Wall Decor on a VERY SMALL BUDGET

Hello!  I know it's been forever since I've posted any projects on here, and I'm sorry for that.  My day job just kept getting in the way.  :)  Today though I have a really cool project to show you.  I just switched jobs and have a much larger office than my last one, which means MORE DECORATING!!  Well I have this one wall that is too thin to put a nail or a screw in, but it needed something.  This is what I came up with and I must say I just LOVE IT!

Now lets talk supplies:

1.  Picture Frames-I went to Michaels Crafts and just got these unpainted frames for $1.99/piece for the big ones and $1.99/2 small ones.  They were on clearance yesterday.  You can also just go to the dollar store and get some frames or another craft store and get unpainted or painted frames.  I recommend getting a few different shapes/designs and sizes.

2.  Scrapbook Paper-However many frames you decide to do, get that many pieces of scrapbook paper and make sure they somewhat go together.  Cost:  at the most .20/piece

3.  Scissors

4.  Rubber Cement-Pick up at any craft store.  Cost:  $4/bottle, but you won't use anywhere near the whole bottle and this stuff is handy to have around.

5.  Optional:  Paint and Paint Brushes-whatever color paint you want to paint the frames.  Costs:  $1/bottle and $1/brush

Now that you have everything you need lets get started!  The first thing I did was paint the frames.  They only needed one coat of paint!  This is a picture of before the paint.

After you get them painted and they have dried the next step is cutting out the scrapbook pages to fit the frames.

After you have the paper cut to fit the frame, then the next step is cementing the paper to the frame.  Now, if you use traditional frames that have glass or a backing, then you do not need to do this next step.  My frames were just frames with no back so I had to glue the paper on.  I simply brushed the rubber cement onto the back of the frame and then carefully placed the paper onto the frame.  Make sure you go little by little to avoid any bubbles.

Now you've made your first piece of wall art!  Continue repeating those same steps until you have all the frames you want to do.  HELPFUL HINT:  If you have a frame that is larger than just one 12x12 piece of paper.  Simply combine two identical pieces of scrapbook paper together, line them up and clue them together.  I did this on two of them and you can't even tell!

Another HELPFUL HINT:  I had two little frames that I just found in the dollar bins and Michaels and thought they were cute.  They were actual frames with a thick plastic to protect the picture (instead of glass, hey it was the dollar bin!) and I cut that out because I really like the look without the glare of shine from any glass or plastic.  You might consider doing that too even if you use real frames, but of course that's up to you!  make it your own!

After you have finished making all your frames, now it's time to hang them.  Remember, don't be a perfectionist with this.  They are supposed to be hung at different levels and areas.  I would recommend placing them on the floor first and figuring out a pattern you like.  After you have done that, start hanging.  You can just hang with nails, or if your wall is one like mine that you can't put nails in, then I just used those sticky Velcro strips I got at Target for like $9/12 sets and I put those on the back.  And here was my finished product....

My final thoughts:  I just loved this project and was able to finish 8 frames (including  painting, drying, cutting, mounting) in just a couple hours.  It was so easy and it really does look cool in my office.  Plus if you get bored with the colors you choose after a couple weeks/months, pull off that scrapbook paper and add on a different one.  There are so many different things you can do with this, from choosing a different style of frame, to different colors of scrapbook paper, etc.  It was so easy and literally cost me about $10 to complete the whole thing (I already had the rubber cement at the house).

Overall DIY Grade:  A+ this was such an easy and inexpensive project and I really think it looks great in my office by bringing in some color.

Good Luck DIYers. And don't forget, post comments, questions, and pictures of how your projects turned out! Also, feel free to request a project you have seen somewhere and wondered how easy/hard it was. I would love to try it!