Easy Wall Art

Showcasing fine art on your walls doesn't have to be hard. It's easy to pick something from your favorite artist or from photographs you love, but creating something of your own is a little more impressive. You don't have to be an artist for this project. Anyone can do it.  It's easy, ridiculously affordable and takes no time to complete. 

Materials: X-acto knife or scissors, double-sided tape or craft glue, a frame and images of your choice.

First, you want to decide on the image or design you want to use and how big you want it. Depending on the room, try to have it blend in with the decor.  Just remember to have fun with it. This is where you can express your style and showcase your design skills. I'm choosing to go with a pattern for mine.

A good place to find images and inspiration are magazines. The pages also have a nice quality that will be noticed so keep that in mind. I recommend design magazines, like Elle Decor, because there is so much to choose from and it has an array of patterns that are inspiring. You'll find something for each room in just one magazine.

However, there are tons of cool choices out there, so whatever you have lying around the house will work too. If your magazine collection is a little sparse, stop by CVS on Sunrise Highway or Rite Aid on North Village Avenue and check out their selection. You can even try wrapping paper or scrap book sheets if you find a really cool pattern!

Once you have your image, it's time to decide on another image you're going to use. The idea with this project is to play with shapes and outlines. So if you have stencils around the house, this would be a good time to experiment or draw your own design.  

Being a graphic designer, I have tons of stock illustrations and vector images to choose from, so I'll look to my collection to help me out with this one. But I know not everyone has this privilege, so here's a website I highly recommend you check out: vecteezy.  Just click on browse and search their gallery. I'm sure you'll find something really cool.

Now that you have your second image, trace it over the first one.  Then, cut out the outline using an X-acto knife or scissors. Put it to the side and get your frame ready. If you already have a frame that isn't being used, great. If not, try Precise Art & Framing on North Village Avenue or Village Framer and see what frames they have for sale. If you don't have any luck, then hit up a Michaels or A.C. Moore and you'll definitely find one.

The only thing left to do is frame your piece.  Use some double-sided tape or glue to adhere it to a piece of paper. You can use white or any other color you like. Put the frame together and you're done! Hang your new creation up for everyone to see and I'm sure it will spark some conversation.

You can really get creative with this project. A cute idea for a kids' room is to use the initials of the child's name. Another good idea you might want to try is outlining your family in a photo or individual members and showcasing them in a new and modern way. Any way you choose to go, be proud of what you've made and remember anyone can DI,  so go ahead and give it a try!