Affordable Art Week

Today I'm be kicking off Affordable Art Week, where each day this week I'll feature a very inexpensive way to put some nice artwork onto those walls. I think that a lot of times, people aren't sure how or what to put up onto their walls, so hopefully this week I'll give you some new ideas.

For today, I wanted to share a few websites that I've used to purchase art prints, rather than buying already framed art, which can get very expensive!

Art.com

Allposters.com

You can find almost anything on here! Any style, any color, ANYTHING! This is where I found the art print for my entryway. If you buy the prints this way, and then find some inexpensive frames at thrift stores, flea markets, and/or garage sales, it will cost way less then buying already framed art.

I love vintage prints. While shopping in Bed Bath & Beyond one day, I saw this Vogue print and HAD to have it! But instead of buying it there, I found the print online and had a frame for it, which ended up being half the price of what the store wanted. Now it is hanging up in my master bathroom and it is fabulous!

If you have a frame that is a little bigger than the print you want to use, you can make your own matting using cardstock.

How I got the $500 look for $50

A few years back, my Aunt had a Ballard Designs catalog laying around at her house, and when I flipped through it, I fell in love. The catalog was full of fabulous home decor items, including artwork, fabric, furniture, and accessories. The only downside is, all the stuff I wanted was a bit out of my budget price range. I saw this grouping of prints that I loved, and I knew I wanted on my walls somewhere. I found a way to re-create the look. It was merely a large print, cut up into smaller pieces and framed. So, I decided to find a replica of the print through an online art website, went to Wal-Mart and picked up 8 of those $3 wood frames, and started cutting away at the art print. Here is what I came up with. Ballard Designs wanted over $500 for their collection, and I paid 10% of the price for my version. These are hanging in my entry, and I have plans for my husband to build me an entry table to complete the look.

Next week, I'll go over affordable ways to get art up onto those walls!

Shirt Re-fashion

I've been a little tired of my wardrobe lately, so I decided to re-fashion some of my clothes. I took this maroon plain shirt, and a pair of girls' soccer shorts that I got at the thrift store for a quarter, and made something that I think is super cute!

I found the idea based on this fabulous tutorial here:
http://www.madebylex.com/2010/02/anthropologie-pratia-tank-top-tutorial.html

cheap art

A few weeks ago, I had a baby shower to go to for a friend of mine. I always like to give unique and handmade gifts, so I took a little mod podge, a piece of scrap wood from the garage, scrapbook paper, and here is what I came up with. I asked her ahead of time what her nursery colors were, so it matched her decor. I just cut the scrapbook paper into shapes and brushed it onto the wood with the mod podge.

hometrends

I've had a chance to look at Walmart's new line of home decor products called hometrends, and I must say I'm impressed! Everything looks really stylish, and is super affordable. I've been searching for the right lampshade for my bedroom, and I think this line carries the one for me.

You can check out their stuff right here
http://connect.walmart.com/Hometrends/

Fashion Trends Spring 2010

I think that any fashion trend can translate into interior design...so here are some current trends that are worth noting...

Metallics - Think copper vases, and shabby metal frames.

Pastels - This is a no-brainer. Spring = pastels, so decorate accordingly!

Nautical - Sailor-Style translated into interior design can mean blue and white striped throw pillows, all different shades of white, rope trimming, light, bleached out woods.

Latest Project

One of things I wanted for Christmas last year, was an electric sander. I have had so many repurposing projects in the past that have required me to sand them with sandpaper by hand, so I a sander was definitely a need in my book. My mom delivered, and my latest project with it has been this little rocking chair that I discovered at a garage sale for $2. This chair has got to be atleast 40 years old, because there is layer upon layer of this heavy duty paint! I am working to sand it all off so that I can repaint it and make a cute little chair with a cushion for my daughters. It takes me about an hour to do one section of this chair, so it has been a slow project! Hopefully it will be done soon so that I can post pictures!