Empty Frame Wall Art: Revised

This post has been edited. I couldn't look at the project below on my wall for another minute. I love it in theory, and it works in the craft room...but somethings you just can't change. Things like YOUR self. My entire house is decorated in shades of blue, gray, and neutrals. The color seen below was stressing me out!

So, enjoy below the BEFORE and AFTER of the empty frame art.
Before

After

Inspiration, where does it come from? Sometimes when I am having a dry "crafty spell" I go hunting through blogland. There are so many great ideas out there, and I love when I find the perfect one. Well, I was in need of some real inspiration this past week, and I found it here on Ucreate. Check out the 5th picture down. Let's all just come to the consensus now that it is way classier than what you will see in a minute, but we'll proceed anyway and see what I got into this week.

I've been looking for something to occupy the space of the guest bed in my craft room. Honestly, my craft desk used to occupy space in the guest room, but times have changed around here and I've got to say I like it! Anyway, this room has gone through many changes, and I was very unsatisfied by how dark the room still felt. How was I supposed to be creative in such a drab space? So, I set out to remedy this situation, using what Kari had discovered.

First, I used some great magazine's I already had, (and purchased some additional ones at a discount book store for $.50), to create a fun graphic for the wall. (Again, this has now changed, but just in case you like it...read on!)

I just cut the covers off and used a glue stick to attach them to two poster boards taped together. My little assistant helped me choose the perfect layout.

We mounted this, with 3M poster strips I had lying around, above the headboard.



Next, I had to make a frame. I had planned on thrifting to purchase a giant old frame, but came up empty handed. ( I have to say for all that Goodwill offers, paying $39.75 for a giant frame there seemed a little steep to me still.) So, I had my husband cut some cheap chair rail for me into 3 foot strips. He used a table saw to cut the corners at a 45 degree angle.

Worried about splitting the wood with nails, I used the unconventional method of hot gluing wood to stick the frame sides together. It holds perfectly so I am pleased. I am totally aware that there are better ways out there to do this, but I went with the cheap, no additional materials needed, way to get the job done over here!

Next, all I needed to do was paint them the perfect cool blue, to go along with every other accent in my house. Perhaps it is getting a little monochromatic around here, hmmm?

When the frame was complete, I cut burlap strips from some left over scraps, and hot glued them to the back of the frame.

To hang the frame, I purchased a coat hook from a Target clearance aisle for $2.44 (win!). I screwed it into the wall, just below the crown molding, and...

Ta-da! Some bright graphic wall art was created using an empty frame and some recycled magazines. (Or other random paper wreaths and monograms you have lying around your house...)

Being the non-committal, A-type personality that I am, I have some mixed feelings about the results. So, let's lay out the pro's and con's and see what you think. (SO VERY non-commital, hence the re-post!)

Pro's
-It's big, and I LOVE big!
-Burlap ribbons make me happy!
-I'm in love with Martha Stewart, and now I get to be inspired by her everyday!
-I get to use a lot of exclamation points while posting this blog! yay!
-The frame can change forms a million times, and still be a worthwhile project!
-I got to recycle magazines!

Con's
-It's a lot of color. (Is that a con? Most of the things in my home are shades of blue, gray and something VERY neutral?
-It is not very sophisticated, and I am not generally that whimsical...hmm...
-I keep imagining the frame filled with one of my wreaths or some super cute silhouette plates. Now I am questioning whether or not I made the right choice going the graphic right?

Ohwell, for now I am just going to think I like it and be happy that my husband is too. (That DID NOT work out for me so well!) We can brainstorm later (aka, problem solved, for now!) Let's just check out what other great inspirations are floating out there in crafty world here.

I am pleased with the end result, even if it took a while to get here!

Happy Thursday friends!