How to Turn Dollar Store Picture Frames Into Art for Your Living Room

Whether I'm sorting through the hundreds of picture frames at my local thrift stores or trying to figure out how to fashion one from tape, I can never seem to have enough picture frames.





This was especially a problem after I found these old Life Magazine Nature books with the most incredible, technicolor photos that I could rip out and have to decorate my home.

But I had about one hundred options, and like, 25 possible photos I couldn't decide on. So I decided to run to Dollar Tree, where the frames (and everything else) are cheap and the possibilities are endless. I ended up finding these document display frames, $1 each of course, and stopped by a craft store to buy some little tubes of acrylic paint to fix 'em up with.
I'm revamping my coffee table this week so I got colors that would help bring out the new colors for that (we're doing a chalkboard top and seafoam-y green legs).

So!
You'll need;
-paint colors of your choice (I used the mini acrylic paints you can get at any craft store and a Valspar interior paint, above)
-frames (any frame will work)
-tarp, newspaper, or some surface you don't mind getting some paint on
-latex gloves (if you think getting paint on you is a crime)
-paint brush/sponge (I used 2 inch sponge-brushes since I wanted to do a striped look)




1. Choose your art. This can be important so you can kind of plan your frames and pictures. Frames should complement the picture as much as possible. I picked photos that tie in colors from my living room and the new furniture colors.

2. Remove the backing and glass (or plastic) from inside the frame so you're just left with the bare frame to paint

3. Dip your brush and begin to paint. I did quasi-stripe patterns, each frame focusing more on a different color.

3. Add layers of color!

4. Let dry while play with your cat and Boggle with your boyfriend...

5. Et Voila! Revel in your creative genius and let the frames sit around for a few days before you get the energy to hang them up. 

*bad lighting

5 Recent Room Decor Inspiration & Stage Ideas

Okay, maybe more than 5....
I was looking for some things to do while my boyfriend was out of town and decided to look into some ideas for our stage decorations when we perform.

1. This is awesome and looks like it'd be possible to carry around, up stairs, and over my should as I cart my guitar and amp to shows! Simple to make, too. I bet it'd take me... 3 hours. Perfect Saturday activity. 

For shows, though, I'd have to look into being able to hang them over windows or from my mic stand so I don't have to put holes in ceilings where I play! What a cool decoration for rooms, stages, or bathrooms.

I've also seen this done with CDs, which would be great as a window treatment. 

2. I got distracted by this beautiful wall-decor idea. My living room needs some sprucing up.... why not look into faux plants and frames? 

This can also be done as backdrops for bookshelves, which is amazing. 

What a gorgeous idea, especially for places that don't have flowers or grass (or leaves) for most of the year. In Los Angeles the weather is nonstop gorgeous, resulting in nonstop natural blooms, greenery, and earthy wonder. Here in Ohio- not so much. I could really use something bright and lovely like this in my home year-round. 

3. This made me think of printing out some awesome images to have as backdrops somehow. I love the neon, psychedelic aspect to this. I've always dreamed of having a portable projector for displaying images behind me while I sing. How much are they, anyway...? As cheap as $200 it looks like. Sweet! What would you use one for?

Imagine having a portable projector, throwing a dinner party, and having videos and pictures of Paris and Rome playing on the ceiling while y'all sip you cocktails- or at poker night, having some World Series of Poker footage play up above or on your outdoor wall. Fabulousssss$$$. 

4. Here we go! Think "Hollywood" sign but my name instead. "Fash Lavender" would have to have a lot more glitter than these though... Love the white-painted brick, too. 

5. And this! These are rain gutters functioning as shelves. I mean... c'mon! These are so dynamic and interesting- not to mention affordable. Wonderful concept- I want to do it!

I was thinking you could use these for not just books, but kitchen appliances, keys, whatever. Paint 'em and win. Very cool idea.

These have been popping up everywhere and I think it's great. Cheap, feasible, clever options will always win out. I will definitely install these in my bedroom sometime this summer. I'll be sure to show ya!

Let me know what you thought & I hope you were inspired as I was by these beautiful ideas.

<3Lily