How to make easy modern silhouette art

If you like nature-themed modern art panels, here is is an inexpensive do-it-yourself project that will fill up those empty photo frames you've had sitting around and add a touch of the outdoors to any urban setting.

The best part is that it requires no drawing talent - actually no talent at all. If you could handle coloring books in kindergarten, you can do this project.

Equipment require:

Picture frames

Flashlight

Posterboard (1 to 4 pieces, depending on the size of your frames)

Marker

Tree branch (real or artifical)

Cut the posterboard to fit your frames. Then suspend a tree branch above your posterboard. Have a friend hold a flashlight above the branches so that a shadow is cast on your posterboard. (If you are friendless, you can tie the flashlight to a piece of string and hang it between two chairs.) Trace the outline of the branches with a pencil.

Go over shadow with markerDarken your tracing with marker. Use black or colored markers, depending on your preference. Leave the outline unfilled or color in the branches.

 Hang your artwork.Hang your art.

DIY Tutorial: Eco-Chic Bouquet Alternative

This fabulous new DIY Tutorial comes from the ultra-creative Jesi of Jesi Haack Weddings and features clever “paper bag flowers” crafted from brown Trader Joe’s grocery bags..

1. Start off with a grocery bag.

2. Draw a circle (the larger the circle, the leafier the flower) and slowly taper it in to the center like a spiral keeping the lines about 1/2 inch away from each other..

3. Take your scissors and begin cutting along the line you just drew, furthest away from the center..

4. Continue cutting, following on the drawn line until you reach the center of your spiral..

5. Snip off the end of your spiral at the point that it begins to turn back into the bag.

6. Beginning at the end of the spiral, start to roll up the paper until you reach the center of your spiral..

7. When you are finished rolling it, it should look like a tightly rolled up piece of paper..

8. Place the rolled up paper in the palm of your hand and let it fall loosely apart. You may have to gently “help” it by turning the center of the flower to open it up a bit more..

9. For the stem, I chose a green pipe cleaner, but you could use your imagination and come up with something different or funky depending on your project. Flip the flower upside down, and tape the pipe cleaner to the base of the flower..

10. And here is the finished product….

11. Add a few paper flowers and it becomes a unique bouquet!.

12. And to step it up a notch, we added a few tulips and a hydrangea…DONE! =).

 

DIY: Paper Globes by Heather Bailey

Looking for a fun DIY party project? These gorgeous Paper Globes by Heather Bailey are great centerpiece ideas for spring & summer parties!

Pick your favorite scrapbook papers to tailor this idea to any color palette & occasion! Click here for the tutorial and to
download the pattern from Heather.

DIY: Crafty Spring Bouquet

Adorable Spring Bouquet craft idea on the American Crafts blog!
P.S. The “flowers” would make super cute toppers/embellishments for party favors too!

DIY Throw Pillows

 Decorative Throw Pocket pillows are as handy as they are comfy: A clever catchall keeps books and glasses within reading reach.

Skill level: Beginner

Materials: Pillow forms in desired sizes; tape measure; chalk marking pencil; knit or crochet sweaters; scissors; sewing machine; matching thread; pins; hand sewing needle.

Directions for DIY craft project:
1. Measure pillow form and add 1 inch to each measurement.

2. Measure, mark and cut two pieces of sweater material to these measurements for pillow front and back.

3. Optional: Make a pocket by measuring desired size of pocket; add 1 inch to each measurement. Cut contrasting piece of sweater material to these measurements.

4. Sew zigzag stitches close to cut edges of all pieces.

5. Turn under 1/2 inch on each edge of pocket; straight-stitch close to edges to hem pocket.

6. Pin pocket to pillow front; stitch close to sides and lower edge.

7. Pin pillowcase front to back, with right sides facing and raw edges even; stitch edges in 1/2-inch seams, leaving an 8-inch opening along one edge. Turn right side out.

8. Insert pillow form into cover; slip-stitch opening closed.

Decorating Ideas

Make Spring-Inspired Home Decor from Stash Supplies

Design by Cathy Blackstone

Decoupaged office-style papers create a neutral background for Cathy's springtime canvas. She pulled paper scraps from her stash for the flower stems and used leftover gems as flower centers.

Create Wall Art from Patterned Paper and Scrapbooking Supplies

Design by Cindy Tobey

Cindy crafted a collage-style home decor item from a collection of heart shapes in her scrapbooking stash. Starting with a 9x12" sheet of plain chipboard, she added blocks of patterned paper and embellished each square of the wall art design.

Create a Baby Home Decor Accent from Chipboard

Design by Leah Fung

For this fun mobile, Leah turned to large chipboard shapes. After adhering papers to both sides of the shapes, she machine-stitched around the edges. She punched holes at the top of each shape and attached rickrack for hanging. Small bows complete the look.

Combine Scrapbooking Supplies and Picture Frames for One-Of-A-Kind Wall Art

Design by Miley Johnson

To make a personalized home decor accent, Miley adhered a couple of picture frames to a mat board covered in patterned paper. She treated the wall hanging like a large scrapbook page, embellishing with large flowers, brads, and bits of fabric and paper. Wood letters painted to match her color scheme finish the design.

DIY Artwork

Canned Art
Don't throw out cans once you've finished their contents -- instead, decorate with them. The shiny metal and ribbed pattern give these wall-mount vases a modern industrial look. Drill holes in the sides of the cans and join them together with bolts. Add a few holes in the top backs for hanging. Use these recycled cans as vases or over a desk for office supplies.

Pretty Paper

Frame scrapbooking paper, available in an array of trendy colors and patterns, for easy and inexpensive artwork. Choose papers that suit your room's color scheme and place them in matching frames for a cohesive display.

Changing Display

Black-and-white papers in exciting patterns are mounted on a narrow magnetic board or bulletin board for an inexpensive and unstudied work of art.