Tutorial: Decorative Wall Art

My husband Dan and I have been talking about this project for about 3 months. It’s been on my to do list, and he has been so great to talk me through the “nitty gritty” parts of what tools, what type of wood to buy…etc.
Items you need for this project:
One sheet of MDF: $25.00
2 Yards of Black felt: $6.00
A projector to get the image onto the wood. (I borrowed a friend’s)
Tools to cut it out (my hubby’s jigsaw)
Staple gun and staples (a smigen)
Spray paint in the color of your choice (about $5.00)

We bought a full sheet of MDF and cut it into four equal parts. We actually had the Home Depot guys use their big machine to cut it for us. It was AWESOME they cut it perfectly. I used three of the four MDF boards for this project. Each one was 24 inches wide and 48 inches tall.

The first thing we did was project the image onto the boards using my friends Liz and Jo’s projector. This was pretty funny because I kept bumping the projector. (OK, not funny at the time, but looking back, FUN-NY).

To those that missed my preview post found HERE, I used an image of a pillow for this project. I used photoshop to fit two of the designs across the three boards. One of them in one corner and the other one in the opposite corner. Here is the pillow. So cute.

Here is my cute friend Natasha helping me trace the images onto the boards. What a rock star for helping me. 🙂 She is doing a similar project. When she’s done with hers I’ll show you hers.
This is what they looked like when we got done tracing the images onto the boards. We had to freehand a little bit because of the image getting distorted. I think we did pretty darn good.
My cute hubby spent an ENTIRE (yes, about 5.5 hours) Saturday cutting these bad boys out. I had NO idea that it would take him so long. I bet he was ready to kill me by the end, but he didn’t complain once. I’m a lucky gal. I’ll have to repay him with his favorite EVERYTHING. I’m pretty sure I owe him a leg for this…a kidney…an arm…ya know…A LOT!

Here they are when the cutting was complete. I even offered to help him cut them out. The truth is, he didn’t trust me to do it. He knew it wouldn’t look as good, and I would probably mess it up. He’s probably right. I’m kind of a spaz at this part.
Then I primed and painted the boards. I needed to prime them because the MDF sucks the paint right in. I used white KILZ to prime them, and then spray painted them cream when the primer was completely dry. Here are the bad boys in the process. Do you like my carpet pieces…you can tell I use them to paint all sorts of things. 🙂
After the painting was complete, I upholstered the back of each board with black felt. I chose felt because it is CHEAP with a capital C. Felt by the yard is 2.99 at JoAnn’s right now. Plus it is 72″ wide. So, I bought two yards. I stapled them to the board with my trusty staple gun.
Voila. Don’t they look AWE-SOME? I am so excited about them.

Dan is on his way home with the hardware to hang them on the wall, but I couldn’t wait to show them to you.
Do you like them?

Published on January 7, 2010

88 thoughts on “Tutorial: Decorative Wall Art”

  1. Wow, that is quite possibly the most impressive thing I have seen in a long time…. it really has my mind spinning with possibilities! Thanks for such a great idea and amazing inspiration!

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  5. This turned out so beautiful! I will need to make one of these someday.

    ~ Jessica

    justenoughstyle.blogspot.com
    justenoughstyle.etsy.com

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  6. This is my first time here and oh my, the wonderfulness of All Things Thrifty! I have been clicking around your place for 25 minutes and love it! I have got to get out of here, I am supposed to be reading–I'm doing the bible in 90 day challenge and just got sidetracked!

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  12. WOW!!!! that is a project – and beautiful – even more special that your husband helped you with it!
    visiting from fruglicious friday – first time on your blog – i love it

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  13. Love it! You guys used a jigsaw? I saw something I want from Krumpets but don't want to pay their price for it. I would definitely need that jigsaw thing. I bet it is expensive, right?

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  14. Very cool idea, seems like a whole lot of work! Your hubby did a great job cutting those out. Thanks for sharing such a beautiful project.
    Michelle

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  15. I fell in love instantly with this project, I would really love to Link this on my blog. What a great Idea!!!

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  17. Yep. Amazing. I can't imagine my husband spending 5.5 hours cutting anything out unless he was going to make a lot of money off the project. Did you use an opaque projector, slide projector or one that hooks up to your computer?

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  22. Found your blog through A Soft Place to Land and I have to say that I just LOVE this idea! May have to try it out one of these days. Although, I may have to paint it instead so that my hubby doesn't kill me. 🙂 Thanks for the inspiration!

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  25. BEYOND LOVE! WOW I thought you just traced the design and stuck velvet on – this is amazing!

    I always wonder when I hear people talk about buying wood at Home Depot – do they charge to cut the wood? If so about how much does it cost?

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  28. Wow…that is sooo totally cool! Thanks for linkin' up to Frugalicious Friday! I think we're alike…don't you think $aving is fun too?

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  29. I LOVE THIS!!! Gorgeous project! I didn't realize it was SO BIG until the pic with your friend in it. Holy Cow! Definitely going on my list of "to try projects"!

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  37. Think it looks great. I think instead of spending the time to cut it out of the wood, I'd just rather paint it one-same effect if you're not standing right up to it.

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  40. I LOVE this. I just wish I had the patients to do this. Not sure my husband would spend that amount of time doing it either, but maybe someday I will have to try. Maybe for a kids room!

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  42. Ooops. Found my way here via Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch but I see you haven't put a link back to her Met Monday on here. I am sure she would appreciate the link back as is customary.

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  43. Absolutely gorgeous! Now here's hoping that someday we'll have a nice jigsaw and that I can get my hubs to do it, too!

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  44. I'm so jealous that you have a jigsaw… and a husband who knows how to use it… and the creativity to think of this. It's amazing!

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  50. Hi Brooke! I am a former Acclamation girl (before Dan's time). Val told me about your blog. I love it! It's right up my alley. In fact I just got home from Goodwill. Anyhow, this is by far the greatest homemade art project I have EVER SEEN! You've got me thinking…could we handle this? Really it is such a fantastic piece!!! I'm going to have to follow you I think!

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  58. All I can say is wow!!!!! 5.5 hrs to cut this out… Great hubby you have…. i love it…

    Thanks for joining my party… you both should be very proud of yourseleves.

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  59. That honestly has to be one of the coolest projects I have seen to date! GREAT JOB!!I know you are thrilled to have that hanging on the wall. Just sitting here in amazement!! WOW!!

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  63. LOVe love love THESE!!! I say you doo this several times and you could totally make some dough! My hubbs doesnt even own mechanical devices…soooo i would have no choice but to purchase something like this!!! love it!

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  64. Ok, I sooooooo love these. My first time at your blog. Found you through One Pretty Thing. I love the felt idea, you can change it out if you want a new color!

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  65. WOW!! WOW!!! WOW!!!! I love it SO much. You could probably shop for en entire year and not find such beautiful artwork. I would love to see a photo of the room you hang it in!! Thanks for sharing! Tara

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  66. First time here – via One Pretty Thing. So amazingggg!! I love it everything about it – black + cream + scrolls! Way to go! 😀

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  68. pure genious! i love it! i have a BIG empty wall in my living room thats needed something now for about 4 years….i just haven't found anything, or if i have, it was way out of our budget. for under $40, i may have to give this a try!

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  70. This totally solves my big wall problem! I love it!!! Would it be possible to get that photoshop file from you? I really like that design. I have photoshop and could do it but figure if its already done, that would save me a lot of time (which would be great considering this sounds like a very time intensive project 🙂 My email is cassi@byu.edu. If not, no big deal. Thanks a bunch!

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  72. This is what I think. I think you are a trooper to put in such time and effort to create such an amazing work of art. It's fab, and I'm glad I found your site.

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  81. Can you imagine my delight & giddiness when I saw that I have those same exact pillows on my couch (& a jigsaw that I know how to use & a projector to copy the idea)?

    I'm SO excited! Thank you for the amazing idea. I'm having a ball going through your blog this evening. You are an amazing person for sharing all your fabulous ideas & creativity!

    -Natalie

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  86. So. You say you had to prime it b/c mdf just sucks up all the paint. Does it ever do it in a good way? Does it make it uneven and old and worn looking, cause that'd be kinda cool too for specific projects… Whaddya say?

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  88. That looks amazing !!
    Now I know what to do with this giant wall behind the couch.
    So talented !!!
    Get the lovely man a scroll saw
    Love to see more.

    Reply

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