From the minute we finished our foyer shiplap wall, I was determined to smack some giant wall art up there. (That makes total sense, right? To cover part of the pretty wall you just put up, I know.)
But the usual problem came along. I’m not down with spending the going rate for oversized art. Even large picture frames alone cost a pretty penny. So it was the usual scene around here…the Shaver Three skipping off to Walmart.
And then we frolicked home with these happy finds:
I found these huge wooden poster frames for $25 each, knowing I wanted to give them the usual weathered treatment.
Supplies used: (Affiliate links are included below noted with asterisks. For more information, see my disclosure policy here.)
- 24″x36″ wood poster frame*
- White craft paint*
- Fiddes & Sons clear wax*
- A paint brush, chip brush, or wax brush
- A dry, clean lint-free rag
- A cup and spoon/stirer for mixing wax
- Spray adhesive – I used E6000*
- Scissors
- Audubon book- These are very similar to mine* (Update: Since this date’s original posting, this link has been corrected to the Birds of America edition. I’m so sorry for any inconvenience if any of you purchased the Audubon’s America one. All fixed now.)
- Jute burlap ribbon*
- School glue or Mod Podge*
The Steps:
I still wanted some of the wood finish peaking through on the frames, so I whipped up a batch of homemade liming wax. I just mixed 1 tablespoon of white paint with 3 tablespoons of clear soft wax in a cup for a minute or two until smooth.
I brushed it on pretty thick with a paint brush and used a clean lint-free rag to rub off only a little. You can control how much wood you want showing depending on how well you rub off the liming wax.
The whole process was done in a matter of minutes. Here’s a little side-by-side action:
I love that lime/drybrush weathered finish!
Ever since I hung up our botanical print window in our master bathroom, I’ve wanted to find another place to use more of my botanical prints somewhere else in our house.
A few years ago, my mom gave me this old thrifted Audubon Birds of America book that I’ve pulled pages out of to frame around our house. The bird prints remind me so much of Robert’s and my wedding day, which had a bird theme (and one day I should probably show a recap of the big day here for y’all to see).
This sad book is falling apart but it is filled with gorgeous biology illustrations from the Victorian era that I just had to rescue.
I picked out 18 of my favorite prints, nine for each frame, to fit on the cardboard backing of the frame. I had to trim some of the edges of the pages to fit onto the cardboard piece.
Then, I sprayed each sheet down with some spray adhesive.
Once I had all of the book pages glued on, I realized I didn’t really like seeing the edges of the paper. It looked homemade. And I wasn’t a fan.
So I hid the edges of the paper with jute burlap ribbon to make a grid. (My mom’s and mother’s-in-law idea actually.)
I lined up my ribbon first and glued it down with a line of simple school glue. Mod Podge could work too, but I was out.
I placed my ribbon vertically first.
Then horizontally.
Once the ribbon was dry, I placed the whole cardboard piece back in the frame, and that was it!
They turned out so much better than I originally planned! I love all of the textures with the burlap ribbon and lime waxed frames.
They’re perfect with our shiplap wall too.
It seems right at home with all of the thrifted pieces on our foyer table too. I found that cute scroll lamp at Goodwill for $2.00!
Our foyer has just about come together, and I’m putting some final touches on it this week.
I cannot wait to show off this happy little space! It’s so much brighter in here than it was just a couple of weeks ago. It’s amazing how art can make a room feel so much more complete.
Have y’all been working on any room makeovers lately that are so close to being finished? Or any fancy schmancy thrifty wall art that you’re super proud of? Or maybe sing and dance in the aisles of Walmart like we do? I’d love to hear all about it!
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Paige says
August 24, 2015 at 11:18 amThis is the best idea I’ve seen in long time ! I really love the wax treatment on those frame!
Lauren says
August 24, 2015 at 1:11 pmThank you, Paige!
Susan Brillhart says
September 5, 2015 at 4:27 pmA few problems here 1. is those are not cheap throw away print. They have value, especially if this truely a Victorian edition. 2. Glueing them to cardboard is a GIANT no no. Use mounting tape and adhear them to 100% rag board (available at framing shops) the acids in the cardboard will leach through and stain the paper. Even though the results are pretty I feel we need to honor the beautiful materials that we are using.
Lauren says
September 6, 2015 at 2:36 pmThanks for the concern, Susan. However, this book was completely falling apart before I got my hands on it and it was published in 1950. It was bound for the trash before it was rescued, so however I use it is an improvement. There are lots of this same book for sale on Amazon for around $5, so it’s not a high value item. My goal was to make this project inexpensively, so the poster frame with the cardboard just made sense for our budget. So far, there aren’t been any bleeding issues. I’d rather display these beautiful pages than shove this tattered book into a closet never to see the light of day. It’d just be more clutter to take up space in our house. If you ever come across this book though, you could certainly treat it how you wish.
Rhonda says
August 24, 2015 at 12:10 pmBeautiful art! And I love the liming wax trick and adding the trim between the prints…great ideas! May have to borrow them at some point! 🙂 ~Rhonda
Lauren says
August 24, 2015 at 1:10 pmThanks, Rhonda! Borrow away. 🙂
Karen Q says
August 24, 2015 at 12:56 pmI love your poster sized art!!! What a great idea… I will definitely be on the lookout for an old bird book like the one you used…love the old prints. This would just go so nicely in my home where I already have many “bird” pictures and figures.
Lauren says
August 24, 2015 at 1:10 pmSo glad you like it, Karen! This little book as gone a long way for harvesting art prints. Hope you find one! I found several of the same books on Amazon for around $5 that I linked in the supply list of this post if you don’t find one while thrifting.
Lanita Anderson says
August 24, 2015 at 1:33 pmLove how the artwork turned out…..especially the burlap ribbon to “frame” everything!! Can’t wait to see the full reveal of your foyer!
Blessings,
Lanita
Lauren says
August 24, 2015 at 6:18 pmThank you, Lanita! I can’t wait to show it off.
[email protected] Stroll Thru Life says
August 24, 2015 at 2:08 pmGorgeous. I love them. Great tutorial too.
Lauren says
August 24, 2015 at 6:17 pmThanks, Marty!
Nancy @ Slightly Coastal says
August 24, 2015 at 2:16 pmThey look so great Lauren! I’m going to use your liming wax trick on some frames I have. I’m almost finished with our master bedroom and hope to reveal it in a few weeks. I have some Trumeau inspired art I am making for over our night stands. I can’t wait to see your finished foyer!
Lauren says
August 24, 2015 at 6:17 pmOh yay! Can’t wait to see the finished room, Nancy! Glad my little trick could help. It was really easy. 🙂
Erin @ Meadow Lake Road says
August 24, 2015 at 3:20 pmYou a re so clever! What a great way to add some interest to a big blank wall and better yet, that you did it for cheap! You go girl 🙂
Lauren says
August 24, 2015 at 6:15 pmThanks, Erin! I was so excited to see how they turned out once I was finished with them.
Mary says
August 24, 2015 at 5:48 pmI love this look! Quick question – did you add the glass portion back on top or just leave it off after adhering the pictures? It looks like you kept it off, but not sure. Thanks for the idea!!
Lauren says
August 24, 2015 at 6:15 pmThanks, Mary! The thing about poster frames is it’s actually clear plastic instead of glass but it still looks like glass. I left it on there but it’s probably hard to tell by my pictures. The plastic made the frames much lighter and easier to hang actually so that was a plus.
Jan says
August 24, 2015 at 8:29 pmGenius ideas! My favorite is the weathered frame! Def gonna be trying that! Thank you for sharing!
Lauren says
September 2, 2015 at 11:48 amThanks, Jan! I’m ready to try it out on something else now too.
Angie M says
August 24, 2015 at 9:16 pmWow! Love the art! The jute ribbon was the perfect way to add separation and lovely texture.
Lauren says
September 2, 2015 at 11:48 amThanks, Angie! My lovely mom and mother-in-law came up with that idea. 🙂
nancy says
August 24, 2015 at 9:35 pmUsing the burlap strips was a stroke of genius. Well done!
Lauren says
September 2, 2015 at 11:49 amThanks, Nancy! My mom and mother-in-law came up with that part. 🙂
Liz says
August 25, 2015 at 4:05 amAnother brilliant project! Turned out beautiful!
Lauren says
September 2, 2015 at 11:49 amThank you, Liz! I love how it turned out too.
Aurie Jenkins says
August 25, 2015 at 4:29 amI love this so much. They turned out fabulous! now I need some
Lauren says
September 2, 2015 at 11:50 amThanks, Aurie!
Debbie W says
August 25, 2015 at 1:05 pmLOVE the distressed looking frames – thank you so much for sharing this simple technique!! Definitely will be giving this a go at some point. I love using illustrations or photography from art books as well and always scour the clearance section at HomeSense and Winners. Another great source is calendars. When the calendars go on sale – usually around the end of January, I have found some amazing art that way.
Lauren says
September 2, 2015 at 11:53 amYes! I do that too! I have an Ansel Adams calendar that I’ve cut up for art around our house with his beautiful landscapes. In college, I took apart a calendar with black and white photographs of Paris to decorate my dorm room. I didn’t know back then that this DIY stuff would stick with me. 😉
Stacey says
August 25, 2015 at 11:37 pmThat looks fantastic! Large beautiful art is hard to come by but you made something really special.
Lauren says
September 2, 2015 at 11:58 amThanks, Stacey! Art that big is not cheap for sure. I don’t normally think of $25 for a frame as cheap but considering the size, it was a pretty great deal.
Michelle Lepak @ Dandelion Patina says
August 26, 2015 at 10:21 amLauren, this is such a beautiful project! They look like professional artwork. You would never know that they were Walmart frames. I actually thought they were windows at first. Lovely!!
Lauren says
September 2, 2015 at 12:01 pmThanks so much, Michelle! I was really excited about this one. They made a HUGE impact.
Kim Kenny says
August 27, 2015 at 12:10 amThose look great! So much better than anything you could have bought & you have the satisfaction of knowing that it is something that you created. I’m going to try your homemade liming wax on some frames that I’ve got that have seen better days. Thanks for sharing!
Lauren says
September 2, 2015 at 1:39 pmYay! Hope it turns out well. Thanks for the love, Kim! 🙂
Chelsea @ The Johnsons Plus Dog says
August 28, 2015 at 12:45 amLove this!! I liked how you used burlap ribbon to separate – i couldn’t really tell what it was a first glance. Now if we could all just have a vintage botanical book laying around 😉
Lauren says
September 2, 2015 at 12:04 pmThanks, Chelsea! I got lucky with this book. They’re only about $4-5 on Amazon though and has hundreds of prints in it. It was hard to choose just a few from it.
amy says
August 28, 2015 at 2:07 amThis is a such a great idea!! Love it. I am working on some botanical prints for above my piano in the living room. I love the bird prints and have a few of these ones hanging in the guest bath room.
Great job!
Lauren says
September 2, 2015 at 12:06 pmThanks, Amy! I’m sure it’d be beautiful above your piano! That sounds like a great spot.
Tonya|Rustic&Woven says
August 29, 2015 at 2:10 pmI LOVE this! Such a great idea for affordable, beautiful art. And the burlap ribbon? The perfect touch! I can’t wait to try this. 🙂
Lauren says
September 2, 2015 at 12:17 pmThank you, Tonya! I’d love to see it if you try it!
Melanie says
August 30, 2015 at 1:41 pmGreat project! I love those old botanical prints. Definitely have to find me one of those books!
Lauren says
September 2, 2015 at 12:21 pmThanks, Melanie! You can get them on Amazon for around $4-5. There’s a link in the supply list in this post if you need it.
Cynthia - Clockwork Interiors says
September 1, 2015 at 11:19 amAwesome project, Lauren. They’re beautiful! Really good tutorial, too! Take care. Cynthia
Lauren says
September 2, 2015 at 12:42 pmThanks so much, Cynthia!
[email protected] says
September 1, 2015 at 10:10 pmLove this! Thanks for linking up with us! Come back tomorrow to Work It Wednesday to see if you were featured.:-) Xo
Lauren says
September 2, 2015 at 1:05 pmAw yay! Thanks, Aniko!
Barbara says
September 2, 2015 at 10:25 pmI just love these pictures. They make a gorgeous statement in the frames. You can keep these for a very long time, I hope. That’s a very creative idea with the book pages and I love the birds and flowers. I like using the tape also as picture frames! Way to go, girl!
Lauren says
September 6, 2015 at 2:26 pmThanks, Barbara! I’m excited how they turned out too. 🙂
Carol @ The Red Painted Cottage says
September 4, 2015 at 6:28 pmI love everything about this, the waxing technique, separating the pictures by making them look like they’re framed and the inexpensive pictures from an old book. I might have to try something similar. Thank you for sharing this.
Lauren says
September 6, 2015 at 3:07 pmThanks, Carol! So glad you like it! 🙂
Sarah @ Little Red Brick House says
September 8, 2015 at 10:02 pmI swear you are my style twin, Lauren! LOL. These turned out absolutely beautiful. All of that texture and the frames! It’s the perfect way to adorn your gorgeous shiplap wall!
Allyson says
September 13, 2015 at 6:03 pmThis turned out awesome. I love botanical prints and may use this idea in my living room. Great job!
Lauren says
September 14, 2015 at 3:57 pmSo glad you like it, Allyson! Thank you!
Laurie says
September 14, 2015 at 9:47 pmThese look gorgeous. Pinning.
Lauren says
September 17, 2015 at 3:22 pmThank you, Laurie!
Alys Milner says
September 18, 2015 at 8:21 pmI’m following you all over the place today….from Hometalk to your blog and now your fab tutorial. It looks like you’re having fun over here. Alys
Lauren says
September 21, 2015 at 4:21 pmWoohoo! Yay! Follow me all you want, Alys. 🙂 Join in on the fun over here whenever you want. So glad you’re enjoying my little corner of crazy.
Allyson says
September 19, 2015 at 4:07 pmHello, I wanted to do this project so I clinked on the link and ordered the book. This book does not have any bird photos in it, mostly animals. I think the book you have is Birds of America by Audubon. May want to change the link. Thanks, Allyson
Lauren says
September 19, 2015 at 4:16 pmOh no!!! I’m so sorry, Allyson! I’ll check out the link and see what the deal is. Thank you for telling me though! So sorry you had to go through the trouble.
Allyson says
September 22, 2015 at 10:41 amNo worries, it will make a nice coffee table book :))
Barbara warga says
September 28, 2015 at 5:40 pmI love these! I had to come back to this post because I just have to try the liming wax technique. Thanks for all of your wonderful ideas!
Lauren says
October 5, 2015 at 9:25 amThank you, Barbara! I love how they turned out!
Sara Packard says
November 19, 2015 at 9:57 pmI absolutely love what you have done with these prints!! My kids and I are actually studying Audubon’s prints in our little homeschool and I had purchased the book from Amazon for $5.00. I can’t wait to display these beautiful prints instead of storing them in the closet when we are done.
Lauren says
November 23, 2015 at 2:56 pmHow cool, Sara! What a neat thing to study! Hope yours turns out well. 🙂
Amanda W. says
March 31, 2017 at 12:03 pmThese are so beautiful. I love how you weathered the frames……I never would have thought that was possible! I have a coffee table that I bought to refinish and I ran into problems when I found out after stripping the ugly black paint off that it wasn’t all wood, but a mix of wood, resin legs, and a laminate top. Do you think this simple liming treatment would work over the laminate? My husband doesn’t think wax will work on laminate, but I want to show off the wood grain I worked so hard to free. Any advice you have would be awesome…………if I don’t do this I may try your method of painting it coco and then going over it with a dark wax 🙂
Lauren says
April 1, 2017 at 12:22 pmOh no! You could try, but if you use wax on table tops just be sure to use coasters since it doesn’t stand up to wear and tear quite as easily. Maybe try a test spot on the laminate and rough it up with some fine grit sandpaper first before applying the wax.