doily crafts - create a window display

I love doilies and normally the crocheted variety, but today when rummaging through our art supplies, I found a pack of paper doilies of different sizes. My 7 year old suggested we draw picture inside them, and then I thought they would look beautiful stuck on our large living room window.

Did you know that doilies actually date back to the 17th Century? They have gained popularity in the early 20th Century, with the quintessential circular ans oval design adopted by crocheters and sometimes knitters. The fabric doily made a beautiful table display for formal meals, but they were also used to set under ornaments and objects around the home to protect surfaces and look pretty too.

Paper doilies offered caterers a practical solution to the cotton ones, and now you can purchase doilies in every colour under the sun, The craft revolution has thrust the humble doily back into the limelight once again, and there are literally hundreds of crafts that a doily can be used for. I hope you enjoy my project. Please check out the other links too.

We used white tac to stick the doilies to the window, but you may be able to use a spray glue, as to avoid seeing the tac through the doily.

This idea could obviously be greatly modified, and I want to create something with more permanence on our window to offer a little more privacy. Another idea would be to use a window craft spray in matte over the top of the doilies, then remove them to reveal the intricate doily stencil.

There are some beautiful and creative ways that people have modified the humble doily, below are a few links that I recommend you check out.