9.06.2011

Clearance artwork revamp

A few weeks ago (ok, if we're being realistic it was probably a few months ago) I found a set of 3 seriously ugly prints on super-clearance at Joann's for like $3.97 each.



As if the prints weren't bad enough, the pewter frames made me gag. Alas, I looked deep - past their $3.97 price tags, baby blue leafs and shiny frames - to see their true potential.

So I took em apart and spray painted the frames all white one weekend.

(yes, I frequently utlize a thorn bush in my backyard as a spraypainting station)

Except I have no patience, and didn't FEEL like sanding them down beforehand, so they came out bumpy & bubbly and yucky and, thinking back, I probably had even whined to Scott about it, because he took pity upon me and started sanding them down so I could try the white paint thing again.(Sigh... sad face)

Thankfully I had been standing over him and was able to halt the sanding process when I realized how great they looked in their distressed stage.

The project pretty much ended there, as I couldn't find any maps either large enough (18"x6") or pretty enough for my tastes.

That is until a few weeks later when we were in Jamaica and I found these two Caribbean souvenir maps that screamed out my name. Good things come to those who wait, right?!



So I spent a few hours cutting up maps, spray adhesive'ing them to my hands to the preexisting foliage shot, replacing the glass, moving the hanging hardware to the opposite side, struggling to hold all 3 on the wall and eyeballing the location (what, I'm stubborn and didn't want help from anyone), hammering nails in, rehammering nails in when I realized how uneven they were, and then finally stepping back to admire my handiwork.

I now have three pretty pieces of artwork hanging on my dining room wall reminding me of my favorite place to escape to! The Caribbean!



Even though this project took me WAY longer than it should have to complete, I'm still really happy with it! It makes me smile everytime I walk through there. And for $12 worth of frames and $14 worth of maps, I can't really beat the price! A grand total of $20some for three framed pieces of art - yes please and thank you!

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19 comments:

Heather said...

Those turned out SO cute! That's on my to-do list.

Michelle (michabella) said...

You are so crafty. Love how they turned out!! :)

Ashley @ The Sweet Life said...

These look great! Good Job :)

Amanda said...

Looks great, Chels! Want to come do this for me? Thanks :)

Alyssa said...

Love them! Looks like you paid a fortune! And I love the color of your walls!

Aly @ Analyze This said...

Lookin' good! I'm so borrowing this idea!

Lexilooo said...

love these!

Jessica said...

Totally awesome! Great job :)

Kelly said...

Oh WOW! Those look amazing. You're so crafty!! :-D And the Caribbean maps are perfect for you. Thanks for sharing!

Mateya said...

These look awesome...especially with the paint color on that wall. Love it!

Chelsea said...

looks awesome!!!!!

Kristen said...

Good work! I love the distressed look of the frames!

Anonymous said...

Those came out so cute! I love it!

Marian said...

Seriously, you amaze me everyday with your craftiness!! I wish we lived closer so you could give me tutorials! And then we could get whitegirl wasted/ crackertrashed after:)

Adrian {Happy girl} said...

Oh I love this idea!! I've had teh same boring black and white European architecture prints in black frames hanging on my walls in the last 3 places I've lived, and they need a revamp. I hope to get a crafty bug soon and go to town on them! Thanks for the inspiration!

Chelsea @ two twenty one said...

What, you don't like baby blue leaves and pewter frames? They're so in right now. I love the map idea! They look awesome!

Mrs. H said...

they look awesome on your coral wall!

Sarah @ Scissors and a Whisk said...

Dang girl, looks good!!!! Good job :D

Jax said...

They look fabulous! Great job! I totally wouldnt have sanded them either.. haha.. :)