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    Home » DIY Crafts » Thrift Store Crafts

    DIY Shabby Chic Butterfly Art For $1

    Published: Aug 24, 2013 · Modified: Dec 25, 2022 by Christina Dennis · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads · 4 Comments

    When Value Village asked me to swing by the grand opening of their new store in Sherwood Park last week to find some treasures to upcycle, of course I said "YES"! I completely enjoy the challenge of trying to find a new use for old things and to make "treasure" out of things that other people don't love any more.

    Value VillageMy mom, my two girls and I really enjoyed our visit to the new Value Village. It was huge, clean, and well stocked. Sometimes I bothered by smells at thrift stores, but I was pleasantly surprised with the pleasant, neutral scent that greeted my nose here! And did I ever find some good stuff! Not only did we find loads of new-looking toys for my girls (Barbies, ponies, board games and more), I found a gorgeous piece of maybe-vintage lace to craft with and these vintage frames with some potential:

    DIY Shabby Chic Butterfly Art for $1. Spray paint vintage frames white and find printable vintage art books!

    They look like they're quite possible from the '70's and in quite an awful burnished gold, plastic-y finish. They were 99 cents each - it was a no-brainer! Spray paint to the rescue!

    For only a dollar each, I turned these forlorn looking picture frames into some pretty, shabby chic butterfly art with just a can of spray paint and some prints I printed myself on my home computer.

    DIY Shabby Chic Butterfly Art for $1. Spray paint vintage frames white and find printable vintage art books!

    First, I took off the backs and took the glass out of the frames. I laid them on my (ventilated) basement floor and spray painted them with two thin coats of Krylon Dual Paint + Primer in Gloss White.

    DIY Shabby Chic Butterfly Art for $1. Spray paint vintage frames white and find printable vintage art books!

    I find that a couple of thin coats of spray paint is always better than one thick one.

    DIY Shabby Chic Butterfly Art for $1. Spray paint vintage frames white and find printable vintage art books!

    While the frames were drying, I printed out some pages of this antique butterfly book I found (I just love it!) on my home printer on cardstock paper. I made sure they were the exact size I needed (which was an odd size - 6 ½" x 8 ½"). The beauty of printing art at home is you can resize it to make it fit any frame!

    Once the frames were dry, I replaced the glass, popped my prints in, but on the backs and...voila! I have some beautiful DIY shabby chic butterfly art for my new home and it cost me less than $4. You can't beat that!

     DIY Shabby Chic Butterfly Art for $1. Spray paint vintage frames white and find printable vintage art books!

    DIY Shabby Chic Butterfly Art for $1. Spray paint vintage frames white and find printable vintage art books!

    If you haven't considered decorating your home with finds that you upcycle from a great thrift store like Value Village, you should give it a try.

    When you look around, try to see the potential in things. Can it be cleaned? Can it be painted? Can I use it for something completely different than what it was originally intended?

    Often with a new coat of paint, old things can become new treasures that will make themselves at home in your abode.

    DIY Shabby Chic Butterfly Art for $1. Spray paint vintage frames white and find printable vintage art books!

    For my Canadian friends: this coming Monday August 26th would be an excellent day to do some treasure finding at Value Village because they're having a 50% off sale!

    Value Village Sale

    I'm going to try to go again on Monday to find some more potential home decor (and back to school!) pretties. Have a wonderful weekend, friends, and happy thrifting!

    (Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Value Village. The views and opinions expressed here are purely my own.)

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Raj @Pink Chai Style

      September 01, 2013 at 7:01 pm

      I love this project - white spray paint can do such magic on thrift store treasures:) Thanks for sharing this idea, totally inspired to DIY some art for above my desk now!

      Raj
      Pink Chai Style

      Reply

    Trackbacks

    1. DIY Shabby Chic Home Decor Ideas says:
      October 25, 2015 at 3:33 pm

      […] via thediymommy.com […]

      Reply
    2. Shabby Chic Home Décor for the Innovative Home Owner | Decozilla says:
      April 24, 2016 at 9:05 pm

      […] Source: thediymommy […]

      Reply
    3. 52 Ways Incorporate Shabby Chic Style into Every Room in Your Home – Mamici Magice says:
      April 27, 2021 at 1:18 pm

      […] Shabby chic decorations like this framed butterfly art for instance can fit really well into any room of the house. Display it in the bedroom above the headboard, add it to your home office, use it to personalize the entryway or integrate it into another space that could use a bit of help in order to feel more welcoming. You can find out the details on thediymommy. […]

      Reply

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