decorating {with portraits}

This is a post that will be shown over at craft rookie!

Hi Craft Rookie Readers! It's awesome to be back! I hope the last post helped some in composition of your photographs, and you are enjoying the result. Today I just wanted to talk a little on decorating with photographs. Kristen Halligan, an associate at atmosphere ID, a design company, said the following,
"Designing with portraits can be a very inexpensive and creative way to add your unique style to a room. The more creative you get, the better! One of my favorite ways to add that unique style is to "create" your own frames. This can be by either making them from start to finish or going to a thrift store and buying frames to spray paint colors of your choosing. Don't be afraid to use mis-matched frames in color and style! One large portrait accentuated with sconces is also a quick and easy way to create a focal point for any room."
Kristen at www.atmosphere-id.com or e-mail kristenh@atmosphere-id.com.

She is right! I love seeing portraits displayed in my home, because not only are they a quick attention grabber, but they bring personality to my home and make my decorations that much more personal. Here are a few hanging around my house:
This is above my desk. The combination of black and brown frames brings a lot of interest to the space.
I couldn't find frames that I liked to hang here with portraits I had just printed. I searched EVERYWHERE for something in my budget. Then I remembered that I had these frame sizes, just in colors I didn't like so I spray painted them white to match the rest of the decor. A grouping of a 16x20 and 2 11x14 will fill a wall nicely.
Lol, I realize I haven't filled one frame yet. This dresser from IKEA is a little low, so I attempted to add height by filling the space with portraits. The two top frames were clearance at Walmart, the big one clearance at Ross. I felt like I won the lottery. I typically am a fan of collage frames as well, but find they can be busy. Find frames that only allow larger sizes with 2-6 openings, and it won't look like you're portraits exploded.
This is in my family room. Again, trying to adjust for height I filled the space with a grouping of 2 11x14's (one mounted) and 2 8x10's.

This is the focal point of the room, as Kristen suggested. A 20x30 that I printed at Sam's and a frame I bought at Walmart- total cost of the presentation was around $20 at the time I believe. Which sure beats printing them custom, even if you do sacrifice a little quality. The sconces added the right amount of width and the lettering added a fun element. Sconces and Lettering were found at Ross and Hobby Lobby.

I love pictures! I love taking them of others, and I love having them for myself. There is nothing greater than to see a wonderful family memory from a session preserved in wall hanging.

Do:

Have fun! Experiment with colors and arrangements

Fill the space.

Be creative. Prints can be framed, mod podged onto a wood backing or canvas, or mounted professionally.

Don't:

Over crowd. Using too many frames, especially if they are small will overwhelm the viewer.

Only use an 8x10 inch frame on a 10 ft wall. I have seen this done, and it makes me smile. Fill the space.

Stress. :)

Thanks for reading. Head on over to http://ciocophotography.com to see my latest fun sessions and the awesome people I get to associate with! Have questions? Send them over: ciocophotography@gmail.com. Have a great week!

I'll leave you with some more arrangment ideas:

decor {tutorials}

Personalized Picture Clocks

Simple Flower Wreath

Felt Flower Wreath

Customized Flour Canisters

Canvas Frames

2 Minute Curtains

Modpodged Frame

PB Rosette Lampshade Knockoff

furniture {tutorials}

Nursery Furniture

Rocker and Ottoman

Dining Set

baby {tutorials}

Ruffled Baby Mobile

Ruffled Onesie Dress

Burp Cloths

Ruffled Table Runner

sewing {tutorials}

Dress Alteration

Customized Stockings

No Sew Shirt Makeover

 

Window Valance

{for} sister- Flowered Headbands

A know there are a ton of tutorials about these so I won't bore you with the details! These are SO simple to make and fun also. I made them for my little sister who is turning 12 this year. I started by buying a set of 5 headbands for $3 at Ross (favorite store ever). I bought the satin at walmart, and it was only $2 a yard. You really don't need very much so I only bought 1/4 yard of each color. The toelle I already had, as well as the felt.

I cut each piece in the shape of a lopsided circle- or petal. I burned each edge, and made each piece slightly smaller to fit within the other. The felt flowers are from the tutorial before, and the toelle material I frayed at the edges. Hope she likes them! ;)

brown {beauty}- Felt Flower Wreath

So I've had this wreath for a while. It started with us over at our first apartment. Almost two years ago. Quite literally the ribbon was off some of our wedding gifts. The large grape vine wreath was around $3 at Walmart. I'm cheap.

I've been meaning to do something different, because not only does the wreath blend right into the door, but the gold ribbon was only a 'little' tacky. But again, I'm cheap.

I finally bought some spraypaint for $0.99 to paint the wreath because I had seen some felt flowers that I LOVED on a headband. And I thought they would be oh so cute on a wreath. I'm pretty sure this is not an original idea, but hey, we'll go with it. I spray painted the wreath white, but only enough to give it more of an antique'y look rather than full on white.
I tried first cutting smaller circles with the bottom of a glass, but decided the cd would give a little more of the size I wanted. So I traced it onto a 1/2 yard of felt that I had bought at Walmart. For all I needed, I didn't even use more than a third, making the felt about 75 cents.
I cut the cd circles into a spiral and wrapped the long piece into the rose form. I put a little glue at the end to hold it together enough to put on the wreath. Some of the longer spirals I cut in half, and other roses I used smaller circles to give different size dimensions.
When I had as many as I wanted, I placed them on the wreath till I liked them.
Then just put a generous amount with your hot glue gun to make them stay.
I also put a little wheat to add a little color and variety. It seemed like the crafty thing to do.
Happy Monday!