Easy Wall Art

If you're like me you hate to throw things away that have at least some creative potential. Or, again like me, have a decorating budget of next to nilch...you think, "I wish I could spruce up my walls but not spend half my paycheck at the craft store." Bet you didn't know that you probably have everything you need to do just that in your craft room, garage, attic, or can easily be gotten at a local thrift store.

Here is what I made today.

This is what you'll need.

• old calendar
• straight edge + exacto knife (paper cutter or a steady hand with scissors will work)
• matte board (safe cutting surface)
• glue gun
• picture frame larger than your selected artwork
• fabric scrap large enough to fill the frame

1. Trim away your soon to be masterpiece. Don't stress if your edges are not absolutely perfect. (mine weren't) An important lesson in crafting is to look at everything from a real-life distance; you don't ever actually see anything as up close as when you were making it - shoulders hunched, neck craned, nose practically touching the table. However, if your straight-edge or picture really start sliding around use some masking tape to keep them in line.

2. Lay your fabric face down and place the backing of the picture frame in the center. Now is a good time to trim away excess fabric. (you only need to wrap around the backing 1" - 1.5", enough so the fabric isn't pulling away from the glue) Glue down the edges in a gift-wrapping fashion to keep the front smooth and taut.

3. Optional, depending on your frame. The frame I'm using is a vintage thrift-store find so it doesn't have all the necessary backing and the glass needs some TLC. Use some thick scraps of whatever you have laying around as spacers to keep the picture in place - foam core board, cardboard, packing foam...you get the idea. (balsa wood scraps used here)

4. Attach artwork using a little hot-glue and proudly display on any lonely wall or bookshelf!

This could also be a really fun way to have a rotating display of kids' artwork! What's a better way to make your little artist feel special by having their handiwork displayed in a gallery-worthy frame? Rather than gluing the art to the fabric panel, just make sure to have a piece of glass in place.