Clever Dollar Store Solution to Update a Simple Canopy Tent

We recently redid out back deck.  It was a much needed upgrade and it turned out fabulous!  I mean look at the difference.  It went from this…..

To this!

While this is gorgeous the new deck could not provide a solution for a big problem that we have in our backyard–no shade!  Lucky us we just happened to have this Flex Shade Canopy purchased a few years ago and hardly ever used.  It was in great shape so we popped it up on the deck and anchored it down with a few screws.  Viola!  Instant shade.

But still even with the added shade the coverage at times was lacking. Like later in the afternoon when Little A likes playing in his water table the sun was coming under.  So I thought……why not add curtains?  Better yet how about shower curtains so they can stay up and get wet? Yeah, problem solved!

So I headed to our local Dollar General and picked up 2 shower curtains. The hooks are already included.  I got a great deal on them when I used the $5 off $25 on Saturday’s coupon. You can find them on the bottom of almost every receipt.

Because of the position of the tent I put a curtain on 2 sides of the canopy.  Once hung I added self-stick Velcro (which I also purchased at Dollar General) to the corners to so that the edges closed around the post.  I used the Velcro thinking that it would be easier to adjust curtains as I saw fit and not be stuck with a certain design if I had sewn them shut.  It worked out great.

For when I didn’t want the curtains down for shade on the canopy I decided to make some tiebacks.  I had some leftover fabric that I cut 24″ wide x 5″ high.  I then folded over the edges and sewed them so they wouldn’t fray.  You could easily make this a no sew project with some Iron on Hemming Tape.  Then I added the self-stick Velcro to the ends.  I did end up sewing these on to make sure they were extra secure.

I had thought about adding a bow to the tie back but I already put up this little beauty that I made from leftover deck boards and it was a little on the girly side….I didn’t want my husband to revolt if I took it up another notch.

So here it is tied back.  Little A can go out and enjoy his water table and we stay cool and shaded.

The total project cost around $21 for the shower curtains and Velcro using the $5 off coupon.  I still have so many more projects that I want to do for the backyard in anticipation for my 40th Birthday party at the end of the summer so stay tuned!

From our home in the Bottom Left of the Mitten to yours ~ Enjoy your summer!