DIY "Blueprint" Artwork

What can I say -I am on an artwork kick! 

I recently hung this picture in our hallway downstairs. 

Here's the story: 

I wanted an image with a black back ground- (like a blueprint), 

but had a tough time finding one, so I figured out how to make one from a regular image!

Below is the original image I found on Wikimedia Commons 

(click here for the full resolution image).

And here's how it looks with a "blueprint" effect going on!

So Cool!!!

I only have instructions for how to do this using a Mac 

(I'm sure the same thing is possible on other computers or using other picture editing software though).

So first I imported the image into iPhoto and then using their basic editing software I made the image black and white and saved the new image to a folder.  Next you want to invert the colors (make the white parts black and the black parts white).  Go into your folder (not iPhoto) and click on the image (the image should open using the "Preview app").  On the top left of your screen select "Tools", then "Adjust Color."  This will open an "Adjust Color" box -

Right under the box with the blue green, and red graphs (or hills), you see slide arrows.  Slide the left side arrow to the right, and the right side arrow to the left, this inverts the colors.

The great part is- You can do this to any image to give it a "Blueprint" look!

The rest is easy - 

Decide what size you want,

Print the image out at staples (they are the cheapest for black and white enlargements).

Then Mod Podge it to a canvas.

Finally paint the edges of the canvas black, 

(I also dabbed some of the black paint onto the paper image to blend the lines). 

 Then Hang it and Enjoy!

There is something about an "inverted" image that I love.

Hope this opens up some artwork possibilities for you too!

Large Scale Artwork

I pinned this picture a long time ago on Pinterest because I loved the artwork and hoped to figure out a way to DIY it.  

Well, I did it!

In this post I told you about discovering Wikimedia Commons for tons of free artwork.  

You can't imagine my excitement when I found this artwork!!!  I knew the rest would be easy!

I wanted this picture for the office (lots of decorating still to do in there!).  So based on that, I determined roughly the size I wanted.  The copy lady at Staples helped me know (based on the scale of the original image) what exact size it would end up being.  Mine ended up being 55"x45".  The printer at Staples can only handle blowing up pictures to 3 ft. tall so I asked the copy lady to please print the top half of the picture and then the bottom half separately with a little overlap so I could match the two halves together.  Sorry but I have no idea how she did that on her end - she just figured out how and got it done for me.  I love this lady - she figured out how to make my music artwork too!

Next I mod-podged it onto a 3/4" piece of plywood from Lowes that I had them cut to my pictures dimensions (cost for the wood was $22).  This was a great idea I got from here.  While at Lowe's I also picked up 3 pieces of 8ft. corner mold ($5 each).  This was to frame out the ugly edges of the plywood.  The cost of plywood ends up being slightly cheaper than buying a canvas and you can make the plywood any size you need which is a plus.  It is heavier though, so heavy duty picture hanging hardware was also required.  I picked some up at Hobby Lobby with a 40% off coupon so it was $6.

Once the picture was dry, I spray painted the corner molding black then glued 

and nailed it (using a nail gun) to the edges of the plywood.

Voila!

This print has a "grayish" imperfect background which I liked, but I still may stain it a bit 

to make it look "old" like my "pinned" inspiration picture.

So total cost was $43 plus around $6 for the 2 large prints from Staples - Just under $50.  

Not a big price difference from my Music Note artwork (it was $63) but this is slightly bigger.  

And I thought I should try (and blog about) another option for making large scale artwork.

DIY Artwork for the Guest Room

No bare walls are safe in my home- not even in a spare room that is rarely used!

This past week I spent lots of time searching for great pictures that are public domain so I could cheaply print them out at Staples and decoupage them to canvas.  With some time I finally found a Treasure Trove of pictures online!!!!  Have you ever heard of Wikimedia Commons - I hadn't!

Here is the first picture I found and fell in love with.

There are 2 blueprints found here and here.  I printed them both out to be 18x24.  Because it is black and white the print is just $3 at staples.  I then cut them up and fit them together on to these two canvases.  I got the canvas from Hobby lobby and used a 40% off coupon for each.  I spray painted all the edges black before adhering the pictures.  

Next I wanted a couple of Maps. 

 Everyone knows these are so popular right now but I didn't know where I could find a zillion of them!  Click here and scroll down to see all the possibilities!  These can also be blown up to a larger size for a very cheap price if you are printing in black and white.  I decided to simply print them out at home so it was free and they fit great in 8x10 frames.  I found these pretty mirrored frames on clearance at Homegoods.

 I chose a map of Paris and Milan.

That was all I ended up hanging in the Guest room (for now) but I am making a couple prints for elsewhere in my house and I'll share those in another post.

I haven't found anywhere (yet) to hang some of these awesome architectural drawings but wanted to share those with you as well.

So much of this artwork reminds me of stuff that Restoration Hardware is selling for Much, Much, More!

Jackson's Room Reveal!

BEFORE:

AFTER:

BEFORE:

AFTER:

For more info on the painted stripes click here.

For more info on the Desk and Chair just click!  The plug-in wall lamps are from ikea.

The Skateboard Bench at the end of the bed was made from an old skateboard I picked up at a garage sale and these legs.

For the guitar "art"  I just picked up some fence planks at Home Depot for about $5, and screwed them together using the plank scraps on the back (same as this other project).  Next I roughly painted them grey and attached the guitar hook.  For the Skateboard Hat Rack I picked up a cheap skateboard at a garage sale, using the heat from a blow dryer I carefully removed the grip tape then attached the hooks and hung it!

I stole this idea for the Bike Wheel art from PB Teen.  I got the cheapest bikes I could find at good will,  removed the wheels, cleaned them up and hung them.  I left two "as is" and spray painted the red one.  The graphics, I printed off my computer for free and stuck them in the spokes.  Total $20.

For the gallery wall I give all the credit to my son Jackson.  I took the photos of him and he created the artwork!  Simply using some different effects on Picasa he came up with some very cool pictures!  The frames are from ikea.

It's only been one week but I am loving school being in session!!!  I loved my summer with my kids but I'm definitely enjoying more time for projects and Blogging too!

Those of you who Home School - my Hat's off to you! Seriously -I don't know how you do it!

DIY Wood Slat Artwork

I just finished this artwork project for my boys room and I was pretty impressed by how easy and cheap it was to make!

I was inspired by this boys room (found here) and the arrow on the wall.  I didn't know where I could find this artwork piece so of course my only option was to make something similar!

I also like all the "pallet wood" artwork that is so popular right now so I decided to go that route.  I headed to Home Depot and bought some wood fence slats for $1.50 each.  The slats were about 6 feet long.  I had a guy at Home Depot cut 12 inches off making the slats 5 feet long and square on both ends.  I bought a total of 6 wood slats, 5 for front and one slat cut in 3 pieces which I later screwed in on the back to hold the front pieces all together.  The 5 front slats run horizontally, as you can see, and the 3 pieces on back run vertically (one on each end and one in the middle).  

I already had the grey and white paint on hand so I only had to spend $1 to get a small bottle of orange paint from the craft store.

After painting the whole thing with one "imperfect" coat of white paint, I drew in my arrow using a yard stick and the inspiration picture for a reference.  Once the arrow looked good I taped it off and filled in the arrow with Grey paint.  Once the grey paint was dry I used a 1" foam brush and carefully followed the edge of my tape line to give my arrow the orange border.  Each time I painted I made sure not to cover the wood completely and let some areas show through - that way I didn't have to do any sanding in the end!  

Total time was about an hour and total cost was just $10.

I used D-ring brackets and some picture hanging wire to hang it on the wall.  

A store bought piece of artwork this size would be a lot more than $10, heck- a blank canvas this size would be a lot more than $10! 

 I enjoyed making this artwork because it was cheap, easy, and most importantly I had control over the color and the size.  I love how it turned out!  

For more information on this room click here.

Easy Artwork

For the artwork in the Powder Bathroom I got a book at a used bookstore titled "The Art of Sketching"  It was only $4 but I got it for free since I traded in a couple books I no longer wanted.  The book included pencil sketches by Michelangelo, Da Vinci, Picasso, and others.  I framed two of them for this room in some frames I got at Target for $17 each.  

For more details on the Powder Bath click here.

I framed a couple more sketches for the Mater Bathroom as well.  

For more on the Master Bathroom click here.

These frames I already had on hand so this was a completely free addition!

Want some free sketches for beautiful artwork?  

I found this website that has some great sketches by Leonardo da Vinci that you could have printed in any size and then framed.

Completed Gallery Wall

 Every frame is now filled!

For the last frame (below) I simpy used the paint I had on hand and put it "on hand"!
(blue paint- Benjamin Moore "Hale Navy", green spray paint - Rustoleum's "Eden")

I think I'll wait until my baby is one to add his handprint since he has a tendency to ball up his fists!

For more information about my gallery wall click here and here.

Gallery Wall Progress

I was wishing some of the mats in my Ikea frames weren't white.  I knew I could have a custom mat made in the colors I wanted - but that could be pricey (at least more than the $0 I was willing to spend!).  

My solution - SPRAY PAINT!

BEFORE:

AFTER:

 It totally worked!  I just used the mats that were already in the frames and spray painted them the colors I wanted.  I already had some gloss Navy blue spray paint on hand and so used that.  It didn't look good at first - but it just took a few coats to fix that.  When it worked so well, I went and bought some green spray paint (Rustoleum's "eden" in satin) for the Utah state printable.  You can use a satin or gloss finish spray paint - it didn't really seem to make a difference.  Both worked great!

website for free state printables (click here)