Making Pictures

Hi friends!

I hope you are enjoying your summer!

I have a decorating post for you today...

I've been putting the finishing touches on our family room and thought you'd like to see how I make pictures for my home.

My home is a mix of old and new, with an emphasis on what feels authentic for an old farmhouse.

Sometimes when I'm out and about, I'll happen upon something that really speaks to me; something that I think will be perfect for my home.

This happened recently when I was in a gift shop.

I found a rack of greeting cards that I thought were really beautiful.

They were $3.00 each.

I bought three and decided to make them into pictures for this skinny wall in the family room...

The frames are from Hobby Lobby. I think they look antique! They were $6.00 each.

I bring up prices to demonstrate that walls can be filled beautifully on a budget.

You just need to be willing to think outside the box!

(Tip: If you decide to do this, make sure to pop the easel off the back before hanging it. If you leave it on, the frame won't lay nice and flat against the wall.)

This most recent picture making project caused me to realize that I've done this quite a bit throughout my home.

The idea started years ago with my grandparents.

When I was a teenager I was given this picture for my bedroom...

(The note on the back...)

My grandparents tore a page from an old book and framed it for me.

It hung in my childhood bedroom, and has been with me in all my homes ever since.

The idea to make pictures has stayed with me, too.

Come take a look around! I'll show you some examples...

This bird botanical came out of an old book.

I had this antique frame that I wanted to use but the sizes didn't match up.

When this happens, my trick is to get a matte cut to 'marry' the two.

(You can get small mattes cut at craft stores very inexpensively. Just bring in the picture and the frame and they'll measure and cut everything for you.)

I've done this trick several times throughout my home.

Here's another one...

Framing pictures from old books is a great way to decorate.

If the book is already damaged or holds no sentimental value, I have no problem doing this.

Here are other pictures I've made using pages from old books, and frames I had on hand...

In these cases a matte wasn't needed...

I just adore this one...

Reminds me of my Nola when baby Elsa was born.

See?...

(I may be getting off track, haha!)

Even old sheet music and postcards can be beautiful framed...

This last decorating trick I'm about to show you is one I've gotten a lot of milage out of...

Years ago I came across a site that offered free downloads from old books.

I found a flora and fauna book and selected my favorite pages to do this wall in my mudroom...

I simply printed them right here at home using card stock in the printer.

I took a different approach to matting these, however.

Since I purchased the frames new, they came with paper inserts - as all new store-bought frames do.

I flipped the paper over to reveal a perfectly plain white sheet.

Then I taped the picture onto the sheet before sliding it back into the frame.

(I measured a two-inch space on top, and a three-inch space on the bottom because as my mother would say, you need to give the eye a place to rest.)

Ta-da!

They look matted! And it was free!!!

I loved how this turned out so much, that I did a similar arrangement in my hallway upstairs...

Again, I just printed my favorite botanicals and put them in cheap, new frames.

(Taking the easels off the back before hanging them, of course. *wink)

Aren't these beautiful?!

But I couldn't stop there.

Once I saw how lovely this worked, I repeated the process with some African-themed prints in my boys' room...

(I'm sure I don't need to inform you that Soren "made" his bed the morning I snapped this picture, haha...)

If you decide to do this, make sure you find a site that says FREE downloads.

Some are not free, but that doesn't necessarily mean you can't print them.

For example, I found this precious baby owl years ago and just paid a small fee to get it printed.

(And here's my matte trick again, to 'marry' a print with a frame...)

I could go on and on, but I think you get the point.

Hopefully I've given you some ideas to try in your own home!

"By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures."

~ Proverbs 24:3-4

Let me know in the comments if you try any of these tricks!

Happy decorating!

xo,

~ Courtney ~