Creating wall art with fine handcrafted paper

Here is a quick and easy way to add art to a room and in doing so, add color, pattern and perhaps even some texture.

 

This was the fine handcrafted paper I shared with you last week. Both sheets have texture - the flowers are raised - and some sparkle, too.

 

 

The Daisy White and Gold paper cost $6.50

 



 

 

and the Flower Burst Purples cost just $4.95. Both sheets measured 22"x30"

 

 

 

I used 2 canvas boards: a 12"x16" and a 12"x24".

 

 

 

The only other tools: Mod Podge (glue) and a sponge brush

 

 

and a pair of scissors.

 

 

The easiest way to adhere the paper to the canvas boards is to lay the paper upside-down and the canvas as well, over the paper. The idea is to brush on the Mod Podge on the back of the canvas. This is sufficient to hold the paper in place when folded over.

At each corner I cut the paper at a 45 degree angle to the corner of the board (see arrow). I figured this would help me fold the paper more easily and create a clean edge/corner.
 

 

 

Apply Mod Podge (glue) along the edge that will fold over and press it/hold down gently to the board.

 

 

The triangle pieces created by the 45 degree cut were easily folded inwards to make a clean edge.

 

 

Repeat the same on the other three sides.

 

 

Allow time to dry.

 

Clean edges.

 

 

 

 

 



It was getting dark as I took these pictures - the walls are not such a deep lilac. We have not had much sun of late. You can see some sparkle.

 

 

Easy artwork. This did not take me long.

Hopefully, these boards will be up on the walls soon.

 

There is more to share with this room. Stay tuned.

 

If you require any help with Interior Decorating please click on the tab at the top of my page marked 'Services' or click here for further details.

 

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.



 

 

 

 



Project - to repurpose my salvation army finds in time for Christmas

I will be hosting Christmas this year. It has been a busy few weeks since the end of October and I have still got a lot of catching up to do in other areas.
My siblings and I take it in turn to host the various holidays through the year so that the bulk of the work does not fall on any one family for all holidays or the same holiday every year but more importantly so that every family gets to enjoy the preparation.

Typically I do a buffet style lunch for Christmas when there is a larger group and everyone is free to sit in the family room, living room or at the kitchen table. This year I have decided to do a sit-down meal - 8 adults at the dining room table and 5 kids at the kitchen table. The food will be laid out on the kitchen island.

 My dining room colors have changed and therefore I have to keep that in mind when setting up the dining table. I do not have time to go shopping for decorative items for the table and neither do I want to spend money unnecessarily. I paid a visit to a local Salvation Army last week in order to look for some glassware I could repurpose.

It is amazing what one can find in any local consignment or thrift store. This is what I came away with.

The glass with the 'X' is my own glass of water which I had forgotten was on the table at the time.

These candleholders have some scratches but could easily be repainted to look as good as new.

 

 

I love the shape and the height of these 6" juice (?) glasses (on the right). The single piece on the left is probably a vase.

 

 

These 7" beer glasses were also in perfect condition.

Apparently, if an item is on the shelves for more than 2 weeks at the Salvation Army the price is reduced by 50%. Perhaps this holds true for other such stores. I spent just over $20 for thirteen pieces.

These came in at half the sticker price. Note the date the items went on the shelves is also stamped.

One of my favorite items which is perfect to have out on display with some candy at the time of year is this crystal dish with lid.

 

I am considering spray painting the beer and juice glasses to use as bud vases along the dining table. I have been scouring Pinterest for inspiration although I have some idea what I want to do.

 

This mini project has to be quick and relatively easy - just 2 weeks to Christmas! And I have to find a non-rainy, non-windy day to spray paint!

 

If you require any help with Interior Decorating please click on the tab at the top of my page marked 'Services' or click here for further details.

 

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.

Easy Halloween Wreath

I decided to make a wreath for Halloween for the front door instead of

hanging the usual Fall wreath. This one took me about 15 minutes to complete.

 

 

 

 

I had to run to JoAnn's for some other items and grabbed whatever I could find for the wreath. I had a coupon and some things were on sale.

 

I bought a 12" Styrofoam wreath ($3.49)....

 

 

 

 

...netting ribbon in this honeycomb-like pattern. I liked the orange coloration ($1.99 each 12ft. roll; I  bought 2 just in case; I could return one if unused),...

 

 

 

 

 

...and this mask ($3.99).

 

 

 

The great thing about using a Styrofoam wreath is no glue or other adhesive was necessary for this part. I have a ton of these pins at home.

 

 

 

 

With the pins in hand I wrapped the ribbon around the wreath. One pin held the beginning of the ribbon in place on the inside where it will not be seen.

 

 

 

 

As I wrapped the ribbon around, I overlapped it marginally to create a pattern. I had hoped for a stronger color throughout. It still looked good. Every few inches I used another pin to hold the ribbon in place.

 

 

 

 

Notice the pattern.

(I should have done this over newspaper as I had a lot of glitter from the ribbon on the table).

  

 



 

 

Fortunately I had the second roll of the ribbon because one roll did not cover the entire wreath. Perhaps it would have had I not overlapped it to create a pattern.

 

 

 

The part where I planned to place the mask would have less of the ribbon. I determined placement of the mask. The kids and I had decided the wreath would look more interesting if the mask was placed to one side.

 

 

 



 

Second roll in hand I started wrapping again. This time, I decided to double over alternate wraps to create a stronger color and a pattern slightly different from the first.

 

 

 

 

New pattern and again, double-checking placement of the mask.



 

 

 

I used a glue gun to affix the mask to the wreath.

 

 

 

Some ribbon was left over and I used that to hang the wreath on the door on the knocker.

 

 

 

 

We also decided to keep the black ribbons on the mask for added effect.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Like I said, this project took about 15 minutes to complete up to the time I left the hot glue to dry. The wreath is a little skewed to the right because of the weight of the mask but that is fine.

 

Linking to Savvy Southern Style

If you require any help with Interior Decorating please click on the tab at the top of my page marked 'Services' or click here for further details.

 

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.

 

My Fall Book Pumpkin

A few nights before Halloween I decided to attempt to make my own book paper pumpkin. I do not think it is too late to share this, although some of us are already thinking about December, we are still in Fall.

There have been many versions of this pumpkin but I first came across these on EAK! a House! and Craftberry Bush. This was too cute a project to pass up. I used a reasonably old (but not antique) book. I found this image online and decided to use it to carve out the outline on a piece of cardboard for a template.

I used part of a box headed for recyling to cut out the template of just one half of the pumpkin.

I removed the cover and spine and placed the template on the first page of the book ....and proceeded to cut into the book taking a few pages at a time.

I must have been tired that evening as I did not realize until I was halfway into the book that it had 480 pages! I could have picked something smaller but it was too late to quit.

I used a pair of scissors. An exacto knife is another option. Once I reached the end I proceeded to cut along the bottom to get a better shape. This is not a "perfect" pumpkin and it was not intended to be.

I used a brewed teabag to antique the pages a little..I could not do all 480 pages but attempted some!

I had a branch of an indoor plant that was dying and so I cut it to use as the stalk. I placed it within the spine and then proceeded to hot-glue it and used a baggie clip - these are always so handy - to hold it in place while the glue dried. I let it sit all night to allow it to adhere to the book.

The next morning I decided to cover the stalk with some hemp I had on hand to make it look more substantial.

I started at the top of the stalk....

...then realized I had left an offshoot to cover too.

 So I undid it and started hot-glueing the smaller branch first. In order to cover the tip I glued a piece upward (see arrow) and at the tip proceeded to wrap around while glueing and working down the branch.

I held the twine in place with a baggie clip while the glue dried.

Then I started at the top of the main branch again and worked my way down in the same way.

I covered the pumpkin where the stalk meets the pages in order to add some character to the piece and show where the stalk "grows out". I went around in circles a few times and glued as I went along.

Yes, there is a gap, but that is ok.

Lastly, I decided to add a piece to the base and formed a circle with some hemp and hot-glued that to the base. (You might see a glimpse of strings of glue here and there but I removed them once the glue had dried).

Here is the final piece. I am not sure if the stalk is too large...my experience with pumpkins is limited (I did not grow up being familiar with them..different countries, etc).

I looked at other pics online and found this..

via

and this..

via Google images

So I think I am ok with this one - my rough-around-the-edges book pumpkin.

What do you think? Do you think I should make the stalk shorter? This is easily remedied. For next year I might add some more tea to the pages for a little more color variation. This is such a fun project but I would recommend using a book with fewer pages. I think mine will suffice for this Fall season.

I am linking this mini project up to Home Stories A to Z

   

and Someday Crafts

If you require any help with Interior Decorating please click on the tab at the top of my page marked 'Services' or click here for further details.

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.

Lisa