10.28.2008

WFMW: Easy Vintage Artwork

Day Three of my front room makeover is here!  It is also a great excuse to share a "Works For Me Wednesday" tip that I recently discovered.  

I needed some new artwork for my front room.  But I am not one to go out and spend a ton of money on art pieces, as much as I would like to.  Luckily, a few weeks ago, I found three gorgeous frames, all matching, at Goodwill for $4 each.  

These frames also came with mats, so I didn't even have to buy those.  I just needed to come up with something cool to put in the frames.  Enter Vintage Printables!  It's this wonderful website I heard about recently (I can't remember where, but if you blogged about it, please tell me so I can credit you!).  It has lots of beautiful sketches and vintage drawings, all free to use, as far as I can tell.  Check out what I ended up with!

Don't you love my vintage birds?  The colors are gorgeous, and they match my new room perfectly.  The best part is that I printed them in my husband's home office on the backs of manila file folders which, when cut to the right size, made the perfect "canvases" for these little birds.  I didn't spend a dime on the prints, and I got gorgeous artwork that looks fantastic in my new front room.

Oh, and did you want to see what the frames looked like when I started?  Nice, but just not the style I was going for.

So there you go!  Free, original artwork at Vintage Printables.  Works For Me!


61 comments:

Betsy said...

Nothing beats that...getting so excited for the big reveal.

Unknown said...

Absolutely brilliant : )! Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Kristen said...

How easy was that?! And so cute too? Off to check out that website!

Angela said...

I love this! Thanks so much for the tip. Those frames are freakin' awesome... especially since they were on the cheap at Goodwill. (Wait. "Inexpensive" would be a better word. It sounds more sophisticated.) LOVE it!

Laura said...

Great tip, love it!

Stephanie said...

Nothing is better than free, and frames for cheap! You are so smart! Love the rooster!
Happy Wednesday!

Shilo said...

Thanks for the tip, Carrie! Can't wait to snoop around the site!

Lana said...

Looks so nice...thanks for the great tip!

Amber said...

What a fun website with tons of potential! Thanks for sharing!

Nothing is better than fun decor at almost totally free! ;)

Anonymous said...

Now this is funny!!! Not your pic's but my post about your blog on WFMW. I found your blog(didn't noticed the WFMW in your post, a little ADD) and...because I love home decor stuff, I posted you and a few others on my blog as great resources for home decor.

If that made any sense? Anyway, love your site.

Amanda said...

they turned out great, can't wai to see the site...and see your reveal friday

Shell in your Pocket said...

Wonderful...what great tips!
-Sandy toes

Heidi Boos said...

I am so impressed with your ability to transform things. You have such a great "eye" for making something new and improved!

Lisa & Gerald said...

You go girl! You always have great finds and Ideas1

Anonymous said...

those look great! did you age the frames?
~nicole

Angie said...

Wow!! They look great, I am going to check that website out! Thanks

Keeper of the Skies Wife said...

They look really good, Carrie!!!

Stacey said...

I have to spend some time on that website. I can't remember who told us about it either.

Your room is looking great!!

CIRCLE OF LIFE said...

GO YOU KEEP FINDING GREAT BARGAINS AND DEALS. VERY NICE I LIKE YOUR STYLE

Wendy said...

Got to love free artwork! I love the vintage printables website too...can't remember who blogged about it either unfortunately. Great job on your pretty birds!

Carrie said...

Ohhh...very cool! I'm going to have to check that out! Great idea!

Jboo said...

So, so cool!! Do you take extra-strong vitamins or something? How do you do everything that you do (and do it so well) with a toddler and being pregnant!!! I think you are Superwoman, aren't you! :) Have a fun day!

Janet

Sandy said...

You always have great ideas, Carrie!

AndreaLeigh said...

Very, very cool! I must brave our local Goodwill. It doesn't smell very good, but I always hear about the bargains to be found so I think I just have to such the moldy smell up and get in there!

Amanda said...

Love your WFMW posts! Thanks for the link to the vintage printables website...I'll eventually be getting some good use out of those. AND I am jealous that you found matching frames at goodwill! I am never that lucky :-)

Anonymous said...

OOH, thanks for the website link :) Your pictures look great :)

the undomesticated wife said...

Those are great! I love bird decor, and those are fantastic!

Shannon said...

Looks great!!! I'm going to have to check that website out!

Genny said...

You are so talented. I love this idea. Thanks for the tip on the website!

Christy said...

How fun is that! I am going to check out that website. I love vintage prints. How much longer until the big reveal?!

Ruby Red Slippers said...

I have a blank frame on the wall in our Music Room...I haven't known what to do! This could work for me!
Thank you!

jennykate77 said...

What a fabulous find...and an even more fabulous idea! I love the vintage printables...just went there and saved the site to my favorites! So, when do we get to see the rest of the room???? :)

Melissa said...

What a great site~I'm bookmarking it. The pictures look 100 times better~can't wait to see the whole room put together. Thanks so much for the award!!
Melissa

Joanna said...

Great idea! Thanks for sharing.

Ms. Tee said...

Your pictures look great! I can't wait to see your big reveal, either! :)

Buzzings of a Queen Bee! said...

Ha! Janet at JBoo wants to know if I take extra-strong vitamins! I wonder sometimes how much longer I'll have all this energy to complete projects, but I think that it's just the nesting thing, and the knowledge that in a few months I will be permanently parked on the couch in my sweats, nursing an infant again. Makes me want to get everything done that I can before then!
Carrie

Emily said...

Thanks for the fabulous idea and the manila folder was brilliant!

CIRCLE OF LIFE said...

THANK YOU THAT WAS SO SWEET~!

MY CHARMING KIDS ARE IN MY PRAYERS ALL DAY AND HER WAS BORN AT 9:30 THIS MORNING AND IAM HOPING FOR A GREAT OUTCOME OUR GOD HAS MICERIACALS.

IF YOU LOOK DOWN FUTHER I POSTED OUR VACATION PICTURES

Inspired Kara said...

wow
wow
wow

How have I never heard of this resource!?

Kim said...

I would've walked right past those pictures in the store... you have a great eye & great ideas! LOVE THOSE pictures and website!!!

Aleta said...

Ohh, I love the vintage birds. I went to the park just the other day to take pictures of the roosters and hens there. Never thought I'd see those birds at a park, but ever since Katrina, they are the new birds that live in harmony with the swans, ducks, geese, egrets, etc! You did a lovely job with finding those vintage pictures!

Our Complete Family said...

Oooh, it's going to be so neat! These prints are so lovely. Kuddos to you hun! The big reveal is coming soon, isn't it? I can hardly wait! Hugs, Les

Sunny said...

That is so neat. This is one reason I love blogging - you get to learn about neat things that you wouldn't have otherwise. Anticipation is building. Can't wait to see the finale.

Wani said...

I've never heard of that. I'm totally bookmarking it! Thanks.

Lisa said...

Very cute! : )

AJ said...

Love those frame:)

Anonymous said...

Oh so cool! I'm going to check out that link. I still need something for my dining room - maybe I'll find it there. Can't beat free - thanks so much!

Manuela

jennykate77 said...

You've been BOOed!

Go read my blog :)

Holly said...

WOW!! Thank you soo much for sharing. I am really excited about this idea. I feel a craft brewing! :)

Half Gaelic, Half Garlic! said...

You never let us down....you always pull some trick out of the hat!!

I love what you did with these pictures....and I love the vintage feel. I would never have thought to do that....not you, your mind is always working!!

The suspense is killing me....can't wait for the big reveal!

angie {the arthur clan} said...

I love Goodwill! I find so many cool things there ~ it's like a treasure trove for cheap gals like me. I really like the frames you bought and I can't wait to check out that vintage website. Very nice!

Angie in OH

Unknown said...

Free is always good! They are beautiful!

Buzzings of a Queen Bee! said...

Nope, I didn't age the frames at all. I was lucky enough that they just came like that! :)
Carrie

ROXY said...

I love this idea!! I can't wait to print some things from this website!!

Anonymous said...

Such a useful site - thanks for sharing!

Sweet Simplicity said...

I am on my way to check it out right now! Thanks for letting us know!

The Golf Widow said...

Great tip! Who can't use free art! Love the runner...can't wait to see the finished room!

rebecca said...

Love the birds!
Found your blog through Andrea's.
Cute cute!

Eloise said...

Wow! The frames and the roosters look great. I am completely in awe of your vision and resourcefulness!

cherry said...

I have done that but printed out Redounte botancals...it works great! Love your birds...would love to see a closeup of them. Can't wait to see everything. cherry

Lulu said...

So brilliant! I love how everything is so cost-effective, you're so inspiring!!! That website is a great find too, thanks for the tip!
Hoep you had a great Halloween!
xoxo,
Lulu