$1 Fabric Embellished Frame

This is another part of the gallery wall that I've been working on for-e-ver.  

As I've mentioned before, dollar store frames are good bases to start with because if your vision for the frame doesn't work out you're only out a buck and some time.  Plus, it's so easy to make them look better!

Start with a frame that has a flat space, it could be a gold frame from the dollar store like this one, a new frame, thrift frame, or a frame that you already own that could use a little face-lift. 

Directions 

1. Paint the frame (I painted this frame with a foam brush.  I also sprayed it with a white primer first.)
2. Cut a strip of fabric that is just less than 3 times the width of the space you want to fill.
3. Fold the fabric in thirds and press.
4. With open edges down, start at the bottom of the frame and hot glue the fabric in place.
5. Fold the fabric at each corner.
6. When you come to the end, fold the end of the fabric under so the raw edge is hidden.
7. Cut a piece of fabric (if you'd like) to put in the frame to display pictures over.

I took a picture of the frame with a leaf in it just to show how easy it is to display other items over the fabric (osnaburg).  This frame would be great for displaying photos and mementos in a scrapbook style, like a photo at the zoo with a ticket stub for example.  No photo mat needed! 

Easily personalize the frame with paint and fabric choices.

The fabric matches the curtains I made for the room and helps tie in all of the colors of the other items on the wall as well.  I wasn't sure how I'd like a frame with fabric on it, but I have to say, I'm pretty happy with how it turned out!

 Today's Fabulous Find...

Embellishing Frames with Fabric

 

Linking to:  Tator Tots and Jello

Thrift Frame: Painting Vinyl Designs

This frame is another part of the gallery wall in my dining room.  I have two more projects to finish and then I'll post pictures and show you how it has all come together and move on--promise! :)  

I was waiting for an epiphany on how to finish this frame and I think I finally got it!  I wanted something round in shape to go with the monogram frame and that kept with the theme of my gallery wall--a nest made perfect sense.

The 'Before'--a $1 Thrift Store Find

Click here for the tutorial on how to paint the frames.  The color of the green frame is Valspar's Apple 4.  

The bird nest design started as an image from Microsoft clip art.  I followed the tutorial here at Sew Dang Cute to convert it into an image that could be cut with the Silhouette.

I applied the vinyl nest to the outside of the glass and then used paint to add some much needed color.

The color of paint I wanted to use (Rustoleum's Sage) is spray paint, so I sprayed some into a plastic cup and then painted it onto the glass using a disposable foam brush.  The paint went on very smooth and because it's on the opposite side of the glass from the vinyl it also gives it some dimension. 

I like how the texture of the burlap (on the backside of the glass) shows through in the nest. This picture best represents the actual colors.

Painting the eggs on the glass was so much fun and I can not wait to try this again!  In a way it reminds me of paint by number pictures. 

If you were to cut a vinyl design as your outline and put it on glass, you could paint it any color that you want and not be limited by the availability of vinyl colors.  Paint is less expensive than vinyl too. 

Additional Ideas

• For a boys room you could cut out the outlines of a train, plane, and automobile in vinyl, put the designs on 8x10 (dollar store or thrift) frames, and then paint the back of the glass in colors that matched the bedroom design.
• For a girls room you could use flowers, butterflies, princesses, crowns, etc.
• Other projects you could use this technique on include:  small ornaments, signs, or names (one letter in each frame and hung with a ribbon). 

I hope you're enjoying your weekend! 

Today's Fabulous Find...

Painting Vinyl Designs on Glass

Linking to:  House of Hepworths   The Shabby Creek Cottage    Creations By Kara    Lil' Luna    Home Stories A to Z    Under the Table and Dreaming   Skip To My Lou

 

Our 'Branch' of the 'Family Tree'

The rain clouds finally went on their merry way so I was able to snap a few pics of my latest project.  It's another part of the gallery wall that I'm working on--I like to think of it as our 'Branch' of the 'Family Tree'.   

I found random silhouette images online for the purpose of this post but I will actually have black and white photos of my family in it, which I love.  I printed one of my husband and I together for the top frame and a picture of each of my kids for the four frames below.

(I would have used silhouette's of my own family if I wasn't already planning on using photos.)

Supplies:

• Piece of a Dry Branch
• Small Frames
• Jute Twine
• Hot Glue
• Picture Hanger
• Pictures

Directions:

Find a stick that is similar in shape to this one with one straight upper branch and one straight lower one (it's upside down in this picture).  You can leave it natural or spray paint it.  The color of mine is Heirloom White from Rustoleum.

I found these frames at a local craft store and bought five of them for $1 each.  They measure 1 1/2" x 2".

Hot glue a piece of jute onto the back.  Line up the ends one over the other so the frames will hang straight when you loop them over the branch.  (It might be necessary in some places to loop the jute over the branch first before gluing it to the frame.)

Print and cut your images to the size of your frame and tape them to the back.  This is an earlier version that I tried with the original black frames and a chevron print behind the silhouettes. 
 

It's hard to tell in the picture, but the whole branch is only 12" long.

To hang it, I used one of the picture hangers that comes to a point on the end and hammers directly into the frame (or branch in this case.)  If you look to the right in the photo, you'll see a small piece of a branch that is hot glued to the back of the main branch.  This was added so the branch would hang straight with the wall.

I wanted the top frame to sit on the log, but didn't want it to fall off if it was bumped so I hot glued two loops of jute to the back of it.  I also hammered a nail into the wall right below the end of the branch to hold the weight so it would hang level.

I loved the detail on the frames, but it was lost in their dark color.  I brushed on some green paint (Valspar's Apple 4 in a sample size) and then used a wet paper towel to immediately wipe some of it back off to show the dark details.  I'm really happy with the outcome and love the brighter green color.

The chevron behind the silhouettes didn't look exactly how I'd envisioned it, so I printed them again with a white background instead for a cleaner look.

My Total Cost: $5

I imagine this family branch could also be a fun gift for grandparents with pictures of all of their grandchildren hanging from the branch.  Depending on the family you might need a much larger branch. :)

Today's Fabulous Find...

Our 'Branch' of the 'Family Tree'

Linking to: Tip Junkie    Lil' Luna    Creations By Kara    Under the Table and Dreaming    Six Sister's Stuff   Funky Junk Interiors     Lolly Jane Boutique    Tator Tots and Jello    My Repurposed Life

Featuring: DIY Summer Flatware Caddy and a New PrintRunner Sticker Winner

I didn't hear back from the PrintRunner winner, so I've randomly selected a new one.  The new winner of the PrintRunner stickers is...

Heather B. who said:  What a resourceful idea!  I would love these stickers!

Congratulations Heather!   You will need to e-mail me by 12 pm tonight to claim your prize or I will have to select another winner.

DIY Summer Flatware Caddy

Tanya at twelve-O-eight took an ordinary thrift find caddy and with a little effort turned it into a fun and functional piece for any Summer BBQ!



My thanks to Tanya for permission to use this image.  Please PIN it from the original post, thanks!

Click over for the painting directions and to see a great before and after project! 

Today's Fabulous Find...DIY Summer Flatware Caddy

Monogrammed Thrift Frame (before and after)

This is another frame that will be part of the gallery wall in my dining room.  It's taking me forever to get this gallery wall done but I think it will be worth it in the end.  It's finally starting to all come together!

I'm seeing that people are decorating with gold frames again/still and the sketch I think is actually kind of sweet, but it just wasn't what I was going for. 

I bought two octagon shaped frames for only $1.00 each at our local Deseret Industries (thrift store).  I actually Googled octagon frames for ideas and my frames came up in the search as 'vintage' from 1984 and are worth a whopping $12 each, woo hoo!  What I would like to know is since when are the 80's considered vintage?!  I feel so old.   

I'm working on refinishing the other frame as well and am waiting to receive an epiphany on how to finish it.  I have some ideas, but none of them so far have felt like they're 'the one'.

The gold finish needed a coat of grey primer first before the paint.  I spray painted it with Rustoleum's sage color spray paint.  It's the same color as the dollar store diva frame that I recently posted.

I followed Stephanie Lynn's tutorial for the monogram.  I cut out the vinyl with my Silhouette and then added a piece of burlap behind the glass.  I really like the texture that the burlap adds.

A Little Side Note

When I post about Silhouette (vinyl) projects I hope that it doesn't make any of you feel bad that want one but aren't able to buy one, I worry about that.  They're pretty pricey and it seems if you read craft blogs that everyone has one.

I've mentioned this before, but since many of you are new readers, I'm saying it again:  Enter the Silhouette giveaways!  It was a long shot (1 out of over 2,000 I think), but I actually won my Silhouette!  I entered 15 giveaways and even stayed up really late one night to do it.  It was the last comment that I left at nearly 4 am that won.  Was I extremely tired the next day?  Yes!  Was it worth it?  Definitely!  It never hurts to try, you never know, you might actually win.

To give it a distressed look, I used an ink pad (dark walnut) and the tip of my finger to apply the ink on the edges and corners.  The ink will just rub right back off, so it will need to be sealed with a clear acrylic spray.  You can use matte or gloss, whatever look you like best.

This is the fourth piece of the gallery wall that I've shown you.  The other pieces are the dollar store diva frame, the fabric covered magnet board, and the faux window.  It won't be a traditional gallery wall but I'm really excited with the direction it's going!

I'm curious, in my Google search I pretty much only saw 'vintage' octagon frames, have you seen any used in decor recently?  Would you hang one on your wall?

Today's Fabulous Find...$1 Octagon Thrift Frame

Linking up to:  House of Hepworths     Lil' Luna     I Heart Naptime