Canvas Art: Recycling Trees!

So Lotti and I fell in love with that Thankful tree. We adored the shape and the little leaves. Yay, inexpensive decoration! It stayed up in our apartment through the holidays until about a week ago. We just couldn’t bear to part with it. One day, when I was staring off into space, (Okay, looking at pinterest) I saw these trees on canvases. Most were one tree in four sections, each section a different season. I liked the idea of it, but the Thankful Tree ( Or a Wishing Tree) could not be divided like that. I stumbled upon some leftover canvases from this art project and this one. I had an idea!

I took took the tree down carefully and then laid it out on various canvases. Once I decided how I liked it, then I decided how many to space them. About 3/4 of the inch apart, so I had to adjust where the canvases were so that the branches lined up. Next I glued the branches down after using an craft knife to cut them.

Then I used the handy dandy boyfriend to hang them up.  I did what I do best: oversee! He hung them up and I critiqued where he put them. About 45 minutes later, we had our tree and one tired boyfriend! Enjoy!

P.S. Don’t forget to enter my giveaway and help a poor lonely blogger!

Bedroom Art Update: HELP!

Okay, so I have finished the artwork but I can’t decide how exactly to hang it. I decided to do what any smart person would do and ask my lovely readers! Do we like the left where the small ones overlap or the right where they do not touch? Here’s how I did the art.

What do you think? Please comment with your vote!

Bedroom Art Update!

So remember when I did this? And then finally, like 3 months later I put it up? Well I have done more things! First I did some more of this:

Which took some time and more painted arms. Though I am not finished yet I thought I would give you guys a sneak peak!

So please ignore the fact that they aren’t symmetrical, I just wanted to get them up before they sat around for another three months. Also, all you readers who diligently read my posts (tell me, its not just my mom), what color do you think I should paint the small ones? I was playing around with a few browns in the upper corner but I can’t decide.

How to: Make your own projector

 
      I love canvas artwork but on a shoe string budget, its not really possible. Unless I buy some off my 10 year old brother, and even he is pretty expensive. So what is a girl to do? Improvise! I found this beautiful textile print off the internet. I loved it but it was about 4 by 5 inches, not nearly big enough to go over my bed, maybe big enough for my Barbie house (I kid, I kid). Anyways, I needed a way to blow it up without breaking the (piggy) bank. I could have taken it to the print shop and have them blow it up but that would have cost like 60 dollars, at least. 


    Instead, I took it to the print shop and had them enlarge it on regular paper, costing me $3 dollars. Then I went to Michael's, and using a 40% coupon bought a 28 by 30 canvas. I also used another to buy yet another paint pen, after first using them here, I've fallen in love with them. 

   

  Next, I jerry-rigged a projector. I cut out the pattern and used adhesive spray I had to adhere it to the back of the canvas. Then I took a lamp and shone it through the back. Working in small sections at a time, I traced the design. Then I would set it down and color in the pattern. I am not going to lie, it took me a fair amount of time, but luckily there was I Love You Man on. This DIYing has certainly increased my TV viewing that or I now have things to do while I watch TV.

     I do have to say I am very proud of the end product. Seriously. Now I just have to decide what colors to paint it! Any ideas?

Pretty Pretty Boards

   
  I am always saving little mementos from trips be it ticket stubs to museum guides, but I never know what to do with them. Often they just get filed away in labeled shoe boxes at the back of my closet for what occasion, I don't know. My friend, Lily (of the cranberry compote and brie bites fame) has some great ideas of how to show off your little mementos or other important things. These cute boards look great when lined up or alone on a wall, and since they are made from foam board, you can use 3M wall adhesive so you don't have to use nails (a big help for those who are renting a place). With all the different themed papers out there, you can find something to match just about anything!

I just cut the boards in the center, they were the perfect small size!

Materials:

Modpodge

Foam brush

Scrapbook or other decorative paper

Foam Board

Scissors/ knife

Directions:

1. Cut the board and paper to desired sizes, the paper can be left a bit bigger to cover the sides of the board.
   
2. Modpodge the board with a light coat, then press down paper. Go slowly, and use pressure of fingers or ruler (be careful) to work out any bubbles. Lightly modpodge the paper as well once smooth.
   
3. Let dry, then coat the paper with a second and if needed, a third coat of modpodge.
   
4. Enjoy! Use push pins or ribbon to help decorate your board!

This one is for my roommate, Charlotte, who loves old keys. See you can match any theme!

50 dollar fix: Kitchen Hallway

      My breakfast nook is small. My kitchen is tiny. I like cooking stuff, thus I have an organizational nightmare trying to get all my dishes and stuff to fit without it looking like a hodgepodge mess. I needed something to hold extra bowls, cups and a few odds and ends. Plus I needed some way to spruce the place without painting.

    
     First I found this DVD case, which sleek black shape worked perfectly in the narrow space. It's just deep enough to hold bowls but shallow enough that it doesn't impede the walkway. The shelves adjust so that I could have more room on the bottom to place taller things. The doors keep it looking neat and clean even when I am in a rush to clean for company and just shove things in there.

    
       Second thing is this vintage English World War Two propaganda poster in a vibrant pink color. I could have ordered it online and paid a fortune for it. Instead, I found the image online and took it to my local print shop. They were able to print it out on glossy poster paper (about 18 by 24) for fewer than 20 dollars. Next, I went to Target and picked up a poster frame for about 5 dollars (it was on sale).

Voila! Another 50 dollar fix!

How To Save On: Lighting

    I needed some more light in my living room, I only had the one light in the ceiling fan and a small lamp from Ikea and it just wasn’t enough. I also have a big blank white wall behind my couch and I hated it. I tried looking for something artsy to put behind it but because it was such a large space, they were all really expensive ideas.

     Then one day, I was wondering aimlessly through Target and probably buying things I did not really need, I found the solution. There were these beautiful vine planters, that looked like wrought ironwork but were about 1/5 of the price, at least and much lighter. For only about 60 dollars, I grabbed three. Then patrolling along the Christmas clearance section, I found these beautiful iridescent Christmas lights on sale for about a dollar per strand. I quickly grabbed a bunch, (I still have leftover strands) and knew I had found my solution.

     I twirled the lights around the vine growers so that the outlets were mostly hidden and then spray painted some small gold wall hooks black. I used four hooks per panel to secure them to the wall.

     As you can see, it gives my couch the light it needed without it being super bright or too confined of an area. I love plugging them in during a party and turning off the overhead lights, it gives this wonderful soft glow to the place and did not cost me an arm or a leg. Not only did I get the lighting I needed, I also was able to cover up the ugly blank wall.

Super Savings!

So yesterday while frantically dashing in out of Goodwill's, trying to find a suitcase for a display, I found the perfect addition to my cookbooks. Well almost perfect, it's not the first run, but hey, it's pretty close.

That's right. Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking. I loved Julia Child, I have seen her kitchen in the Smithsonian, seen the movie, but have yet to read the book. (Don't kill me.) I could not believe my eyes that this book was at GOODWILL. It's a classic. Even if I don't use it regularly, it will look great displayed somewhere, it just screams to be shown to everyone!

And you may ask, what did I pay for this beauty of a cookbook?

That's right $3.99. You can't be that. Now I just need to find an equally pretty stand.



The moral of the story: Don't discount Goodwill. Ever. They sometimes have some fabulous finds and they won't ever break your bank account.

Jewelry Frames

As a girl on a budget, framed art pieces to decorate my walls are a bit out of my price range, so I have had to get a bit creative. In my bedroom for instance, I framed my jewelry. This actually doubles as a very easy to keep organized storage for it as well. I bought frames from Goodwill, Michael's, and even the Dollar Store. A simple way to save money is to buy frames that have broken glass, since it's not needed for this project (Clearance aisles are a godsend).

Materials:

Frames

Corkboard (can be found at Joann's, Michael's, Home Depot, etc)

Hot Glue

Tacks or pretty Push Pins (again craft or home improvement stores)

Paint (Optional)

Jewelry!!!!

Tips:

• Always lay the jewelry out on the cork before pushing in the pins
  
• Make sure you place it vertical so you will see how it will hang.
  
• Glue on the back so nothing shows through
• Make sure the cork is thick enough that the pushpins stay intact
• You can paint frames to match your decor