When I design a room, I visualize what the end result will be. Sometimes I sit down and sketch it out and sometimes it is just a picture in my head. The challenge can be actually FINDING the accessories to materialize the vision.
Creating art pieces for your rooms can be super easy and cheap if you make it yourself. I don’t know if you have ever had this problem, but when I’m searching for the perfect accessories for a room, a lot of times, they don’t exist! I search and search which only ends in more frustration that the perfect GRAY TRUCK picture cannot be found anywhere.
I came to the conclusion a long time ago that making my own accessories is the best way to create the “perfect” finishing touches in a room I’m designing. It also helps to create a custom look when you accessorize with a creativity by creating unique pieces that cannot be found at the local target store. It’s pretty fun when someone says, where did you get this picture, and you can say, I MADE IT!
Now, don’t be afraid, I know some of you are thinking, “I’m not an artist.” Well believe me, you do NOT need to be an artist to create certain accessories like the one I’ll teach you how to make today.
Items you need:
A projector (just borrow one from a school teacher friend) š
1 transparency (I bought a pack of 12 at Wal-Mart)
A pencil
Craft paint in the color of your choice with a small firm paint brush
1 Blank canvas
A smidgen of spray paint in the color of your choice
The first thing you need to do is decide what design you’d like on your canvas. In this case, I decided on a truck. So, I googled “Truck clip art” and found one below. I liked it because it had simple lines.
Image source: http://www.arthursclipart.org/toys/toysbw/TRUCK.gif
Next, paint the canvas the color of your choice. In my case, I wanted it gray to match the bedding below.
Next, I printed out the truck onto a transparency (yes, right at home on my ink jet printer), and with a little help from my hubby (who has a level eye) we lined it up perfectly on the gray canvas.
Then, using the pencil, I traced the truck onto the canvas.
Warning: Be sure to go over EVERY line so you won’t be confused when you are painting on the design. I’ve learned this the hard way in the past.
Next, use a firm paint brush to paint the lines. I used plain old white, craft paint.
It turned out great!
Total cost? $5.00 for the canvas and the rest I had on hand! š
I made the picture for my friend’s little boy’s room. She plans to hang it in between the navy blue shelves I posted about HERE. I think it looks great in this room! I also posted about the bedding and headboard HERE.
Have I convinced you to make your own art? š
AMAZING! I have wanted a princess tiara print for my daughter's room for some time. I'm a teacher so I have transparencies and overhead on hand. I'm totally going to try this!
Very cool! Thanks for the reminder that we CAN do this. Great info and I am so totally going to do this soon.
SO fun. Yet another item to go on the wish list: projector:)
I've used that trick to create a template for art quilts. I can sketch what I want, print it onto transparency and then trace onto paper taped onto the wall for my template. I like the idea of using it to create canvas art too!
Perfectly finished! They used a projector many times on the old Trading Spaces tv show – those things are definitely worthy decor tools. Great job! Pam @ Sallygoodin
This is a really great project, Brooke! Thanks for sharing your genius. š
I have been trying to do this exact thing in my baby's room for the last few months, and I couldn't seem to figure out all the kinks. Thanks for the post.
This looks great! I didn't know they made any other kind of canvas except for a white/beige one, good to know!
sooooo cute, way to be thrifty
So simple! My library has a projector you can come use in one of their empty rooms. I don't know if that's the case for all libraries though.
I LOVE YOU BROOKE! You are an inspiration to us all. First I have to tell you that you did a GREAT JOB on TV the other day. I was very impressed. You were meant to do TV. Second, I have been inspired by you to do my own creations for my daughters new room. Just bought my first used bed frame, and now I have tons of ideas for art because of this post! You are amazing. Keep it up! – Love Jody Catten Jensen (you are so popular now I don't know if you will remember us little people…LOL!)
wow, that turned out great! my boys would love it
Great idea! I have been wanting to do some cowboy art in my boys' bedroom. I like the idea of using a canvas instead of the wall.
On my google reader the pictures are smaller and I kept thinking your husband had some kind of werid ponytail sticking up. LOL Doesn't look that way on your blog. Maybe I need to go back to bed!
very cute! I love that you kept it monochromatic.
This is such a cute idea! I love it – ok so I need some SERIOUS help! My husband and I just bought a little house in Texas to live in while he goes to graduate school and I have NO idea how to arrange the main living room. It is small – only 13 feet wide by 22 feet long. This is the room we will be putting our TV. We are going to be buying the furnature to put in that room when we get down there – but I have no eye for this kind of thing and have no idea how to set the room up – does anyone have any ideas or know of a website that you can make up a mock room or something? Any help is much appreciated, you can e-mail me at lisa-marie-00@hotmail.com. Thanks!
i am all for creating art esp for babys room and this truck is like just perfection.. š