Chic on the Cheap - DIY Wall Art

Create something unique with these ideas for easy, inexpensive, do-it-yourself wall art. Design your own one-of-a-kind art with wallpaper, fabric, scrapbook paper, greeting cards, original photographs / pictures, calendar illustrations….

Frame It

We all do it - buy greeting cards and never send them, pick up funky paper for scrapping and never scrap with it, save a calendar because we love the photos or illustrations. It’s time to dig out those treasures and put them on display. Purchase some inexpensive picture frames like the Ribba at Ikea or the Flat Frame – Black (8×10″) for $6.99 at Target and let those creative juices flow.

Trim the item(s) to be framed to the appropriate opening size. If your frame includes a mat, use it as a guide for centering your image and marking the correct trimming size.

For paper items, use scissors, a straight edge with a sharp utility knife or a paper trimmer. For fabric, use sharp scissors or a rotary cutter. If using a utility knife or rotary cutter to trim, make sure you are working on a protected surface or cutting mat.

Position items inside the frame. If necessary, adhere your art to the inside of the frame with archival quality or acid-free tape. We’ve used small tape squares to attach our scrapbooking paper to the underside of the frame’s mat.

Admire your handiwork!

Stretch It

Fabric hounds can finally make use of their hoard of must-have fabrics. Yes, we know all about you fabric collectors - falling in love with and purchasing yards of fabrics that get stashed away because you have no place to use them! Well, here’s a way that you can use some of your precious collections and appreciate them on a daily basis. Pick up artist’s stretcher frames from an art and craft supply store like Michael’s and wrap those frames with your favorite fabrics.

Lay fabric out wrong side up. Place stretcher frame upside down on fabric.

Secure fabric in place with a staple gun. For ease of use, we recommend an electric staple gun. Staples should be placed inside the frame. Working on the first side, start in the center and move out to the edges. Place staples an even distance apart.

Change to the opposite side of frame and staple as with the first side - pulling the fabric taut.

Trim excess fabric, leaving enough to wrap over the stretcher frame.

For the remaining two sides, pull fabric taut, tack the centers of each side with several staples, then go to the corners. Like wrapping a present, fold corners over, crease firmly, and staple in place.

Finish stapling edges.

Behold - original contemporary wall art!