the arc could start the fabric on fire. Turning a switch on and off sometimes creates a small arc or spark, but I’m not sure if this would be enough to start a fire. I’m definitely not comfortable with the fabric that comes through the switch hole, though I think its brilliant. The best bet is to have nothing behind the switch plate that isn’t UL rated for the job. I’ve seen small electrical fires in boxes. I’ve seen arcs from plugs and switches when a wire with a nick in the insulation decides to fail. It’s a lot bigger and brighter than static electricity and it often scorches the inside of the box if it doesn’t melt the wire insulation. The box contains the occasional problem so that it can be fixed and doesn’t necessarily start a fire. But by adding flammable fabric to the mix, I don’t know what the results will be. But I have to say, the wheels are turning on an alternative because these switchplates are just too darned cute.
Kelley
on 02 May 2008 at 6:59 am57Administrator

Kelley: Thank you for your detailed answer. Someone else mentioned safety earlier in the comments. I ended up doing a fair amount of research but had a hard time coming up with anything detailed.

What do you think about the insulating pads that people use for draft proofing their light switches. It seems that would provide a UL protected layer between the fabric on the plate and the box.

I also felt better about the fact that Mod Podge is a non-flammable material. Obviously it’s not UL rated but I’m wondering if the fabric being treated with that is somewhat of a barrier. Hmmmm… and as I write that it just occurred to me that there’s a material you can apply to fabric and drapes that makes them non-flammable, a requirement for vendors at big convention hall shows. Now that may just be the ticket if the fabric coming through the hole is treated. Off to research that now!

Thank you for bringing up the issue. I do take it seriously and would like to write a follow up post about this.