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If you want something done--just do it yourself!!

Recently when staging a townhome, We needed artwork to hang on each side of the bed in the Master Suite. Having black furniture with Neutral and Gray bedding, left me struggling to find something appropriate within my budget.

Quite a while earlier, I bought some great 11X14 black framed art--didn't really like the art in the frame--but couldn't resist because of the great price. I took those frames--removed the rather ugly artwork inside and added my own.

I started with 2 simple 8X10 sheets of scrapbooking paper in a pattern and color that coordinated with the bedding. I had 2 articificial palm-type leaves that I had used for decoration at a Hawaiian luau party, which I spray painted with dark bronze metallic paint. I mounted them on the paper with tacky glue--used the white matting that was in the original artwork and VOILA--the perfect art for the room! Tight budgets and strict time limits increase my creativity!! Take a look at the photos and tell me what you think.

After Before Artwork in place .

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READY 2 STAGE HOME STAGING & REDESIGN specializes in maximizing the selling potential of your property. A simple 1 hour consultation can give you tips and advice on increasing your buyer appeal. We will give you our tips on preparing your home for sale and we can provide the resources to get the property ready for the market.

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Call today for your appointment: (423)506-3718

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Lori Donegan--Founder & Owner

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Lori & Crystal

Posted by Lori Donegan on 07/24/2009 10:46 PM

Comments (50)

creative artwork, inexpensive art, home staging athens tennessee, cleveland tennessee real estate staging, athens homestaging

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50 Comments on If you want something done--just do it yourself!!

JUL

What a great idea. I love bringing a little piece of nature indoors. It really helps so make a house a home.

JUL

Nice, simple creative solution to finding art that helps to create a mood ... thanks for your "how to" tips.

Lori - doesn't it feel good, coming up with solutions like these? Very creative and one-of-a-kind. Imagine what other ideas you can try out the next time.

I make my own art all the time and really enjoy it as a creative outlet ... even if I didn't have the tight budget I would still do it. It's actually one of my favorite parts of my business. :0) These turned out very well and complement the room quite nicely. Good job, and I hope you had fun too!

Leslie--Thanks for your comment. I would like to do more like these, but leave them more natural and "green."

Maureen--You are very welcome. That was a fun project. Thanks for commenting.

Vivian--I must say I was pretty proud of the finished product. It did make me want to do more. Thanks for your comment.

Pangaea--I am pretty creative, but not really very artsy--there is a difference. I did enjoy producing these and wondering how I can make my own next time. Thanks for your comments and compliments!

Very pretty Lori! I love the whole bedroom!

fabulous Featured in Staging Crafts & Creatives Group

Thanks for the "Fabulous" Kathy!! I appreciate your featuring it!

Lori..truly creative, budget minded and looks great. Scrap book paper is such a great find and recycling those leaves it wonderful! LOVE spray paint.

JUL

Love it Lori! They look so good in the room and seem so easy to make. I am so glad you shared this gem with us!

Thank you Sheila! They were super easy and worked well with our design plan.

Ginger--I have found that a can of spray paint is an invaluable tool! Thanks for your comments.

JUL

Hi Lori! These look great and knowing that you CREATED them, makes them even better. What do you mean you're not artsy? You most certainly are....

Debra--Artsy, to me, means that you can create a painting or draw a picture, and I don't really do those things. Anyway, I like to create artsy things!! Thanks for your comments.

AUG

I think you did a great job! I know what you mean, it's hard to pass up a good deal and you never know when you'll need it. I think stagers really need to be great bargain shoppers.

AUG

Cathy--I love to bargain shop and I love, love, love a goo deal. Thanks for your comments.

What a great look! You did a fabulous job and I love the spray painted leaves! Awesome!

AUG

Sharon--Enjoyed the challenge of making these and they are just what this room needed. I could have spray painted those leaves any color that I needed--isn't that great! Thanks for your comments.

Lori, great creative solution and lovely finished room! Like you, I have to be creative. Wrapping paper is a favorite trick of mine to create a piece of art. I might not spend $20 a roll to wrap a gift but that roll goes a long way to fill a black wood frame. Thanks for sharing!

What a great idea, Lori! You have a good eye, and a creative mind. The room is absolutely lovely!

Holly--What a great idea to use wrapping paper. Also wallpaper would be a good choice to bring in some art and whimsy. Thanks for your comment.

Laurie--Thanks for your compliments. I appreciate you sharing your opinions and ideas.

AUG

Great ideas Lori! Beautiful results!

Debby--Thank You. I really enjoyed making these.

AUG

That's a clever solution even with no budget at all, they are gorgeous!!

Maria--Thanks for looking and I appreciate your comments!

AUG

Hi Lori, great idea, looks beautiful, wonderful job!!!

Very creative idea!

Thanks Barbara. These were a fun project and the look was exactly what we needed.

AUG

How did I miss this gem? Just fabulous and you are very creative Lori, I love it!

Thank you Cynthia! Sometimes you just have to make-do with what you have, and getting creative is a necessity!

AUG

Lori,

I really love how you used the scrapbooking paper to coordinate with the bedding and it's perfect with the black furniture.

Thanks for the idea!

AUG

Luci--Scrapbooking paper can be found in almost any pattern and color, which makes it perfect for matching room decor. Thanks for you comments!

AUG

And to think I've been tossing out the loose leaves that fall off our ficus plants!

Wendy--you have to venture outside of the box and see past the dusty 'ole leaf. Thanks for your comment.

SEP

Awesome job..have you gotten your own furniture now or did you lease this ? If so where did you get it? We have got to have another meeting soon..I miss seeing everyone...

Mary Lou--This furniture is from Athens Woodcrafters on Railroad Avenue. They have been great about a low rental rate for vacant stagings. We are due for a meeting this month, should we do it? Let me know Madam Prez. Thanks for your comments

SEP

Lori-I love the what you did with the colors. And, you created something unique that you won't see in any other staging photo!

SEP

Kathy--Thanks for the comments. I was very pleased with the result and I should be able to use and enjoy them for years to come.

SEP

Thanks for the great idea Lori!

Michele--You're very welcome. Thanks for your comment.

OCT

Lori, amazing creativity, from time to time its fun working within a budget as I find it pushes my creativity to new limits every time. Its also fun working with an awesome large budget however anyone can make something look good with lotsa money however not everyone has your skill to make things look good on a tight budget. so I hope it sells fast

Lori,

Thanks much for sharing this great idea and showing us how beautifully they turned out. Perfect in the room. You've opened up my mind in a new direction. This would also be a great way to introduce a bright splash of color, with other paper and green palm leaves, say in a boring bathroom.

Love it!

Mel

OCT

Louise--Thanks for your comments. Working with tight budgets is an exciting challenge for me. I like stretching those $$$.

Melody--I agree that it would be a great way to introduce bright colors! Thanks for your comments!

NOV

Nice job on the whole room! Good on you for getting creative. Of course . . . that's what we do! I also wrote a recent series on artwork, if you want to check out a few more ideas in Part 3.

Thanks for sharing!

NOV

Lori, very creative! Your art work really is showcased in this beautiful bedroom. Great job, thanks for sharing.

Deena--Thanks for your comments and I will be sure to check out your series and collect a few ideas from you!!

Patty--I love how the bedroom turned out and these pieces were just the icing on the cake. Thanks for your comments!

NOV

Beautiful job! I do alot of scrapbooking and have alot of paper sitting around, but I hadn't thought of that one! Crazy!

Beth--Get creative with your scrapbooking materials. So much you can do! Thanks for your comment.

DEC

I love your ideas Lori! Beautiful work!

DEC

Thank You Suzanne!

Lori, I bookmarked this immediately upon reading. Thanks very much for this great idea!

Nancy--You are very welcome. I have really enjoyed all the comments and praise for this easy, simple project. Hope you are inspired to be creative yourself! Thanks for your comment.

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