Art Win!

After my disastrous art project attempt for Valentine's Day I've been 'off' art projects. But I took to Pinterest and started pinning so many awesome looking projects that I felt like the time was right to try again.

First up- here is my cheapest project ever. I already had these frames that have always been above our bed. I popped the paper off the back and lifted out the stock art work (which I saved should I want to try to re-use it again sometime later). I inserted a section of wrapping paper from PaperSource. I got one sheet of paper for 3.50 and cut it into to thirds. I was careful to make sure that each section had a different part of the print on it. Then I popped each piece into the back of the frames I already had and closed them up again.

Presto! Instant art update for less than a five spot.

Next up was this awesome looking tutorial from Pinterest on making your own simple abstract art. The tutorial showed a woman letting her child paint with finger paints on cheap canvas and I looked at it and said "I could do that!". So I went to the craft store and bought a canvas two pack of 11 x 14. I think it cost me about 13 dollars total. Then I saw that they have new Martha Stewart craft paint line and I got hooked. She is so good with color and our bedding set is by her so I thought if I was gonna match the blue, that's the best chance I'd have. Luckily for me I read up the color wheel and noticed they organize the colors in a very helpful way. I knew that I wanted a split complementary color scheme using light blue with light orange/coral to complement it. So I found the bright blue (Greek Key) that I loved and picked three colors lighter than that and one darker (the navy, which I also loved).  Then I found the orange which is called Fresh Salmon. Perfect!

Next I pushed the two canvases side by side and taped them off together so they would work as a duo. Then I used a sponge applicator to apply the paint. My friend Melissa came over and gave me a second set of eyes. It was a lot of fun to have another person around to help out and give feedback. We both agreed that it came out really well. Steven sprayed it with a protective clear coat for me and then we were able to hang it up in the bedroom.

 I also found lamps that I loved at Target. I think the new white shades and clear/silver acrylic lamp bases give it a little glamor without being too fussy. You have to imagine how the photos will look when I swap out the white with black curtains for black with white. I have the materials, I just need to assemble and sew them. Maybe on a another weekend soon... I think the black curtains will give a lot more balance to the color in the room. I also have a black chair to bring in. I want to move the dressing table to the other side of the room and put in a sitting nook with the chair and maybe a bright blue side table. Again- a project for another day.

 I think the tryptic is nice above the bed- it sort of acts as a headboard, but we need two larger pieces over the lamps to balance the wall out. The ceilings are very high and all one color, which makes it look like endless space, but the truth is, you'd never hang anything above the wall line which is at about 7 feet, then the roof starts to slant. Hence, needing larger scale art.

 I saw this photo when we were staying in Seattle and I'd love to recreate it or buy something similar and have that framed and hung in the space above the lamps. One thing at a time.

Lastly, I found another tutorial for some canvas art inspired by the Kate Spade "Confetti". Since I love Kate Spade, as well as confetti, I decided that might make a fun project to try for bathroom art. I bought a small hole punch, some colored card stock and tacky glue and went to work. The whole thing took maybe 15 minutes. Melissa suggested I paint the canvas to give it a little color, so we did that and then she glued one canvas and I did the other. We both agree it reminds us of soap bubbles. I thought that was perfect for bathroom art! I'm looking forward to getting some blue towels in here and maybe a little hook to hang the hand towel on. 

I have a feeling it will take the entire rest of the year to finish this, but this is one of the largest rooms in the house. It's really nice to put effort into a room that you spend a lot of time in. I feel like we've had the same art/linens/look for the last four years. It was really time for change! Thank goodness these projects turned out so well. I'm ready to tackle the curtains next.