K, so remember a few months ago when I showed you our family room? (Go HERE for a refresher…) Even though it isn’t completely magazine worthy, I wanted y’all to see how things were coming along since our move. One of the many things on my To Do list for this room was to find a suitable picture to place above the mantel.
We’ve had this Monet reproduction sitting on the mantel while my creative juices waited for some inspiration.
I like the picture, but we’ve had it for so long I couldn’t really see it anymore. Plus the frame was a bit too big. The original frame broke, and a few years ago I bought this Ikea frame as a replacement. Of course, it helps to know the size you need before you go all the way over to Ikea and buy a frame. But, since I like learning lessons the hard way, I decided to keep this too big frame as a constant gentle reminder to measure before I go off and buy something.
Anywhoo, about a year ago I saw this painting in the West Elm catalog that I just loved. It’s called Circles by artist Lourdes Sanchez.
Unfortunately it’s no longer for sale through the store, but I just needed the inspiration to make something on my own. It’s paintings like Circles that make me think I could possibly be an artist. The same way John Grisham makes me believe I could possibly be a lawyer (yeah, right), or Ashley from the blog Make It and Love It makes me feel like I could sew (not happening!).
I found a few more inspiration paintings that helped me realize, YES! yes…you CAN paint your own picture to put over the mantel, Beth!
I love Sanity Fair’s apartment! Her picture inspiration was from her stacked bracelets. Freakin’ genius.
As I gathered my materials to paint my own masterpiece, I was pretty thrilled to think I could make it for free.
First, I spray painted my Ikea frame black using spray paint from my stash.
I also grabbed black craft paint, a bowl, and a foam brush (which I ended up not really needing). I had originally intended to paint directly on the back of my Monet picture, but when I got it out of the frame I realized it was glued to a piece of board. That wasn’t going to work. :/ So, I had to actually open my wallet (yeah, call the papers…Beth’s spending some money) and buy a piece of white poster board. It was 42 cents. Yikes! Break the freakin’ bank, why don’t you? 
The painting was seriously the easiest thing I’ve ever done. I just dipped the bowl into the paint and placed it on the poster board. Sometimes I twisted and turned the bowl around, sometimes I just lifted it right up.
(See that drip? It was intentional…just like my inspiration painting.)
The only hard part of this project was getting past my fear of failure. Really. It took me months to get up the nerve to take the picture down and out of the frame. Then a week or two of looking at the poster board sitting in front of the fireplace while I stared at the black frame already on the mantel. I was afraid that I would ruin the painting just by painting it. That people would come over and ask if I framed my kids’ artwork just to be nice. That someone would be rude enough to say, “Oh, you made that? Huh….well, you can always put something else in there.” Pretty sure I don’t have such rude friends anyway, but it still scared the crap out of me.
And guess what? No one has said anything rude. 
My friends and family really like it. And, more importantly, every time I look at the painting, I just smile. I personally love it. Like really really love it. (So if you don’t, please keep it to yourself.)
I think it’s going to look fab with the curtains I eventually put up. I’m actually just waiting for fabric samples to be come THE thing to put on your windows. Call me a trend setter. You saw it here first.
I’m pretty thrilled with the transformation…
P.S. Same paint color, by the way…just photographs differently during the day I guess.
And I’m glad I sucked it up, got up the guts, and painted it myself. And for 42 cents? Yeah, I’m pretty happy.
I’m linking up!
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia , A Bowl Full of Lemons, The Thrifty Home, Someday Crafts, Seven Thirty Three, Beyond the Picket Fence, House of Hepworths, Tales From Bloggeritaville, Made in a Day, Sassy Sites, Chic on a Shoestring Decorating, The Shabby Nest, Remodelaholic, Beneath My Heart, Lolly Jane Boutique, Be Different Act Normal, C.R.A.F.T., Thrifty Decor Chick, Funky Junk Interiors, Under the Table and Dreaming, House of Grace, Primitive and Proper, Sugar Bee Crafts, Home Stories A 2 Z, Domestically Speaking, Southern Lovely, Somewhat Simple, One Artsy Mama, It’s Overflowing, Six Sister’s Stuff
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omg, i absoultely love this. i’m not really into the abstract look, but i could totally see this hanging somewhere in my home. great job & for $0.42, what a steal !!
i saw you at show & tell saturday and am happy to have found your blog. i can’t wait to read more… 
I think you did a good job on it. Really got your creative juices going! I also like the way you hung it and kept the whole mantel simple (:
I love this look, you did a great job! Love the simplicity of the piece, it really creates a great effect! It looks great on the mantel!
Good for you! I’m the same way about change, I really just have to think about it for a while.
You sucked me in at $0.42! I can’t believe that is all this project cost you. AWESOME! I would not have every thought to do something like this. Honestly, I would not have thought I would “like* something like this. But I love it! Great job!
Duude, Beth! I loove it! I am totally digging your abstract art- you knocked it outta the park! It makes your mantle feel so modern- great change!
xo Becca
I LOVE LOVE LOVE that! You are so talented, Beth. That’s really cool. Hope you have a great Father’s Day weekend!
Hedda
It’s PERFECT! Looks wonderful on your mantel. Nice job!
Liz
I love this. Great. Great. Great.
Wow!!! That is so gorgeous! You are so creative!
Stopping by from the It’s Overflowing Party
Oh My Gosh, seriously fabulous. Seriously. I am so in love with this. You did the best job ever. EVER.
Brilliant! I’m pinning this for later! Found you on Be Different Act Normal
LOVE
WOW! How awesome! I seriously need some new art, and it really doesn’t get any better than personalized art! Im going to have to give this a try on a canvas Ive had sitting for a long time!
This is fantastic! I need to make one of these. I think I even have a frame available!
I’m LOVING this! Featuring you today! XO, Aimee
I LOVE this! It’s really, really cool. I might have to be a copycat!
Wow, so chic! Hmm, I may just have to free up some wall space. Thanks for the inspiration!
LOVE this Beth… its being pinned right now