DIY: Easy Framed Art

So for someone who's as dubious of DIY art as me, this is my second tutorial for it in as many weeks.  Today, I've got the easiest DIY art tutorial ever for you! 

You only need two things! An interesting frame and a wallpaper swatch piece that you like and/or goes with your decor. Easy, huh?

I found a mid-century frame that I love at a garage sale for super cheap.  I'd been trying to find something that fit in the frame and looked good in the empty spot on my wall.  I'd tried lots and lots of pictures in prints in that frame, but nothing seemed right.

You can see my framed wallpaper art hanging out over my wingback chair.  That spot on the wall really needed something.

I'd also gotten a sample of the beautiful Ode to the Unhasty wallpaper from Grow House Grow about a year ago.  I want to put it on a wall in my kitchen, but so far I haven't been able to afford it. Whomp.  Still though, I wanted to at least be able to show off the piece of wallpaper that I had. So, I popped it into that empty frame and I loved it!

HOW TO: Make an Abstract Painting for Home Decor

I have a love-hate relationship with this kind of project.  Artists train for years and years to make quality, meaningful art, so I always hated those HGTV projects where they would make fake "art" with the homeowners to complement the decor.  That being said, I think as with everything that balance is key.  Invest in good art and buy vintage when you can, but sometimes you just don't have enough money for that and if you know what kind of art your space needs, sometimes you gotta go ahead and make it yourself!

My craft room/work space

I have to admit, I can get jealous sometimes when I'm reading design blogs with huge readerships and I look at some room makeover and think, I could totally have done that if I had more money for accessories, new furniture, project materials, the list goes on. I'm usually operating on a non-existant to tiny budget, so a lot of times, if I don't already have it or I can't make it for a few bucks, it's not happening.  Necessity is the mother of invention though and my blog IS about design on a budget, so haha yeah...

My craft room was definitely one of those low budget projects.  I'd been meaning to get it organized and usable for awhile, but when Scout Mob asked for some photos of my workspace, it gave me a good reason to get it done ASAP.  I actually had about $100 to do the whole thing (thanks Mom!), but considering the scope of work that needed to be done, it was tight. I have a small sun porch off my living room that serves as my guest room/craft room.    There are windows on 3 sides of the room and in the summer that room gets SO. MUCH. SUN.  And thanks to the fact that I live in Florida, we're talking scorching rays, making the room pretty much unusable.  

After 

Home Improvement Around My House: A Window Seat!

B and I had a blast doing the Parade of Homes this weekend.  The Parade is made up of open houses around the county, showcased by local builders and renovators.  It's a great time and an opportunity to get some awesome inspiration for home improvement.  One of the (absolutely gorgeous, expensive luxury) homes had a beautiful built-in window seat.  I've wanted a window seat since I was about 8 years old... and I'm 30 now!  While I was gushing, B said very matter-of-factly, "You know I could build you one."  Um yes.  So now, of course, I'm going nuts planning it all out.

This is about what we're thinking:

image: Tar Paper Crane

HOW TO: Make a Fun Rehearsal Bouquet

It's traditional, at least around here, to make a bouquet out of bows from the bridal shower for the bride to carry at the rehearsal.  As the Maid of Honor, I got tasked to make one for my friend Jessica.  It's a pretty goofy, not-supposed-to-be-glamourous tradition, but I still wanted to try to make something cute. 

HOW TO: Make a Potted Felt Fern

I love having potted plants in my home and for the most part, I'm pretty good at keeping them alive.  The sad exception was a poor little aloe plant that I had in my bedroom.  There's not much natural light in there and the plant didn't fare too well.  I love the look of houseplants though and I was determined to have one in the bedroom... preferably without killing anything else.  Then I got to thinking... I make things with felt, why not make a felt plant?