Make It Yourself Wall Art..

The possibilities are endless with this easy project! If you don't free hand paint, don't run away, I have some easy suggestions and alternatives for you in creating fun and inexpensive wall art for your home or child's room. Hanging the art with ribbon really makes the piece pop.

I stumbled on creating these pieces for my daughter's room at our place at the beach after searching for about 6 months for the right wall decor. I couldn't find anything even close to what I was looking for that would be beachy, yet elegant and in the colors that I needed. I decided to venture into murky waters and make it myself after spotting the black 11 x 14 oval frames at Hobby Lobby. This project when all was said and done cost me about $20.00 per piece (after 50% off the frames and canvasses). Not bad, huh?

Before I get into the instructions and details, I wanted to cover the various possibilities in creating an image. I'm not great with drawing free hand, so I used an actual large sand dollar and star fish and outlined in them with pencil (after I painted the canvas blue). Some alternatives to drawing free hand are using vinyl letters or vinyl images that can be purchased anywhere. This project could be done with stencils or use the large label paper technique from my previous Monogram Madness posting found here. I even thought about the possibility of decoupaging an image with an image on thick paper or card stock (I would decoupage the image first then paint the canvas around the image second to avoid the Modge Podge sheen). Again, there are many alternatives to drawing free hand.

Here are the instructions:

1) I purchased two black 11 x 14 oval frames (they come in multiple sizes) at Hobby Lobby found online here

and I removed the glass insert and did not use the glass for this project.

2) I purchased two 11 x 14 artist canvasses in the art supply section at Hobby Lobby and found online here.

3) I purchased a Sherwin Williams $5.00 sample jug of paint in the aqua color that matched the bedding.

4) I painted my canvas with the Sherwin Williams paint using a large foam brush.

5) I painted my image on the canvass with acrylic paint.

6) I measured and marked lightly with pencil where I wanted my two holes on the canvas for the ribbon. I made sure to allow enough space for the ribbon to show. Here is a close up pic:



7) Using an ice pick, I carefully poked a very small hole through the canvas on my two measured pencil marks and ran my ribbon through the holes and pulling through. Don't worry, you cannot see the holes after you pull your ribbon through. I worried that the holes in the canvass would tear with the weight of the frames but it did not. You may want to consider using a grommet if you go larger than an 11 x 14 frame.

9) After pulling my ribbon through the canvas, I then placed the canvas into the black oval wood frame where I wanted it. It is a super tight fit so I had to gently hammer the canvas on the back side wood edges to get it in.

10) I then lined up my ribbon so I would have equal amounts on both sides and tied a square knot on my nail that was already in the wall and then I tied a bow on top of the knot to hang the piece. I then cut my ribbon to my desired length. Here is a close up:



Again, there are so many possibilities with this project. Think of all the color and image possibilties, not to mention the ribbon choices! If you decide to make this project, please send us pictures of your final masterpiece!

I have a fabulous shell project coming up within the next week for those of you looking for beautiful ways to display shells in your home. As always, thank you for your comments, emails and feedback, I really appreciate your interest in The Exchange.

Cheers!

Cyndy

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