Young House Love

Home Decorating & DIY Tutorials

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Making Five Dollar Art With Colored Paper

Remember that grid of eight Ribba frames above our sectional (that we got right the second time around)?

Ribbas Straight On Rug

Well, we figured out some in-the-meantime “art” for them (so we don’t have to stare at those brown squares every night). You know, until we come up with something better. And it only cost us five bucks. Okay, $5.17 if you’re being picky. So worth it.

We’re still not 100% sure what we want there in the long run, but we’re leaning towards something graphic and colorful. And since the brown frame back is the opposite of that, we wanted to at least put something in there temporarily that wouldn’t cost much or take any time to toss together. Enter one of our favorite solutions: 12 x 12″ craft paper from Michael’s.

ColorRibbas Paper N Sue

We picked out eight sheets that complement Sue (aka: our inspiration napkin). They were the perfect size to slip in our 12 x 12 Ribba frames and at about 60 cents a pop it was kind of a no-brainer.

ColorRibbas Receipt2

We tried a few different arrangements on the floor before putting anything in frames. Since we had picked a couple of duplicate colors, we wanted to keep them far enough away from one another, so we ended up with this grouping:

ColorRibbas Paper On Floor

The frames definitely helped them feel less like sixty-cent craft paper and more like something worthy of being displayed behind glass (seriously, what can’t you slap in a frame for a more polished look?). It definitely added that temporary injection of color we were looking for, and it was kind of reminiscent of the cool art that we saw – and loved – in this House Crashing adventure from back in the day (aka: a month ago).

ColorRibbas Horizon Straigh

It’s kind of like a simplified version of Sue the napkin now lives on our walls, eh?

ColorRibbas Blown Out Windo

We’ve been living with them for the last 24 hours and might be in danger of falling in love with them as a not-so-temporary solution. Uh oh.

ColorRibbas Close Angle

They just look so much nicer than the brown frame backs they covered. Actually, what we’re thinking that we might do is try to build on the concept somehow, like adding some modern white doilies, stencils, or layering some other pattern in front of them so we still can enjoy the color scheme that “shows through” while creating something a little more graphic. Almost like a custom version of those Classical Symmetry prints from Crate & Barrel (this set of six retails for $369, btw).

ColorRibbas Crate Barrel

Or we might still consider doing the personal photo thing by using the colorful paper as large mats around small square black & white pictures. Sherry even mentioned sticking tiny fortune cookie fortunes in the center of each colored sheet of paper. So you have to get really close to read them. ‘Til we decide on anything, we’re kinda loving the cost-of-a-Subway-footlong solution for these eight frames. And of course we’ll keep you posted when we finally get around to updating them for the long haul.

ColorRibbas Vertical Straig

Do you guys have any colorful art that you’re loving? Or affordable sets of images that you’ve spotted? Oh and how cool is this solution to empty Ribba frames that Krissy posted on our Facebook page? As Sherry says (way too much) “um yeah, love it.”

Psst- We announced the winner of this week’s giveaway. Click here to see if it’s you.

Comments

  1. Caroline says

    Oh, I love this! So much color! Great idea. Although, just a question. How do y’all feel about the saying, ‘the frame should never cost more than what is in it?’ I happen to agree with you about using inexpensive or free art in a frame to fancy it up, but what do you say to all those naysayers out there?

    Reply

  4. Peyton says

    New reader here. Followed a link from Jen Lancaster’s blog over here and have avidly checked in just about everyday since then. I absolutely LOVE this idea. Especially about what John said about copying those more expensive pieces using white laser cutouts. I am soooo doing that. I’m getting married in May and can’t WAIT to set up our house. Plan on using a lot of ya’lls tips!

    Reply

  6. Laura says

    So I totally haven’t read all the comments, but wanted to make sure you know you were featured as one of the “Weekend DIY’s” on CasaSugar’s website

    http://www.casasugar.com

    Congrats. Love the cute little project, totally makes the room feel “done”.

    Reply

  7. Meredith says

    I saw back in the comments that you’re thinking about getting a sewing machine, just wanted to chime in that you are MUCH better off getting a quality name used one than a cheap new one for comparable money. I’m sure you’ll do your research, but I’m using a 15-year-old New Home that is great, and in the sewing class I took those of us with hand-me-down machines were having a much easier time than the people with new Singer or other less expensive machines. It’s just hard if you’re a newbie if your machine keeps breaking and it’s not your fault. Okay, off my soapbox. :)

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Thanks so much for the tip! I always broke my mom’s 20 year old one, so there might not be any hope for me- haha. But I’ll definitely research whatever we get and try to get something Sherry-proof. Fingers crossed I don’t kill it!

      xoxo,
      s

  10. Lynn says

    So clever –love it just the way it is! The straight-on shot looks like it came from a decorating magazine. I’m
    so proud of you guys and what you’re accomplishing!

    Reply

  11. Courtney says

    I love this! A simple and polished update might be to just add white cut outs of the the letter P (or all of your initials)in fun and varying fonts.

    You guys make me want to create!

    Reply

  13. angela says

    I think you could do some great graphic stamping (even handmake your own lino blocks with just some white or grey/silver tones on the paper and get a similar feel to the ubiquitous Crate & Barrels

    Reply

  14. Andrea says

    Oooh! Nice! I almost would have used a stencil to cut out some of the color blocks to mimic the C&B stencil-look to show white through the color.

    Reply

  15. Leanne says

    I know you have photoshop – not sure if you have illustrator, but if so it is BEYOND easy to create those C&B prints on your own, or create stencils to put above the colors in the frames. So easy you could have them created and printed in less than 2 hours. Those prints are the first thing I thought of when I saw the square frames on your wall. I’m planning to do something similar in my house eventually, love them.

    Reply

  16. KJ says

    Hi Youngsters,
    You might know about this already, but I found out about it yesterday and thought it might help while searching for frugal art choices for your colorful new framed version of Sue the napkin. It is a website called Vintage Printable and it has a ton of free downloadable prints. You should check it out at vintageprintable.com….this is where I should be saying I wasn’t paid or perked for this reference and if I had one, I would post a link to my own “no swag policy”…lol

    Reply

  17. Leeann says

    Love it! The reflections in some of the frames makes me want to see organic designs on the pieces of paper. (Think white silhouettes of tree branches and leaves.)

    Reply

  18. joyjoy says

    I’ve framed up swatches of cloth as temporary art fixes (that ended up being permanent because I loved it), but I never thought to try paper. I actually LOVE the way it turned out, and may steal that idea! :-)

    Reply

  19. Kara says

    Ah…great idea! I’ve given up the ‘book (not the Good Book, hehe) for Lent but once it’s over I am TOTALLY posting pics there. Thanks for the advice! :)

    Reply

  20. JoDi says

    That really does look cool! I have a 3×3 arrangement over our living room couch in dark wood frames with some retro 70’s looking print scrapbook paper in there. I love the way it looks! It took a while to get the patterns laid out the way that looked “right” to my eye. Lots of trial and error!

    You’ve got a nice balance there. The only thing I would change is to flip the top and bottom frames in the 1st column on the left and do the same in the 3rd column so the 2 blues aren’t next to each other on the bottom right. They’re different colors but close enough that they seem a little too close to me. (Not that you asked! LOL)

    Reply

  21. Tammy Wirt says

    You could probably pick up some paper that has the designs you are looking for. I’d flip through some of those thick books of paper they have at Michaels or try to find a Scrapbooking Store in your area. They make everything for scrapbookers!

    Reply

  24. Jamie B says

    Looks cute! What I really love about it is seeing the reflections of outside and things around the room. Almost makes them look like a sketch on really bold paper :D

    Reply

  25. Mary Ellen says

    Wasn’t there someone a while back that recreated the pottery barn prints and sold them on etsy? I can’t find that story/link anywhere.

    Reply

  26. K (Barking Babymama) says

    I forgot to post yesterday that I am in love with this! I can’t wait to see what rug you pick now. I’m loving the purple and green squares especially with Karl. Looks so great! Paper! Who knew?

    Reply

  27. Kevin M says

    We did a similar thing in our kitchen with Michael’s patterned scrapbook paper – but ours was only 0.19 per sheet. We bought 3 patterns with the same deep red color as the base. It turned out great.

    Reply

  29. Debbie says

    I love them, but if I were doing the fortune cookie thing (and I might copy that) I would enlarge them just a litte! I think with it being 12×12, you’d still get the look, just a more reasonalbe size! Besides, I’m 50, and I don’t see small things so well! Love your ideas!

    Reply

  30. Sarah says

    This looks great! I’d love to do this with my 2010 William Morris calendar, but alas, in Australia, Ribba frames retail for about $50!!
    If you guys know of any US websites that sell something similar and will ship international, I’d love to hear it…

    Reply

  33. Christine says

    You could still do the personal photos, but do them black and white and then tint them with some colors from sue the napkin. It could be really fun. I love your temporary solution.

    Reply

  36. Beatriz says

    I just came across this picture and thought I’d pass it along….the decor is gorgeous and it looks like once Spring is in full bloom, you can take some close up shots of the flowers (that’s what it looks like in the pics attached) and VOILA! Colorful & personalized art!!!

    http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BdP8Yt4F1oU/TBaJdq0rixI/AAAAAAAAJPo/9MIefOKro_M/s1600/living+room+angie+hranowsky+multiple+prints.jpg

    Hopefully you can open the link…I’m sure you’d both love it!

    Reply

  37. Lorne M. says

    This looks amazing. I have bought similar frames as you have on the wall, however I have only four of them. I was wondering what to put inside them and came across your page. Now, I know for sure, I went to a shop yesterday hanged them on the wall and frames with coloured papers brightened the room. It looks better than I’ve expected.

    Reply

  40. Angela says

    I’ve loved your blog for over a year and this is my first time to comment. This grid in your living room reminds me so much of a grid we created for our bedroom. It’s 12×12 white scrapbook frames from Michael’s (on sale of course), patterned paper that worked with the colors in our bedding, and 12, 6×6, black and white nature photos taken by us on our travels. We had the photos printed at scrapbookpictures.com with a white border. We hope to add 6 more frames soon!

    here’s the link–

    http://angelamoore.typepad.com/my_life/2010/05/weekend-creative-photo-grid.html

    Reply

  42. Carli says

    I just finished re-decorating my sister and her boyfriends living room. All new furniture etc, and there was something needed for above the sofa and this was just the ticket! We immediately ran out to Hobby Lobby picked up 9 frames at half off and scrapbook paper which was 40%, yay! That color theory class in college definitely came in handy when choosing the pattern for the color layout!

    Reply

  43. Brandi says

    I was at paper source the other and was DYING over all the pretty papers. I’m thinking of going back to get a few sheets to frame with the Ribba frames. You guys should check it out! Probably just the dose of fun color you’re looking for!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Well the art itself was $5, so that’s how we got around to calling it $5 art. Haha. We already had two of the frames and we got the others at $19 a pop, as we mentioned in this post about the frame buying & hanging process. Our sectional is a whopping 140″ wide (nearly twice as long as the average sofa), so I think spending a total of $165 on frames and art to decorate that giant expanse is pretty great! Even getting a supersized canvas to stretch discount fabric over or framing three large & cheap posters could cost more at that size. Hope it helps!

      xo,
      s

  48. Marissa says

    I LOVE the colored paper in frames! I love it as a “permanent” idea myself! All of the colors in that room look so great together too – such inspiration to add more color to my home – thank you!

    Reply

  49. Cathy says

    Love this! I made my own version of the C&B prints by making stencils and painting six canvases. The total was more than your $5 art, but well under the $369 list price. About $80 for the canvases, brushes, paint, X-acto knife, and stencil film.

    Reply

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