6 Cool DIY Art Projects for Less Than $50

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6 Cool DIY Art Projects for Less Than $50

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Home is where the art is.

Architectural Digest

Sarah Lyon

Read when you’ve got time to spare.

Architectural Digest

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Paper chain wall hanging

Chain reaction: Link art to DIY, as seen in this accent wall paper curtain by home decor blogger Brittany Jepsen. Photo: The House That Lars Built

A house isn’t a home without art, and if your walls are looking a bit too bare, it’s time to look into some statement-making pieces. Lucky for you, you don’t need an MFA to create statement artwork that won’t break your budget. A DIY route is the way to go when you’re looking to add a bit of pizzazz to a room. Here, six hacks to create a masterpiece in under an hour.

1. An abstract clock

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A groovy clock transformation via DIY expert Caroline Mullen. Photo: Caroline Mullen

Why rely on a run-of-the-mill clock when you can create one that doubles as eye catching wall decor? Jersey City–based DIY expert and writer Caroline Mullen chose to take a simple $3 clock from the thrift store and give it a splash of personality with paint.

To make an abstract clock, you’ll need:

A plain wall-mounted clock

Pencil

Acrylic paint

Paint brushes

Painter’s tape

White contact paper (optional)

Scissors (optional)

Step 1: Start by sketching out the clock design. “I wanted a retro, psychedelic pattern, so I drew loose waves and curves,” Mullen says.

Step 2: Tape off the edge of the clock to avoid getting paint anywhere but the face of the clock. Given the round nature of the clock, painter’s tape may crease, so make sure there are no air pockets for the paint to seep through.

Step 3: Paint the design. You may want to play around with different paint brush styles—an angular flat brush can help with shading while a round brush is excellent for detail. Mullen recommends using two coats for an even finish and to touch up mistakes.

Step 4: Cut out small rectangles from white contact paper to indicate the numbers on the clock. Stick them on the face of the clock, spacing evenly. While this step is optional, it will make time-telling more precise, Mullen notes.

2. Oversized wrapped canvas

There’s no need to shell out hundreds—or even thousands—of dollars for an oversized art piece when you can make your own using a basic household item: a shower curtain! DIY blogger Cara Newhart used a curtain with a cheerful floral print to brighten up a wall in her home.

To make an oversized wrapped canvas, you’ll need:

Floral watercolor shower curtain

1-inch-by-2-inch-by-8-foot board

Embroidery hoop (optional)

Embroidery yarn

Wood glue

Staple gun

Drill

Step 1: Select a floral shower curtain, or any other print, as your art canvas inspiration. Newhart notes that a cloth shower curtains work the best. You can add texture by embroidering the pattern on the curtain. Use an embroidery hoop to keep the cloth taut.

Step 2: Build a large square frame for your canvas using 1-inch-by-2-inch-by-8-foot lumber. The length should be about two inches shorter than each side of the shower curtain. Place the wood on a flat surface (make sure you have some sort of liner or construction paper underneath to minimize a sticky mess). Check that each corner forms a 90 degree angle. Use wood glue to attach each piece to make a frame, secure with a staple gun. Let dry at least four hours.

Step 3: Stretch the canvas. Lay your shower curtain facedown on a flat surface, placing the frame on top. Find the center on one of the sides, then start wrapping curtain fabric around the frame, securing it with the nail gun every two to three inches to avoid loose sections. Work your way toward the edges. Once one side is complete, pull the curtain tight and repeat the process on the opposite side. Continue the process on the adjacent sides.

Step 4: To hang up the canvas, secure it to the wall by placing a two-inch finishing nail through each corner. You can also place three nails into the wall and rest the canvas atop.

3. Painted glass art

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Rather than placing an art piece inside a frame, why not paint the glass portion of the frame itself? DIY influencer Amara Hasham chose to liven up her space with a custom piece. “When it comes to gallery walls, my style is ever-evolving,” she says. So it’s only fitting that this hack is entirely reversible. As Hasham says, “When you get bored you can wash it off and paint a new piece. It is really that simple!”

To make your own painted glass piece, you’ll need:

Glass floating picture frame

Painter’s tape

Watercolor paint

Cardstock

Step 1: For best results, clean the glass of the frame with a streak-free glass cleaner, like Windex.

Step 2: Using painters take or masking tape, make a border so the design stays in the middle of the frame.

Step 3: Paint the design. “Watercolors give that free-flow look that I so love,” Hasham says. She also notes that the nature of watercolor paint allows you to build on your design. If you make a mistake during the painting process, simply wipe away and start over.

Step 4: Remove the masking tape. If any paint bleeds, adjust with a damp cotton swab.

Step 5: Hang the painted frame against a white wall, or place a sheet of cardstock in the hue of your choosing behind the glass to further enhance the design.

4. Cross-stitch floral art

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An oversized piece of pegboard can double as extraordinary artwork with a little creativity and yarn. Ashley Wilson, a DIY and decor influencer, notes that the free website FlossCross can turn any piece of art into a cross-stitch pattern. Print the pattern out for reference and get started stitching!

To make your own cross-stitch floral art, you’ll need:

A pegboard (cut to 48 inches by 66 inches)

Lumber to make the frame ( 1-inch-by-2-inch-by-8-inch pine)

Yarn

Yarn needle

Scissors

Step 1: Design a pattern to stitch.

Step 2: Vacuum the pegboard. “The little holes have lots of brown dust and tiny wood pieces from manufacturing,” Wilson explains. “They make a mess if not cleaned up first.”

Step 3: Start stitching. “I found it easiest to use a dry erase marker to mark the color I’d be stitching on my peg board,” Wilson says. “Then I stitched an X over those marks.” Start in one corner and work down and over. Cut a long piece of yarn and stitch a whole section where that color belongs. When the yarn runs out, knot and cut the end.

Step 4: Add a frame to the edge of the pegboard. “I like how this finishes off the art,” Wilson says. To do so, cut the lumber to size and adhere with wood glue or finishing nails to the pegboard.

Step 5: Hang the pegboard on the wall by placing screws through the peg holes in each corner.

5. Black-and-white abstract artwork

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DIY’er Heather Bien proves that statement art doesn’t have to be complicated. Photo: Heather Bien

Writer and lifestyle blogger Heather Bien wanted to fill the empty space above her sofa with a large, graphic piece. But, she says, “I didn’t want to buy something just to buy something. Creating something on my own was the best interim solution, and now it’s grown on me.” Bien’s black-and-white abstract piece “looks simple and minimalist, but when you get up close, there’s a ton of detail and monochromatic textural elements that make the piece more interesting,” she says. To jazz things up further, you could add a bit of shine to the piece, perhaps with gold foil.

To create your own black-and-white abstract, you’ll need:

36-inch-by-48-inch stretched canvas

Black and white acrylic paint

Tissue paper

Craft glue

Oil paint crayon

Varnish

Gold leaf sheets (optional)

Step 1: Lay the foundation for your art by painting a coat of light-colored paint on the canvas. While you can go for crisp white, creamy colors give the art a worn in aesthetic.

Step 2: Sketch out a simple, minimalist design of lines and curves.

Step 3: To add texture, drip paint (somewhat haphazardly) on the canvas. Glue crinkled (but flattened) tissue paper to further elevate the art piece.

Step 4: Paint the design with black paint. Take care to apply several layers, especially in the sculptural elements of the tissue layer.

Step 5: Finish the edges of the canvas in black paint. No need for a frame.

Step 6: Once you’re happy with the texture and the design, paint over the entire piece with a gloss varnish.

6. Paper-chain wall hanging

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DIY expert Brittany Jepsen gives paper some panache by putting a twist on a multicolor tapestry. Photo: The House That Lars Built

If you’re looking for ultra-affordable, 3D art that is sure to make a statement, try your hand at a paper-chain wall hanging, as Brittany Jepsen, founder of The House that Lars Built, did. This project is simple, affordable, and works in a multitude of spaces—from a color-thirsty living room to an accent wall in a budget-friendly kid’s bedroom.

To make a paper-chain wall hanging, you’ll need:

Multicolor paper

Paper cutter

Hot glue gun

5-foot wooden dowel

Step 1: Create a color theme and sketch out the design. Allocate the colors of your choosing and cut the paper into ½-inch-by-3-½-inch-long strips.

Step 2: Making the paper chain is easy—you probably did this in kindergarten! Overlap each paper strip by about half an inch and secure with glue to form a closed loop. Thread the next paper strip through the closed loop and secure with glue. Continue until you’ve completed a strand. Repeat the process.

Step 3: When all the chains are complete (you will probably have at least 30 or 40), slide all the strands onto a wooden dowel.

Step 4: Nail in two long nails into the wall, just short of the dowel length. Place the dowel over the nails, as if it is on a perch.