Salvaging Pictures from Books

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/P1100665-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/P1100665-2.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: small;">Ready made art from books -- love it!</span></em> <em><span style="font-size: small;">A pair of prints-- divine!</span></em></td></tr></tbody></table>Framed prints can add some major style to a room that needs some character. <br /><br />One of my favorite ways to score stage-worthy prints for framing is buying books, picture books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">You’ll find these books for a song at garage sales, estate sales, flea markets, and thrift stores. Look for glossy coffee table books as well as quirky children’s literature, esoteric text books, travelogues, anything with large, good quality pictures. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Even small books, the right ones, will provide pages that can be framed with wide mats that make them bigger and artsy, or combined into collages. <br /><br />So, when you’re rummaging through a pile of these discounted volumes, let your imagination wander. Need examples? </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">How about a gallery wall of framed pages from a book on the history of hot air balloons or the bicycle? Or line drawings from a college botany textbook? Sheet music? Quilting patterns? Maps? Or food porn from cookbooks? </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Every autumn I look forward to my public library’s annual book sale. Most libraries sponsor some version of culling and selling their older, obsolete, or duplicate books and periodicals. Often these volumes can be high quality coffee table books with page after page of beautiful prints.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/P1100846.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="604" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/P1100846.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: small;">These are some of the over-sized books I've found on second hand shelves. At my Goodwill store and </span></em><em><span style="font-size: small;">ReStore outlets, all hardbacks are $1.00 no matter what the size. Bingo!</span></em> </td></tr></tbody></table><br />If the edges of a page are worn, they can be trimmed off or hidden behind the mat. Black and white pictures are fine. If there's any text and it's a foreign language, it only adds to its quirkiness.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />Last year I found a large-scale book of orchid prints at the library sale. Botanical prints are perfect for staging a home that’s traditional, country, cottagey or even grand and formal. They have the same impact, to a lesser degree, that adding real plants to a room has. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1100565.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="384" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1100565.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: small;">I thought I would have to spray these mats with Kilz but </span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size: small;">a closer look told me it was only the prints that were stained from age.</span></em> </td></tr></tbody></table>The old frames I used to showcase two of the orchid book’s pages already contained prints of famous Native Americans. They were interesting pictures, but not ideal staging images -- a little too imposing and also mildewed. I was able to use the same glass, mats and hanging hardware that were on these good quality red frames. You can find reasonably priced frames with glass at second hand stores, big box discount stores and dollar stores.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/P1100865.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/P1100865.jpg" width="450" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: small;">A page from the book about Scotland yielded this handsome landscape.</span></em> </td></tr></tbody></table>Having a mat that is correctly sized both on its perimeter and its opening is more challenging. I’ll be giving pointers on mats in another post in this series.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">    </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I simply removed all the backing, and cleaned both the frames and the glass well. It’s important when re-framing like this to work in a well lighted, clean environment. Have a roomy work surface and cover it with a clean blanket or lint-free quilt. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Keep double-checking your work because the last thing you want is to tape your backing on only to discover fingerprints under the glass or a piece of dust on the mat. <br /><br />I use white duct tape on the back to secure the original cardboard or foam core backing to the frame. A professional frame shop would choose an acid free paper and water-based glue, but duct tape always works for me when I’m home staging. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Tips to success: Use a microfiber cloth to clean the glass. For a fussier approach (in case you are using valuable artwork) including tips on choosing a frame and mat, go to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> this article at Today's Home Owner about <a href="http://www.todayshomeowner.com/how-to-frame-pictures-like-a-pro/" target="_blank">how to frame pictures like a pro</a>. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/P1100904.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/P1100904.jpg" width="513" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: small;">Framed, a delightful watercolor illustration from a Madeline book made some stage-worthy art.</span></em></td></tr></tbody></table> </div>Remember those school teachers who told you that books are your friends? I’m sure they weren’t thinking of home staging, but they’re still right!<br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">My <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebooks.html" target="_blank">eBook </a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebooks.html" target="_blank">How to Arrange Furniture – A Guide to Arranging Furniture Using What You Have</a>, </i>gives more pointers on choosing and using wall art. You can download it now for just $5.  </div>

Salvaging Pictures from Books

Ready made art from books -- love it! A pair of prints-- divine! Framed prints can add some major style to a room that needs some character...

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Making A Marquee Letter

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBUZ92KUYErJ1c1aZxH081ExKP4ZyOQC59IhQ5zOAGQBrBMndtu2zG7lDQw3Wmmx-nXxe2_I6Xr17TE7My5GjWDVgw99ywuxv_5vhpu-fv_CtytW3194ncod2DREQcb4xoeCEuRc_qH28/s1600/DIY+marquee+Light.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBUZ92KUYErJ1c1aZxH081ExKP4ZyOQC59IhQ5zOAGQBrBMndtu2zG7lDQw3Wmmx-nXxe2_I6Xr17TE7My5GjWDVgw99ywuxv_5vhpu-fv_CtytW3194ncod2DREQcb4xoeCEuRc_qH28/s1600/DIY+marquee+Light.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBUZ92KUYErJ1c1aZxH081ExKP4ZyOQC59IhQ5zOAGQBrBMndtu2zG7lDQw3Wmmx-nXxe2_I6Xr17TE7My5GjWDVgw99ywuxv_5vhpu-fv_CtytW3194ncod2DREQcb4xoeCEuRc_qH28/s1600/DIY+marquee+Light.jpg" /></a><br /><ol></ol>As part of my #ProjectPinkRoom, I really, <i>really</i> wanted to have a Marquee letter for my little client. But the funds didn't allow for me to invest in one from <a href="http://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=6073&awinaffid=218085&clickref=&p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.etsy.com%2Fsearch%3Fq%3Dmarquee%2520letter" target="_blank">Etsy</a> after I factored in shipping, and that we wanted to get a <i>lot of pieces</i> to fill up the room (we were on a budget). Determined to have one, <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=DIY%20Marquee%20Light&term_meta%5B%5D=DIY%7Ctyped&term_meta%5B%5D=Marquee%7Ctyped&term_meta%5B%5D=Light%7Ctyped" target="_blank">I googled and searched Pinterest for "DIY's"</a> on how to make my own, and came across some great tutorials.<br /><br />My post is going to be less of a tutorial a-la-Young-House-Love-Style (they got serious with their how to's!) But more of a "we did it!!!" and "here are some tips" and "here are some links to people who spent a lot of time documenting how THEY did it".<br /><br />In order to make something substantial I'm going to start by saying that you should make your letter<b> out of wood</b>, and for that, you need a <i>jigsaw</i>. Which I <i>didn't </i>have. The folks at <a href="http://www.rona.ca/en" target="_blank">RONA</a> came to my rescue and shot me over a <a href="http://www.rona.ca/en/7-a-variable-speed-jigsaw-19835441--1?gclid=CL-bx5nLicECFeVaMgodoVIAAg" target="_blank">Bosch jigsaw</a> for us to use to complete the project. You can see it in action in this short little video<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="385" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/KD3tu92ZYqY?rel=0" width="685"></iframe> <br />I'm going to confess. The easiest part was the cutting of the wood and the drilling of the holes. I made it extra difficult because of the three dimensional aspect to this particular one. I wasn't sure if I was going to hang it in her room, or place it on a table - so having it to be able to stand on it's own, was of the greatest importance for me. But should you decide that the three dimensional aspect isn't of importance to you then you'll likely find this project way easier.<br /><br />I'm going to show you stages of this project, and anticipate that this won't be a guide for every single letter of the alphabet. But as anything I do, I hope it's inspiration for someone else, and perhaps you could improve upon what we did.<br /><br /><b>1. Design your letter</b><br />First off, I needed to design my letter. I chose a font I liked, strecthed it and tweaked it, so it was exactly as I liked. I printed it off on a regular piece of paper and then Aubrey calculated the size, to be blown up.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHkGcexQrNxNcCZ261XLsCXYvErro-vOSgE4_rcyxpCJk2RjK0fX4VUPY60qFINC1se7mJH9LaIYtLxLyVOKIgq1A729mQ6uHjMgIRq-LH_0yPgszW_tMTgYw7QItUye0uH6f2n7B9u8c/s1600/IMG_0818.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHkGcexQrNxNcCZ261XLsCXYvErro-vOSgE4_rcyxpCJk2RjK0fX4VUPY60qFINC1se7mJH9LaIYtLxLyVOKIgq1A729mQ6uHjMgIRq-LH_0yPgszW_tMTgYw7QItUye0uH6f2n7B9u8c/s1600/IMG_0818.jpg" /></a></div>At the same time we took into consideration the placement of the bulbs - as you can see from Aubrey's X marks on the Z. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9G3YDzoS8aKq8SH0eWrXBWtgS2Dll4qB4eCVOKOCNpHaVMQ0fKedkAeUXthM85o628p_L9LrvN7sR3dkPOWWtFdvqF9_1WcCxfYnarfOuraAd-03P4PtrIyV5zwh9uEW9u0mSNuwGPlM/s1600/IMG_0878.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9G3YDzoS8aKq8SH0eWrXBWtgS2Dll4qB4eCVOKOCNpHaVMQ0fKedkAeUXthM85o628p_L9LrvN7sR3dkPOWWtFdvqF9_1WcCxfYnarfOuraAd-03P4PtrIyV5zwh9uEW9u0mSNuwGPlM/s1600/IMG_0878.jpg" /></a></div>You seriously need <a href="http://www.rona.ca/en/7-a-variable-speed-jigsaw" target="_blank">this Jigsaw</a>. It was glorious to use. Seriously, it was like cutting through butter. Although we were doing straight lines, Aubrey did some text pieces (not shown) that were curvy and beautiful (I'm doing a heart next) and it was so smooth and beautiful.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyD9UD8E9FwrEfZpNgCFQe24hULc0VsYWXd5jwPsNnVMuMbctR7i_GzLpQB9PnHr1UyPVwDBwIbOFaDzWOA4DjICMXeeWZupjNGcWYSdzTcIH5ZZEpXep1zPBF9loQzgtmkBG03-kl2uA/s1600/IMG_0899.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyD9UD8E9FwrEfZpNgCFQe24hULc0VsYWXd5jwPsNnVMuMbctR7i_GzLpQB9PnHr1UyPVwDBwIbOFaDzWOA4DjICMXeeWZupjNGcWYSdzTcIH5ZZEpXep1zPBF9loQzgtmkBG03-kl2uA/s1600/IMG_0899.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br />Minor interruption in the project. Someone wanted to watch TV. Had to ask his Father.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWgfFs8aUz3SX-1wGT6Ysp1ajoz6agPF8cVuy2sEmxvVvMc5ICjDz6WoFAgLe-yftSgoDsSy0_A5iYvCGG9AQlzjXGNkxggE1ZtHLhX_YnxvKkKrN4pS63pAR0fkGQJTRGAi38LqRhm4M/s1600/IMG_0925.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWgfFs8aUz3SX-1wGT6Ysp1ajoz6agPF8cVuy2sEmxvVvMc5ICjDz6WoFAgLe-yftSgoDsSy0_A5iYvCGG9AQlzjXGNkxggE1ZtHLhX_YnxvKkKrN4pS63pAR0fkGQJTRGAi38LqRhm4M/s1600/IMG_0925.jpg" /></a></div>This is where I will stop and say that up<i> until this point, I wouldn't do anything differently</i>. But the following steps were <i>terribly time consuming</i>. Again, go see <a href="http://www.howjoyful.com/2012/12/nursery-circus-marquee-light/" target="_blank">How Joyful's post </a>on her Marquee Letter because she really goes into great detail on how she did her sides.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD30BllWEBusb6hpQAT0LQDGhRcvaB7ZMXdFBaRFTlgAS5sFbGyhciYOSckbAyFxKN1TI-v3f8ZV3aNzbSlGU7HFi5xB-UI2WLrn3b0JLFlx1PGZ8JLfBzM_p0ZnTVDZEnmlCI3OEBUX8/s1600/IMG_0935.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD30BllWEBusb6hpQAT0LQDGhRcvaB7ZMXdFBaRFTlgAS5sFbGyhciYOSckbAyFxKN1TI-v3f8ZV3aNzbSlGU7HFi5xB-UI2WLrn3b0JLFlx1PGZ8JLfBzM_p0ZnTVDZEnmlCI3OEBUX8/s1600/IMG_0935.jpg" /></a></div><br />As you can see, a lot of measuring, a lot of small cuts and fitting it together like a gingerbread house. Aubrey is a patient man. I didn't take a photo of how he glued it together because I was sleeping when he did it. But below is a shot of the back of the piece ....<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFJXE1wuWEIx7zvLsy-pDGPvskoW7axW58t8syUvuNmvChqtldgVqzd1HcVlDa-LNa4DPFBRdQc8IGHPXVlS01d1_8dbIO9gAabq8Cmg-yEuE0SUBLvWG06aGNA0_CaVKGkolzsGZiFuM/s1600/IMG_2628.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFJXE1wuWEIx7zvLsy-pDGPvskoW7axW58t8syUvuNmvChqtldgVqzd1HcVlDa-LNa4DPFBRdQc8IGHPXVlS01d1_8dbIO9gAabq8Cmg-yEuE0SUBLvWG06aGNA0_CaVKGkolzsGZiFuM/s1600/IMG_2628.jpg" /></a></div><br />He added metal brackets to hold the side together, in addition to using wood glue. He drilled holes through the back, large enough for the socket of the light bulb to fit through.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ31zQwJ5miD1K8Uub3tKhVhe4JKB05V6xSlp1L7fm4g8Kx-frYZZ0V6A2ytOzZepy7QHPI30c6RUeRNFZQXaxUeX8bdVQehO7Reamnrjb4QFi_Zfb7PaUhsnEM0dlTV_Fhsz3pWicUC4/s1600/photo+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ31zQwJ5miD1K8Uub3tKhVhe4JKB05V6xSlp1L7fm4g8Kx-frYZZ0V6A2ytOzZepy7QHPI30c6RUeRNFZQXaxUeX8bdVQehO7Reamnrjb4QFi_Zfb7PaUhsnEM0dlTV_Fhsz3pWicUC4/s1600/photo+1.jpg" /></a></div><br />My little client came over and helped me prime the Z.<br /><br />Next steps:<br /><ul><li>Once the whole thing is put togther, and primed, fill the holes with wood filler so that you can fill those gaps. Then, add some DAP. I didn't want light to shine through those holes. </li><li>I sprayed it using my paint sprayer (that I LOVE!) I gave it about 6 coats, to ensure that it really had great coverage. </li><li>Aubrey spaced out the holes and installed the lighting - which was just some globe lights we had from Target. </li><li>We used<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lighted-Foot-Switch-Extension-Cord/dp/B003XK7K8Y/ref=pd_sxp_grid_i_2_2" target="_blank"> an extension cord like this</a>, which means our little client (the seven year old) wasn't plugging things in. (Kids + electricity make me nervous!) All she does is press the white button and the light goes on and off.... </li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ5WlKxGKLBSL3jBA7HjJz_NeNax7lstzd0yYAxsKeVnNG4K6qdAs6GO4BFjibiy_E8ja6t8LSbCAqTsKUPHDCUC-HnilP4MqSDP1yu3X5zHViPQECED04pfUzh43vQXjqKT0jkg_JzBk/s1600/marquee.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ5WlKxGKLBSL3jBA7HjJz_NeNax7lstzd0yYAxsKeVnNG4K6qdAs6GO4BFjibiy_E8ja6t8LSbCAqTsKUPHDCUC-HnilP4MqSDP1yu3X5zHViPQECED04pfUzh43vQXjqKT0jkg_JzBk/s1600/marquee.gif" /></a></div><div><br /></div>And there you go! I appreciate that the tutorial isn't as seamless or as details as one would like, but it wasn't terribly easy and so, not something I'd really recommend. But if you want to take on a project like I did, then you likely have some DIY know-how and the above is inspirational enough to follow. I will, as mentioned, try this project again to make it a little simpler, as I would like a Marquee Letter in my own house. But for now, here is it in the room...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNGNC0MUJnkjKdHGJnm2o_DsxHWXPY0lawm9F6DLT76sT8mNm5BezpNtbZPyRfSQnbHliROzsvEAnUSJCzXe3FVEzoJpf5iPtX6Iel0JE1qLiy42lXXSph8LrN9bPVKlXVBPMtg4pE9tE/s1600/IMG_2854.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNGNC0MUJnkjKdHGJnm2o_DsxHWXPY0lawm9F6DLT76sT8mNm5BezpNtbZPyRfSQnbHliROzsvEAnUSJCzXe3FVEzoJpf5iPtX6Iel0JE1qLiy42lXXSph8LrN9bPVKlXVBPMtg4pE9tE/s1600/IMG_2854.jpg" /></a><br />  <br /><i>Disclaimer: <a href="http://www.rona.ca/en/7-a-variable-speed-jigsaw-19835441--1?gclid=CL-bx5nLicECFeVaMgodoVIAAg" target="_blank">Bosch 7 Variable Speed Jigsaw was provided to us by RONA</a>. And I HIGHLY recommend it. It's amazing.</i><br /><i><br /></i><b>Links of interest:</b><br /><a href="http://www.howjoyful.com/2012/12/nursery-circus-marquee-light/" target="_blank">Marquee Light via How Joyful (likely the closest to what we did) </a><br /><a href="http://www.hgtv.com/handmade/how-to-marquee-letter-sign/index.html?soc=pinterest" target="_blank">HGTV Making a Marquee Light </a><br />Pinterest Searches: <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=marquee%20light%20diy&term_meta%5B%5D=marquee%7Ctyped&term_meta%5B%5D=light%7Ctyped&term_meta%5B%5D=diy%7Ctyped" target="_blank">Marquee Light DIY</a>,

Making A Marquee Letter

As part of my #ProjectPinkRoom, I really, really wanted to have a Marquee letter for my little client. But the funds didn't allow for m...

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How to Make a Child's Drawing Look Like Fine Art

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/P1100707.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/P1100707.jpg" width="458" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: small;">Who's to know that you didn't spend hundreds of dollars on this</span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size: small;">"limited edition lithograph?" </span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size: small;">Only my five-year old grandson knows for sure.   </span></em> </td></tr></tbody></table><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument></xml><![endif]-->Pablo Picasso said, “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.” <br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I’ve always been fascinated by the art that children create. <br /><br />When they fool around with crayons and paper they don’t know they are creating something unique. They’re just having fun. <br /><br />That in itself makes their art valuable.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">But it’s also valuable to a home stager, because children’s art is fresh, colorful and simple. It has an honesty and directness that accomplished artists strive for. So, why not use it to decorate the walls of your home on the market? </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">When my children were young, I always made sure we had plenty of paper, crayons, watercolors, colored pencils, scissors…the stuff of inspiration. Whenever I praised their work, the usual response was, “But Mom, it doesn’t look like anything,” or “It’s messy!” And I would say, “Wait until I take you to the Museum of Modern Art in New York. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">And when they were preteens, I took them there. And I think they got it. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The thing is, kids lose their candor and free spirit. They begin to judge their artistic endeavors as objects instead of a way to play. They compare what they produce to big people's art and they lose that naiveté that made their work so special. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">When you decorate walls with art, presentation is everything. Framing’s usually essential. And this is especially true of children’s art. The frame is what announces to the viewer that here is something to be taken seriously, albeit secretly tongue-in-cheek in the case of kid art. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>How to Acquire Kid Art</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/P1100751.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/P1100751.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: small;">I wrapped an old frame in grasscloth wallpaper to make this </span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size: small;">simple line drawing -- signed by the artist! -- look legitimate</span></em>.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">You don’t need to browse snobby galleries, take a trip to Paris, or spend big bucks to collect some drop dead gorgeous abstract drawings and paintings for home staging. You just need a kid. If your household doesn’t include one, ask to borrow a relative or neighbor. The best artists are between the ages of three and seven.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">You simply need to set the stage. Supply the materials and stand back. But don’t go away. Because the secret to getting good results is to stop the process at the perfect juncture. <br /><br />For children, creating art is a process, not a goal. That’s why paintings get muddy and drawings turn into tangles of scribbles. Your job is to be ready to say, “Stop,” and claim the drawing or canvas. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Canvas? Yes, canvas. Children can crank out abstract canvases to rival many contemporary artists. Here are the steps I took when my daughter was five and I knew she would soon outgrow her natural, unedited artistic sensibilities. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Medium, the Method</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal">  </div><div class="MsoNormal">I gave her a primed canvas, a brush or two, a container of water, and a plastic plate (her palette) where I had squeezed just a few different acrylic artist’s colors. I chose the colors, and that is the other secret to ending up with something you can actually use. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Then, I stood back and watched carefully for that moment when going further with her creation would ruin it. Be ready to whisk it away. I guarantee results. You can use the same technique for pastel drawings, colored pencil renderings, crayon work, tempura and water colors, or finger paints. <br /><br />Sometimes it takes the artist doing a few pieces of work before you find one to love and frame. You might have to make a suggestion. "Draw a picture of yourself." Or, "Paint some flowers." Their best art will happen when a child forgets about you and loses himself in painting or drawing.    </div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/KidartbyMir.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="544" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/KidartbyMir.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: small;">One of the handy elements of kid art is that you can often hang it upside down </span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size: small;">or sideways, </span></em><em><span style="font-size: small;">however it works best for you.</span></em> <em><span style="font-size: small;">My daughter did this painting</span></em> <br /><em><span style="font-size: small;">35 years ago and it still hangs in my home.</span></em>  </td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Don’t give children “art crutches” like stickers and stencils.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I'm not a fan of markers, either. Never say, "What is it?" Instead praise them and say, "Tell me about your picture." </span>Let their natural talents develop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Give them good quality brushes and paper and paints. Don't ask them for digital art because it's the primitive quality you're after. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Once those scribbles and finger paintings are dry, it's time for serious treatment.  Almost any kind of frame works well for children’s art. If it goes under glass, make sure the mat is substantially wide to give the art importance, focus, and size. <br /><br />Don't junk up a whole wall with a variety of kid art. That destroys the illusion that this is a carefully curated piece. Hang the art in a prominent place, not squirreled away in a bathroom or -- worse yet -- the child’s own room. It’s too important for that! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Discover more ways to stage your own home on your own schedule and within your own budget. Download my home staging $5 eBook, <span id="goog_2064050720"></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebooks.html#" target="_blank">DIY Home Staging Tips to Sell Your Home Fast and for Top Dollar.</a> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <span id="goog_2064050721"></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/Artalone-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="380" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/Artalone-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> </div>

How to Make a Child's Drawing Look Like Fine Art

Who's to know that you didn't spend hundreds of dollars on this "limited edition lithograph?" Only my five-year old grands...

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#ProjectPinkRoom - Bedroom Reveal!

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGr_JV9AETZifB2zS2pMoaSBE0Cv38pYb4GG1EpXc5vlfS19Y8CxajtCT-HYvqoi-rAZ39eAvUJPdVoSIG9iqt1_WeZtGttNTFUjvr-NtXPajSUU5_w573Rdli4aq_2oJWnVhbIN6PrfI/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGr_JV9AETZifB2zS2pMoaSBE0Cv38pYb4GG1EpXc5vlfS19Y8CxajtCT-HYvqoi-rAZ39eAvUJPdVoSIG9iqt1_WeZtGttNTFUjvr-NtXPajSUU5_w573Rdli4aq_2oJWnVhbIN6PrfI/s1600/2.jpg" /></a></div><br />It's time for the<a href="http://aubreyandlindsay.blogspot.ca/2014/09/projectpinkroom-decorating-room-with.html" target="_blank"> #ProjectPinkRoom</a> reveal. Skipping back again, this room was designed for one of my close girlfriends daughters. (<a href="http://aubreyandlindsay.blogspot.ca/2014/09/projectpinkroom-decorating-room-with.html" target="_blank">Read here as to how the project started</a> - pretty much casual conversations around the playground) To pull this room together, I took to browsing Etsy - if you've been a long time reader, you'll know that I've been doing "<i>Etsy Find</i>" posts since <a href="http://pennypeople.blogspot.ca/2008/05/red-ruby-rose.html" target="_blank">2008</a>.  That site is my go to spot for unique items, and the fact that it's online takes the stress out of me having to source unique items around the city. Because I was really sourcing a lot of items from Etsy in my initial design I reached out to Etsy to tell them about the project - and Etsy loved the idea of helping make over this girls room and gave us a few Etsy gift cards to go shopping with which helped with what I would consider the "layering" of the room. But to help really finish the room, my clients Mom + Dad chipped in for the rest. I think this is a really great example of how you can source the craziest fun stuff off <a href="https://www.etsy.com/pages/littlehouseblog/projectpinkroom-project-pink-room?ref=pg_index_31" target="_blank">Etsy</a>, mix it with Big Box store items, and get a look that is truly special. To remind you, below is what we started with...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Ng2ECEnRyDZTmmLnWc1NyR0UxPJmV8SzJVJiEafzJGJH5vo2EqkcveN3pAX3xKNenmKg9Oav3Mf29kqlVtLz88Dmg3RWidFd9lGTDcYda8P1-E97g8BdUEKao7_DAywwrtSW0hC4Gdk/s1600/IMG_2851b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Ng2ECEnRyDZTmmLnWc1NyR0UxPJmV8SzJVJiEafzJGJH5vo2EqkcveN3pAX3xKNenmKg9Oav3Mf29kqlVtLz88Dmg3RWidFd9lGTDcYda8P1-E97g8BdUEKao7_DAywwrtSW0hC4Gdk/s1600/IMG_2851b.jpg" /></a></div><br />Above is what we had - which really, is awesome for anyone because of that headboard. But it needed some "finishing". My girlfriend was not sure the pink walls she had painted a few years back was the right shade. I really thought it was perfect - the softer the better as it allows for bringing in punches of colour elsewhere. It's all about the layering in my mind, and that's what I came in to do...... So, here is what I did..................................<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJbYw9fiMLieqYfJCMtQhlA9AuuJNZntDHPINk9CPT78GlOUvFn-gy28eRuSA4r3Ht5jD7gmpegTSFWnDEF58T7mtljwFBtglZkpbs0orAujlsVC4QC8894AKlZcDhezTFiNsdyoAuBN8/s1600/IMG_2854.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJbYw9fiMLieqYfJCMtQhlA9AuuJNZntDHPINk9CPT78GlOUvFn-gy28eRuSA4r3Ht5jD7gmpegTSFWnDEF58T7mtljwFBtglZkpbs0orAujlsVC4QC8894AKlZcDhezTFiNsdyoAuBN8/s1600/IMG_2854.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://prf.hn/click/camref:11l3pT/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.etsy.com%2Ftransaction%2F221631096" target="_blank">Tassel Garland Above Bulletin Board - Etsy </a>, <a href="http://prf.hn/click/camref:11l3pT/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.etsy.com%2Flisting%2F193945243%2Fdesigner-gold-large-scale-scallop" target="_blank">Gold scalloped pillow on bed, Etsy</a>, <a href="http://prf.hn/click/camref:11l3pT/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.etsy.com%2Flisting%2F188950769%2Fvintage-magazine-rack-gold-metal-retro%3Fref%3Dpg_view_8%26ctx%3D%252Fpages%252Flittlehouseblog%252Fprojectpinkroom-project-pink-room" target="_blank">Magazine Rack (bottom left) Etsy</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br />EEEEE!!! I was seriously giddy with excitement at every picture hung, and when the chandelier went up. (acting <a href="http://giphy.com/gifs/14lsiXRMiv1lDi" target="_blank">like this</a>)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgisX5McgA5audxmhhlcJHwxFocvRzosVhVLdQNsZPZVRiY6iF9W5Whb7BYCV3lQuctD7tY8fPVVjhtXeuMECgMgugSUdlBEzTlsyxSA440IjVc4LS8s85swNRB7yManOG74P8dZivFh_8/s1600/IMG_2895.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgisX5McgA5audxmhhlcJHwxFocvRzosVhVLdQNsZPZVRiY6iF9W5Whb7BYCV3lQuctD7tY8fPVVjhtXeuMECgMgugSUdlBEzTlsyxSA440IjVc4LS8s85swNRB7yManOG74P8dZivFh_8/s1600/IMG_2895.jpg" /></a><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgETxc3gMAwoTVKOMRjgk53hcPEaWQ5iXd4SZX9wjLXtemBWiICdh7DO21o0UBqBzs_5qM5VPv9oaiVn9uQ2sPkgYEunAU2pG1zM3Ddukp62baQrY_dZJgT_N3mQYVqyjxcIrrl9N14K1I/s1600/IMG_2869.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgETxc3gMAwoTVKOMRjgk53hcPEaWQ5iXd4SZX9wjLXtemBWiICdh7DO21o0UBqBzs_5qM5VPv9oaiVn9uQ2sPkgYEunAU2pG1zM3Ddukp62baQrY_dZJgT_N3mQYVqyjxcIrrl9N14K1I/s1600/IMG_2869.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/transaction/221818977?utm_source=PH&utm_medium=affiliates&utm_campaign=CA_BUYER&utm_content=littlehouseblog&ph_click=110lCGwsw&ph_camref=11l3pT&ph_ref=" target="_blank">Vintage alarm clock via Etsy</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5WHSHJB9EQ8iT80XSvRI9zVHA0CTxs_o67ZP7Vxyb8LzclsAL6ujHs-cxmbrO7r_VG4oGP2Gvmaoo-NYqFFtbzWkR-bXfFvmVQdJN0U020YJJeoc2V7E55_eA93NQXidIjzp2M6gi6O8/s1600/IMG_2939.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5WHSHJB9EQ8iT80XSvRI9zVHA0CTxs_o67ZP7Vxyb8LzclsAL6ujHs-cxmbrO7r_VG4oGP2Gvmaoo-NYqFFtbzWkR-bXfFvmVQdJN0U020YJJeoc2V7E55_eA93NQXidIjzp2M6gi6O8/s1600/IMG_2939.jpg" /></a></div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpYUh-yUXoC3j9tV_qWgerBTMjAKuZHpSUN1_EH969JNOuT7YU-gFkqcvRYIUexrShW1d80RvR0z7JX6wnxNkYfq43nKW6GiWLv2NBOY1ouPbrIyV94GpU2F2d82JesWoWGqLda7BYXGQ/s1600/IMG_2795.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpYUh-yUXoC3j9tV_qWgerBTMjAKuZHpSUN1_EH969JNOuT7YU-gFkqcvRYIUexrShW1d80RvR0z7JX6wnxNkYfq43nKW6GiWLv2NBOY1ouPbrIyV94GpU2F2d82JesWoWGqLda7BYXGQ/s1600/IMG_2795.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://prf.hn/click/camref:11l3pT/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.etsy.com%2Flisting%2F188950769%2Fvintage-magazine-rack-gold-metal-retro%3Fref%3Dpg_view_8%26ctx%3D%252Fpages%252Flittlehouseblog%252Fprojectpinkroom-project-pink-room" target="_blank">Gold Magazine Rack for Books - Via Etsy</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2D8Sfhf9tOqq25Ga1hjtwXjdfYvl_FNz-1nsSyMS-YkI0Dj3ncqKdATKgdV40mNwLoITLNQlidsqCsC2aS7thp0A7bWXgedaNhc5BjX4gSS-jLMNSH8ALHFpH1MBAFdWhVo4sL-RYJtk/s1600/IMG_2878.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2D8Sfhf9tOqq25Ga1hjtwXjdfYvl_FNz-1nsSyMS-YkI0Dj3ncqKdATKgdV40mNwLoITLNQlidsqCsC2aS7thp0A7bWXgedaNhc5BjX4gSS-jLMNSH8ALHFpH1MBAFdWhVo4sL-RYJtk/s1600/IMG_2878.jpg" /></a></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWgHOELN4hyphenhyphen0iBh2d0iZjA88DPFFqT-0tnIecOBzxsymksY_P2jhVACqsKKqlqeY8M2brekID09NgdEUItSNXss5BgKCHhRWzwXP0T5tV7QhxtoAMCrKOGy8RqK4m3zDfsPOw-J2ZOG6k/s1600/IMG_2920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWgHOELN4hyphenhyphen0iBh2d0iZjA88DPFFqT-0tnIecOBzxsymksY_P2jhVACqsKKqlqeY8M2brekID09NgdEUItSNXss5BgKCHhRWzwXP0T5tV7QhxtoAMCrKOGy8RqK4m3zDfsPOw-J2ZOG6k/s1600/IMG_2920.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drapery and Hardware - <a href="http://www.tonicliving.com/" target="_blank">Tonic Living </a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTV55KkGpc4p04iu9Aqep0EDsQQZyTKabzCTOhyRqqklgFeV6q9O9ECYAAu_7ENaUfRljdIgUvBXhnRQVq571aL_VVHIm_FjR3eTLdcgMD2xvDUTf6izXJF0zi2IHwIwL-r4VMG9InrXQ/s1600/IMG_2946.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTV55KkGpc4p04iu9Aqep0EDsQQZyTKabzCTOhyRqqklgFeV6q9O9ECYAAu_7ENaUfRljdIgUvBXhnRQVq571aL_VVHIm_FjR3eTLdcgMD2xvDUTf6izXJF0zi2IHwIwL-r4VMG9InrXQ/s1600/IMG_2946.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Goose via Etsy - <a href="http://prf.hn/click/camref:11l3pT/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.etsy.com%2Flisting%2F186149690%2Fgooes-faux-taxidermy-wall-decor%3Fref%3Dpg_view_24%26ctx%3D%252Fpages%252Flittlehouseblog%252Fprojectpinkroom-project-pink-room" target="_blank">Shop here</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNaLwu0ub-aGP1LTFgovWaHpjZUz-bvokcT2MY50zTajHAW3m9Xnetbkewsknf_901edaMyF3iaHAw3CKUl1qtYuTT_ToS0vBsA4-l5B4Fc2AGmJjqQFulLcau7JAJJFnuYy3RMoR5CfY/s1600/IMG_2795.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNaLwu0ub-aGP1LTFgovWaHpjZUz-bvokcT2MY50zTajHAW3m9Xnetbkewsknf_901edaMyF3iaHAw3CKUl1qtYuTT_ToS0vBsA4-l5B4Fc2AGmJjqQFulLcau7JAJJFnuYy3RMoR5CfY/s1600/IMG_2795.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSZJJdeFdI4Hc7YSCjiwbpdMmlsFngO-kkdyX8QmeDNoT2OaI3IoRUte6daVAoo1R_WEOOPH4dCJv0FBSeE2LYsyPcIhutsKUtZ4sAFnGehVU-wi9aXN_PCTfvzD0uxvg6f9Y_6q1ucZI/s1600/IMG_2814.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSZJJdeFdI4Hc7YSCjiwbpdMmlsFngO-kkdyX8QmeDNoT2OaI3IoRUte6daVAoo1R_WEOOPH4dCJv0FBSeE2LYsyPcIhutsKUtZ4sAFnGehVU-wi9aXN_PCTfvzD0uxvg6f9Y_6q1ucZI/s1600/IMG_2814.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Painting by <a href="http://prf.hn/click/camref:11l3pT/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.etsy.com%2Ftransaction%2F218124418" target="_blank">Pamela Munger </a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtQ-udCnDwprMQiSefX2HFgqJYI4jcf-ma6XNQNU6SJ4vfrRYL7K5umDsAYR9_svB2MBlvbLUpZUEXRovx_3HqfvlfaZrlgpjwJb51al0mNA9NFecOsLdpl7oKIm8dZ0YY9t3Sc3VcSt0/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtQ-udCnDwprMQiSefX2HFgqJYI4jcf-ma6XNQNU6SJ4vfrRYL7K5umDsAYR9_svB2MBlvbLUpZUEXRovx_3HqfvlfaZrlgpjwJb51al0mNA9NFecOsLdpl7oKIm8dZ0YY9t3Sc3VcSt0/s1600/1.jpg" /></a></div><br />OMG. <i>I love this room so much.</i><br /><br />So here are some details on the room.<br /><br /><b>Marquee Light &  Chandelier</b><br />Originally I was going to put the marquee light (the light up Z) <i>above </i>her bed  - and can see that there is space for us to put it there. <i>However</i>, I found the crystal chandelier at a live auction, it was too good not to buy, so it took center stage in the room. Although nothing is hanging on the walls above the bed - when you look at the bed straight on the chandelier is placed perfectly to fill that wall space. (We swagged it to be centred above her bed) The Z now sits on her new desk, and is a pretty fun addition.<br /><br /><b>Bulletin Board</b><br />Other DIY's included making the bulletin board using <a href="http://prf.hn/click/camref:11l3pT/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.etsy.com%2Ftransaction%2F221715882" target="_blank">tacks we sourced from Etsy.</a> Not only does Etsy have artisans, but they also are a great source for finding supplies for projects. Don't forget to turn to the site for trying to source those tricky items that you may need to finish off a project. I've purchased SO many supplies for my crafting from Etsy.<br /><br /><b>Drapes</b>.<br />OMG. The drapes. We knew we wanted to do something fun, so my girlfriend and I went into Tonic together to look at fabrics. After a few minutes of browsing we picked up<a href="http://www.tonicliving.com/REMNANT-Secret-Gate-Blossom-fabric-P3003.aspx" target="_blank"> Secret Gate Blossom </a>and the two of us knew, right away, that it was *the* fabric. We didn't necessarily need the drapery to act as privacy or, sun protection for the room as they already had blackout roller shades installed in the room. So all we needed were drapes to highlight the window. By going this route you save money on fabric. Adding a blackout lining also adds weight and, bulk. So I wanted to really minimize that and keep it light. We did a pinch pleat at the top (my favourite!!) and I chose the <a href="http://www.tonicliving.com/hardware-C160.aspx" target="_blank">Old Gold curtain rod </a>and, end cap. I wanted to keep the end cap very simple, so not to compete with what else was going on in the room. The Old Gold finish is stunning - not too gold, so it really will grow with the girl as she grows up.<br /><br /><b>Side Tables</b><br />For the side tables, we found two different, but similar sized side tables from the Salvation Army and I painted them in the same shade. Although they are different tables - by painting them the same colour, it unifies them and you don't really even notice that they are different.<br /><br /><b>Original Art</b><br /><a href="https://www.etsy.com/transaction/218124418?utm_source=PH&utm_medium=affiliates&utm_campaign=CA_BUYER&utm_content=littlehouseblog&ph_click=100lCDVft&ph_camref=11l3pT&ph_ref=" target="_blank">Pamela Munger's painting was the first piece we got for the room.</a> I'm in LOVE with Pamela's work, and I think her pieces are pretty economical considering her amazing talent and the size of the pieces. Typically one may not bring in original art to a kids room, but I think if you see an original piece on Etsy that is in your budget, you should go for it. I love, love Etsy for sourcing original art.The parents bought a new desk for her but we added in a vintage wood chair that I had found, and I sprayed it the same soft grey as the side tables. There's a lot going on in the room, so I wanted to keep certain things consistent, so not to compete with the major pieces - the chandelier, or, Marquee Light.<br /><br />The room is <i>fun</i>. It's not serious, and it can grow with my little client as she gets older. If you wanted to tone down the room later on, you may one day replace the headboard with something in a linen. Easy switchups (and inexpensive changes) can be done down the road to make it less pink, and more grown up.<br /><br />And there you have it! #ProjectPinkRoom complete.<br /><br />xo Linds<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDn5KEuG3apJSEYPmoKI0smiY65fh4CAMaXDbxxZ5unwjDvoJKU-aMQuovzjWc2jArhUYvNe1KLilZQo4ilxsJkOoVZt99jSFL9L9LYEqT75ajmZpPYVxFLixThn9Xr-Npi_318MnemX4/s1600/source+list.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDn5KEuG3apJSEYPmoKI0smiY65fh4CAMaXDbxxZ5unwjDvoJKU-aMQuovzjWc2jArhUYvNe1KLilZQo4ilxsJkOoVZt99jSFL9L9LYEqT75ajmZpPYVxFLixThn9Xr-Npi_318MnemX4/s1600/source+list.jpg" /></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyrOkO5fla7x8v3RvGU2Gx_hRepMMZ5rl4yH52M8vPP4DxlrhGw8u2O9SjW6iv1a5lERqxuHPCo9tZblpsXMJpEYAzdgqxl-RslqPgK7XhT3rK_2bLfi9vjnQHiyu9hv2nCDMnOA6rOD0/s1600/reworked_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyrOkO5fla7x8v3RvGU2Gx_hRepMMZ5rl4yH52M8vPP4DxlrhGw8u2O9SjW6iv1a5lERqxuHPCo9tZblpsXMJpEYAzdgqxl-RslqPgK7XhT3rK_2bLfi9vjnQHiyu9hv2nCDMnOA6rOD0/s1600/reworked_1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpWY9p5PHh04YevG6UAVt-8uoS0EWyC9SZD9CjG9j_B-nznp7MerB0_nov6Wb4W57zTRdsPBQgoLW6t5904JFCoYasNzbW-wl_3MjqB_lvj0XGbrkvRxQBaBkA42SdX3JvKUjMNbtOwtc/s1600/reworked_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpWY9p5PHh04YevG6UAVt-8uoS0EWyC9SZD9CjG9j_B-nznp7MerB0_nov6Wb4W57zTRdsPBQgoLW6t5904JFCoYasNzbW-wl_3MjqB_lvj0XGbrkvRxQBaBkA42SdX3JvKUjMNbtOwtc/s1600/reworked_2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><b>Items Sourced From Etsy</b><br /><b>Painting on Wall:</b> <a href="http://prf.hn/click/camref:11l3pT/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.etsy.com%2Ftransaction%2F218124418" target="_blank">Pamela Munger, Etsy</a><br /><b>Gold Pillow</b>: <a href="http://prf.hn/click/camref:11l3pT/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.etsy.com%2Flisting%2F193945243%2Fdesigner-gold-large-scale-scallop" target="_blank">Etsy</a><br /><b>Pink Wool Throw:</b> <a href="http://prf.hn/click/camref:11l3pT/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.etsy.com%2Ftransaction%2F221751267" target="_blank">Etsy</a><br /><b>Pink Pillow On Floor (for when friends come to hang out):</b> <a href="http://prf.hn/click/camref:11l3pT/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.etsy.com%2Ftransaction%2F224599027" target="_blank">Etsy</a><br /><b>XOXO Framed Print</b>: <a href="http://prf.hn/click/camref:11l3pT/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.etsy.com%2Ftransaction%2F221766837" target="_blank">Etsy</a><br /><b>Vintage Alarm Clock</b>: <a href="http://prf.hn/click/camref:11l3pT/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.etsy.com%2Ftransaction%2F221818977" target="_blank">Etsy</a><br /><b>Gold Magazine Rack (For her books)</b> <a href="http://prf.hn/click/camref:11l3pT/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.etsy.com%2Flisting%2F188950769%2Fvintage-magazine-rack-gold-metal-retro%3Fref%3Dpg_view_8%26ctx%3D%252Fpages%252Flittlehouseblog%252Fprojectpinkroom-project-pink-room" target="_blank">Etsy</a><br /><b>Pink Tassel Garland:</b> <a href="http://prf.hn/click/camref:11l3pT/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.etsy.com%2Ftransaction%2F221631096" target="_blank">Etsy</a><br /><b>Goose on the wall</b>: <a href="http://prf.hn/click/camref:11l3pT/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.etsy.com%2Flisting%2F186149690%2Fgooes-faux-taxidermy-wall-decor%3Fref%3Dpg_view_24%26ctx%3D%252Fpages%252Flittlehouseblog%252Fprojectpinkroom-project-pink-room" target="_blank">Etsy</a><br /><b>Bulletin Board:</b> <a href="http://prf.hn/click/camref:11l3pT/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.etsy.com%2Ftransaction%2F221715882" target="_blank">Tacks - Etsy</a> / Fabric - Home Depot / Bulletin Board - Staples<br /><b>Missing </b>--- We bought t<a href="https://www.etsy.com/transaction/221708016?utm_source=PH&utm_medium=affiliates&utm_campaign=CA_BUYER&utm_content=littlehouseblog&ph_click=111lCNiiG&ph_camref=11l3pT&ph_ref=" target="_blank">his print as well</a>, but it didn't arrive in time for the shoot. :( But it's super cute!<br /><div><br /></div><b>Other Items</b><br /><b>Bed</b>: Clients Own (HomeSense)<br /><b>Don't Grow Up It's A Trap:</b> <a href="http://www.pennypaperco.com/collections/gold-art-prints" target="_blank">The Penny Paper Co. </a><br /><b>Bedside Tables:</b> <a href="http://www.salvationarmy.ca/" target="_blank">Salvation Army,</a> Painted by Lindsay<br /><b>Curtain Fabric + Sewing:</b> <a href="http://www.tonicliving.com/" target="_blank">Tonic Living</a> (<a href="http://www.tonicliving.com/REMNANT-Secret-Gate-Blossom-fabric-P3003.aspx" target="_blank">Fabric here</a>)<br /><b>Hardware for Drapery:</b> <a href="http://www.tonicliving.com/Rod-8-feet-Old-Gold-P3198.aspx" target="_blank">Tonic Living - Old Gold Rod </a>and <a href="http://www.tonicliving.com/Finial-End-Cap-Old-Gold--P3201.aspx" target="_blank">End Caps</a><br /><b>Chandelier</b>:<a href="http://prf.hn/click/camref:11l3pT/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.etsy.com%2Fpages%2Flittlehouseblog%2Fprojectpinkroom-project-pink-room%3Fref%3Dpg_index_31" target="_blank"> Lindsay scored at an auction but similar ones here</a><br /><b>Yellow Vase on Side Table</b>: Cottage Country find but similar ones <a href="http://prf.hn/click/camref:11l3pT/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.etsy.com%2Fpages%2Flittlehouseblog%2Fprojectpinkroom-project-pink-room%3Fref%3Dpg_index_31" target="_blank">here</a><br /><b>On The Desk:</b> <a href="http://www.pennypaperco.com/collections/desk-accessories" target="_blank">Pencils, Tape Dispenser, Personalized Note Pad - All via The Penny Paper Co.</a> Statue of Libery - clients own.<br /><b>Marquee Light:</b> We made it!!! (how to, coming soon) <a href="http://prf.hn/click/camref:11l3pT/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.etsy.com%2Fpages%2Flittlehouseblog%2Fprojectpinkroom-project-pink-room%3Fref%3Dpg_index_31" target="_blank">or you can buy one from Etsy.</a> :)<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://prf.hn/click/camref:11l3pT/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.etsy.com%2Fpages%2Flittlehouseblog%2Fprojectpinkroom-project-pink-room%3Fref%3Dpg_index_31" target="_blank">Shop similar items to that I bought for her room, in my #ProjectPinkRoom category on Etsy!</a><br /><br /><i>Disclaimer: This post was done in collaboration with Etsy. We were provided a gift certificate to purchase some items from Etsy sellers.</i>

#ProjectPinkRoom - Bedroom Reveal!

It's time for the #ProjectPinkRoom reveal. Skipping back again, this room was designed for one of my close girlfriends daughters. ( Re...

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Five Top Sources for Budget Art

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/P1100810.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/P1100810.jpg" width="492" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Look beyond the faded prints at second hand sources.</span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;">It's the frame, the glass, and the mat that's worth upcycling.</span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;">Yes, I am wearing a tape measure.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]-->I hear you if you are staging your home for sale, and money is tight. <br /><br />You’re planning to move. That costs. <br /><br />You’ve made repairs and updates to your home. That costs. <br /><br />You may have bills from painters, carpet cleaners, electricians, carpenters and a storage company.<br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I’m not here to ask you to spend more to decorate your walls. <br /><br />I’m here to make suggestions for where you can find art that is inexpensive but will still make your home look great.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Second Hand </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">If you have to narrow your search for suitable art for staging, visit your local thrift stores and start hitting those yard sales. There’s always a selection of framed art at every thrift store. You’ll find outstanding art bargains at fundraiser sales hosted by groups like Knights of Columbus, churches, pet rescue organizations, and other charities.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Whatever these organizations are selling they received as free donations, so the pricing reflects that the owner has already surrendered it, which is a different scenario from a garage sale where a seller might have an inflated sense of worth in his “discards,” and even be prepared to take them back inside at the end of the day rather than accept a low price.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">   </span></div><div class="MsoNormal">Yes, much of what is sold in these outlets and events is ugly, faded, stained or dated. But the price is right and if you know what to look for (more on that in the days ahead) you can stage stylishly on a shoestring using art.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/stretcherprice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/stretcherprice.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">This is the kind of bargain you love to find at </span></i><i><span style="font-size: small;">a garage sale because </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;">the stretches alone are worth much more than $1.50 .</span></i> </td></tr></tbody></table><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Art.com</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.art.com/" target="_blank">Art.com </a>is a large and popular online destination for reproduction art shoppers. You can search by subject, size, style, price, colors, artist and whether you want it framed or not. The selection can’t be beat and the prices are fair. An artsy 18 x 24-inch black and white photograph can sell for $33. And a 30 x 40-inch vintage travel poster sells for $45. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/8c0cf154-063b-474e-805b-9e0083c6e683.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/8c0cf154-063b-474e-805b-9e0083c6e683.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Black and white photographs are always tasteful in a staged home. </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;">Find them at Art.com</span></i>. <i><span style="font-size: small;">I usually</span></i> <i><span style="font-size: small;">order prints </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;">unframed and frame them myself. It's not difficult.</span></i>  </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Libraries</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Did you know that your local library can be a place to borrow framed paintings? <br /><br />Even small town libraries often have a selection of reproductions that you can take home for a month or more. <br /><br />You won’t have a valuable masterpiece, and you can’t keep it forever, but you might go home with a reproduction of a beautiful 18^th century landscape painting, or a print of a cubist still life, all ready for hanging in your staged home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/landscape.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/landscape.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">What you'll discover at libraries is framed reproductions of  </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;">paintings by well-known artists, like this </span></i><i><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;">pleasant </span></i><span style="font-size: small;"><i>scene that would help the style of a staged room</i>. </span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><br /><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><br /><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Friends</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Have you ever visited a friend or relative and admired the painting over the fireplace or the framed prints in their hallway? Would you consider asking if you could borrow art from a good friend or family member? Chances of art being damaged or stolen are so slight, that the possibility is good you can find friends cooperative. It’s only temporary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>I can’t recommend this for any art that is really valuable, but it certainly beats buying art just for staging.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">If you're really lucky you have a friend who is an artist or gallery owner. Most artists store pieces of their own finished art. Perhaps your friend would love to have an audience for his (signed) artwork?     </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Look Around You</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Often the best buys are right under your nose. You might be able to revamp what you already have (more on this in the coming days.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Did you know that you can temporarily convert framed art you love into something “stage-worthy” just with simple supplies you have in your home already? Stay tuned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">   </span></div><div class="MsoNormal">With so many places to find affordable art, there’s no reason to have bare walls or walls decorated with stuff that doesn’t add to your home’s perceived value.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Want to get up to speed on decorating trade secrets, organizing advice, decluttering and cleaning schedules, furniture arranging rules, color selection advice, and much more to help you stage your home? Just download my $5 eBook, <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebooks.html" target="_blank">DIY Home Staging Tips to Sell Your Home Fastand for Top Dollar, </a><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/Artalone-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="380" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/Artalone-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div>

Five Top Sources for Budget Art

Look beyond the faded prints at second hand sources. It's the frame, the glass, and the mat that's worth upcycling. Yes, I am wearin...

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The Best Art for Home Staging

<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:RelyOnVML/> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]-->When you think of art for wall décor, your mind may turn to black and white photos framed under glass, landscape oil paintings, watercolors of beach scenes, abstract canvases, or antique signs. All of these qualify.<br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">My series of wall art for home staging will include four different categories of art, and focus primarily on three of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Art Under Glass</b></span><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/bedwithmapprints-jossandmain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="344" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/bedwithmapprints-jossandmain.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Maps under glass are one smart choice for a subtle</span></i> <i><span style="font-size: small;">display </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;">that adds to this Joss and Main bedroom's sophistication.</span></i> </td></tr></tbody></table>Glass (or "glazing") protects art that needs protection from dust, moisture, grease, smoke, overexposure to light (if it's UV-protective glass) and other detrimental forces like people’s fingers. Non-glare glass can eliminate annoying reflections. This category of art includes photographs, prints, pastels, original drawings, mixed media works like collages that are then painted, and delicate objects like needlework and fabric arts.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Work like this that’s easily damaged is usually matted. The mat surrounds the art with thick cardboard-like paper that protects the surface of the art. It prevents the glass from laying directly on the surface of the photo or drawing or print. Posters are often not matted because they are not considered<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>precious works of art. Sometimes posters are not even glazed, but merely mounted on suitable backing with or without simple framing. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span></div><div class="MsoNormal">Mats serve another important function and that is to surround art with white space. White space calls attention to the work itself, gives the eye some place to rest, and generally makes the art look better, cleaner, and more important.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Paintings</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/SusanGlickInteriorspaintingoverfireplace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="460" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/SusanGlickInteriorspaintingoverfireplace.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">A painting like this in a living room from Susan Glick Interiors needs </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;">no glazing, so glare and reflections are not a problem.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal">Paintings are a different category. A regular oil painting or acrylic painting on canvas is never covered with glass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These works don’t need that kind of protection because the paints are heavy enough to protect themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Exceptions are when acrylic paints are applied to paper, or combined with photos and therefore need to be framed under glass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Three Dimensional Works</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/PotteryBarnmetalwreath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="359" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/PotteryBarnmetalwreath.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Pottery Barn's over-sized wall ornament qualifies as a metal</span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;">sculpture, a wreath, and an inspiration piece for DIYers.</span></i> </td></tr></tbody></table>Wall hangings that display more form make up our third cluster. This group includes art objects such as wreaths and similar hangings made from metal, wire, folded paper, baskets, plates, or even cut tubes from toilet paper rolls (yes, we’ve all seen those). These kinds of art forms are often the most fun and imaginative for the DIY home stager.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Crafters' Projects</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">And the last category includes wall hangings that are simply hung from a rod. I’m thinking of rugs used as art, handmade quilts and other textile arts, tapestries, and one-of-a-kind flags.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These can be striking and effective original home staging props, but usually call for skills beyond the scope of most DIYers unless of course, she happens to be a quilter or weaver. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Because I am limiting my 31-day discussion to wall art, I won’t be including art such as sculpture, ceramics, glassware, sconces, mirrors and other art objects.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What You’ll Learn </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1100630-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1100630-1.jpg" width="376" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">If you have an interest in creating your own art suitable </span></i><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><i>for staging your home, I  will show you how</i>.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The tutorials I am working on and will be presenting here I chose because they all have certain qualities.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">They needed to be DIY-friendly because this blog is about DIY home staging. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>I wanted them to be fairly quick and easy to do because I know most people who stage their own homes are busy people. But I designed my projects to get impressive results, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span></div><div class="MsoNormal">I also chose projects that are thrifty. I love to upcycle, recycle and source materials creatively.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t want you buying a $37 pad of watercolor paper to produce one picture, so I’ll suggest economical alternatives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>When possible, we’ll use common supplies and tools that most DIY folks have already.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I looked for lightweight art projects. Hanging art in a staged home shouldn’t be a major production. You may have just painted your walls and hate the thought of adding holes, so I will suggest ways to hang art that do not damage walls when going up or when coming down. Making them lightweight makes this easier.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Join me on this journey to get those walls decorated in your staged home. And if you are not selling your home, I hope you’ll learn some new tricks of the trade to make wherever you live your dream home. Be sure to download my eBook,<a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebooks.html" target="_blank"> <i>DIY Home Staging Tips to Sell Your Home Fast and for Top Dollar</i></a><i> </i>so you’ll be informed and inspired. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/Artalone-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="380" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/Artalone-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>

The Best Art for Home Staging

When you think of art for wall décor, your mind may turn to black and white photos framed under glass, landscape oil paintings, watercolors ...

Read more »

The Basics for Choosing and Using Art for Staging

<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/largepaintingbyLindseyMeyer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/largepaintingbyLindseyMeyer.jpg" width="434" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: small;">This simple painting by Lindsey Meyer hits all the bumpers. </span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size: small;">It's big, doesn't steal the spotlight, has no writing, and leaves the </span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size: small;">subject matter to one's imagination.</span></em></td></tr></tbody></table><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument></xml><![endif]-->When you were living in your home and planning to stay there, you hung on your walls what you and your family wanted to look at daily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Maybe you’ve displayed snapshots from your trip to the Grand Canyon, formal portraits from your wedding, posters of your favorite rock group, or framed certificates of achievement for your children’s Little League activities. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Maybe you even had a framed velvet painting of Elvis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Now that your home is for sale, art becomes a way to stir buyers to action. So your mind has to run on a different track.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>You’ll need to think like a buyer instead of an interior decorator or ordinary home owner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Size Matters</b></span><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal">Art for staging should be large because small décor items tend to chop up a space. Buyers respond more favorably when they sense open spaces. Better to leave a wall blank than to place a few small framed pictures on it.<br /><br />I think that hanging small art is one of the most common mistakes DIY home stagers make. You almost can't hang art that is too large. Even when part of a painting, for example, is eclipsed by a plant or vase or even a table, it's fine. This kind of simple uncluttered layering only adds depth to a room. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>No Show-Stealers</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">You also want your staging art to be non-distracting. That means no faces, unless it is an ancestral portrait or something similar. Buyers will feel more like the place is their own when “no one else is already there.” It’s the same reason that savvy real estate agents allow the client to enter the room first instead of leading them into each room. It’s a subtle but powerful technique.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Words Get in the Way </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The written word is also distracting, so smart stagers limit lettered art to posters, vintage signs, or foreign language text. So instead of a framed favorite heirloom recipe or page from The Prophet, limit your wordy art to things like short slogans or labels.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/P1100702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/P1100702.jpg" width="382" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: small;">This framed French poster qualifies as suitable art</span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size: small;">for staging because the words are foreign, </span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size: small;">and therefore don't distract buyers' minds.</span></em>  </td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Watch that Content </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Most of us know that offensive or controversial material used as art is never a good idea when your home is on the market. Anything that might be considered vulgar (Hello, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Calendar) or political (a poster advertising a rally for radical cause) should be replaced with benign décor. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">We might also add to this category sports memorabilia and religious art or relics. People like to do business with people with whom they share values and beliefs. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Don’t feel like you are not being true to your beliefs; you simply are playing by the rules of quick and profitable home sales.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Art Adds Value </b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">    </span></div><div class="MsoNormal">Every room deserves some wall décor! Don’t be shy about dressing your home to take it to market. If you follow the tips and tutorials I’ll be offering in the following weeks, your home will be beautifully and effectively staged to sell, with help from wall art.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">My $5 eBook, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebooks.html" target="_blank">DIY Home Staging Tips to Sell Your Home Fast and for Top Dollar</a> </i>is the go-to text for staging your own home. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/Artalone-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="380" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/Artalone-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> </div>

The Basics for Choosing and Using Art for Staging

 This simple painting by Lindsey Meyer hits all the bumpers.  It's big, doesn't steal the spotlight, has no writing, and leaves the...

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