Almost Free Artwork for your Walls

[missmanors]

One of my favorite ways to decorate my walls is with items that are near and dear to my heart, like family keepsakes and personal mementos. These can be anything from lace doilies that have been handed down through the generations, or seashells found on the beach during a favorite vacation. You are only limited by your imagination.

Root through the boxes in your attic to see what interesting family pieces you have that would look sensational on your walls. Photos of ancestors? A handmade sampler? Grandma's transfer ware dishes?

Another great source of artwork is memorabilia from special moments in your life. Why not display something you picked up on a vacation, like pottery from a specific region or a painting by a local artist?

Antique stores are a treasure trove of inexpensive artwork. Dig through old books that might contain artwork suitable for framing. If you like old botanical drawings, historic maps or portraits, you'll likely strike gold.

You can take pages from old storybooks and reading primers and frame them to hang in your young daughters' bedrooms. They will look absolutely adorable and unlike any of the mass-produced pieces you'd find in a store.

Or hunt for unique treasures, like historic wallpaper or fabric, old postcards or historic photos of interesting buildings or gardens. Surround them with a generous cream-colored mat, and put them in a thin black frame for a tasteful, archival look. Hang them in a grid, and you have a powerful look that costs a pittance to pull together.

Chances are, you have stacks of masterpieces by the young artists in your life. Pick a few favorites and frame them for a colorful, playful wall of memories.

If you have artistic leanings, create your own artwork. Find some beautiful fabric and stretch it over a canvas, then staple it into place. Or, since silhouettes are all the rage today, why not make some of your loved ones? Use a bright lamp to cast each model's profile on the wall, then trace the image and cut it out of black paper. Mount it, frame it and you've got a conversation piece you'll treasure forever.

[homealone]

Great ideas here. Most of those special momento's we get along the way through life that are special, often end up in some box, stored some where around the house. This is a great idea to get them out and let them be seen by all. Then every time you walk through your home you will also be walking down memory lane. I really love the idea of silhouettes, I just wonder if I could get anyone in my family to hold still long enough for me?? LOL. I would love to have some silhouettes of my family, that would look great in my living room. Thanks for this great post. I now have a few more decorating ideas for my home.
Silhouettes would also give the children in the family a chance to give away a little piece of themselves to other family members as a present!

[missmanors]

I agree that the silhouettes would make great gifts for children to give as presents. I always love to get gifts which my grandchildren have made themselves, and the silhouettes really look wonderful as artwork on a wall.

[homealone]

I agree with you having children make such gifts for Christmas as these silhouettes, would not only be a wonderful gift for anyone to recieve, but they would also save the parents of the children a whole lot of money. I dont have children in my home, but this would even be a great gift from Neices and Nephews, and it would also look very good in any home.