Tips For DIY Art Using Old Frames

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Two Budget Friendly DIY Art Ideas

DIY art is easy to make with old picture frames, they are great to have on hand. If an interesting one with the right price is waiting for me at a garage sale I always welcome it home. They have so many different uses and you never know when you will need just the right frame. This spring my girlfriend was getting rid of some old frame and I actually told her I didn’t want them because I had so many in my stash. (I really TRY not to be a total hoarder!) I told her I would donate them and the frames sat in the back of my car. For weeks. I kept forgetting to drop them off, then wouldn’t you know, it turns out I NEEDED them!

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Earlier I told you about my daughter’s desire for a room makeover and we have slowly but surely been working on a transformation. These frames ended up being perfect for Mae’s room. The first frame was really unique with a lattice panel surround, I knew it would be sweet in her room. Of course it was that old school yellowy white with speckles color…do you know what I’m talking about? I forgot to take a before picture, but trust me, it was totally 70’s.

A quick once over with some chalk paint and it was like new. For this piece of DIY art I wanted a 3D type masterpiece to add some texture and dimensions to the walls. For the background I wrapped some cardboard in grey felt that was the same color as the walls. It matched perfectly and I wasn’t really even trying! This background is soft and warm with a little different feel than just a cardstock or paper mat. Next I filled a fun little bucket I scooped at Round Top with some uber realistic looking tulips. I bought the tulips after seeing some gorgeous ones at Magnolia Market that where a little out of my price range. These are realistic AND affordable (see resource list below).

The bucket hangs on the frame and looks absolutely precious. This would be an easy idea to recreate with your favorite flower or even to change out seasonally. It’s the perfect budget friendly DIY art solution.

Another frame for the “needs to be donated pile” came in handy as well… This frame also got a fresh white makeover, these little paint pyramid lifts helped the process along. My husband gave them to me one Christmas and I love them!

For this piece I actually used a picture I took and edited it in PicMonkey to have a high contrast look that brings out some of the salmon color present in the pillows Mae chose. She loves the yellow and grey, but an extra pop of color was needed to break it up a bit. You can easily take your own photo and make it look professional and unrecognizable with a few tweaks on an editing sight like PicMonkey. They have a ton of pre-set effects that make it easy, you can make your photo look like a painting, newsprint, poster, black and white or old fashioned with one click. I just made this sunflower photo more vibrant and rich, so the colors would pop with her new color scheme.

After I tweaked my photo to my liking  I ordered  the actual print on MPix. I have used them over the years when I order pictures I want to be high quality, like family photos and artwork. They do a beautiful job. The white picture mat was purchased online and filled with the awesome new sunflower print. I framed it up with no glass because I think it gives a more casual feel.

You don’t have to spend a fortune to have great art pieces in your house! Just be creative and thrifty with the ideas I shared today. Her is a list of supplies that helped make these DIY art pieces come together.

DIY Art Supply/Resource List

Plaster of Paris for DIY chalky paint

Paint pyramids

Faux Tulips

PicMonkey

MPix

Picture Mat

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