Thrifty Halloween DIY Owl Wall Art Under $6

Recently while at my local Salvation Army thrift store, I picked up two simple gold oval frames. At the time, I didn't know exactly what I'd put in them, but at $1.99 each, I thought for sure I'd find something. While at the Dollar Store picking up some moss for the Harvest Entry, it hit me: Owls. I had spotted packages of bat and owl silhouettes ($1 for 15), so I went ahead and picked them up. I already had some graphic printed scrapbook papers and also a cool printed wrapping paper (also from thrift for .50) so this easy DIY owl wall art project would be under $6.

After cleaning the glass and frame, I cut two ovals of the printed wrapping paper. It could work, but I was looking for a little more color, so I opted for the textured orange paper. To make the owls eyes POP a little more (and be a little more spooky!) I added scrap white paper behind the eye cutouts. Although I did try the two new Halloween additions at my (faux) mantel, it was looking too crowded. Since we have another stairway landing, visible from the living room, I tried them in there. The pop of orange is just what the space needed...

 

Trying different papers...

 

Thrifted oval frames - $1.99 each

 

Display Tip: Can't stress enough, the importance of taking a step back. If something doesn't look or feel right - trust your instincts and move it.

 

The "BEWARE" letters are actually a door hanger I picked up at ZGallerie about 3 years ago. To attach to the mirror, I just hot glued the "B" :) 

Other options for the paper can be book pages, newspaper, or crumbled brown paper. Some other DIY Halloween Wall art I've made was printing images from Hitchcock movies and place into thrifted frames. I've also printed Hitchcock movie images along with tree & bird silhouettes onto brown confetti paper, burned the edges, and spray mounted to thrifted wood plaques...

 

Thrifted wood plaques - Goodwill Miami 2010

 

Think of old things in new ways...

 

 Thrifty DIY Halloween Decor: Print, burn, paste...

 

More thrifty Halloween Decor - Goodwill Miami 2010

Frames .50 + had paper and found images on Google (now find on Pinterest!)

See: Hitchcock Halloween Hallway

So rather than just running out to a party store to buy the latest decor trend, for example skulls, birds and now owls, you can easily make your own - within an hour and for under $6. And because they're created from more everyday-like items, you can keep them and reuse them in your Halloween decor for years to come...

 

The brass sconce is also from Goodwill...

 

To glam up the sconce a bit, last year at Christmas I picked up some crystal teardrops from Target (tree ornaments) and wired them to the sconce. For the black candles, I didn't have enough, so I just painted some I had - flat black (Tip: Let dry well!!)

 Have a spooktacular time decorating for Halloween!

I had to skip Halloween last year - so I'm having a little fun to make up for it now! I'll be posting a little tour of what I did here this year next!

Thanks for stopping by!

 

Linking Post To:

My Romantic Home - Show & Tell Friday

The Shabby Nest - Frugal Friday  

The DIY Showoff - Project Parade

Under the Table and Dreaming - Sunday Showcase

Between Naps On The Porch - Metamorphosis Monday

Skip To My Lou - Made by You Monday 

Keep It Simple - Motivate Me Monday 

 THE DIY SHOWOFF - DIY FALL FESTIVAL 

New From Nate Berkus

Since I first saw his line at Linens N Things, (which now seems like ages ago!) I've always admired and related to the style of Nate Berkus. Happy to have seen Olioboard make onto his TV show earlier this year, and disappointed to hear the show was cancelled - I'm thrilled to see Nate back in the design limelight again. I already had my calendar marked for Nate's new line at Target (set to launch this coming Sunday!) but remembered his book, The Things That Matter, was also launching this week after seeing his interview with JuJu Chang on ABC's Nightline the other day. So yesterday I set out to my local Barnes & Nobels to pick-up a copy. While at Barnes & Nobel, I also picked up a copy of the special Before & After issue of Architectural Digest, featuring Nate Berkus on the cover.

 Nate's new book: The Things That Matter

 

Nate's New York apartment featured in

Architectural Digest

The book isn't a 'how to' design book like his previous book, Home Rules (which by the way - LOVE stacked minus the book jacket!), but more of a retrospect of design stories of Nate's clients, friends, family and Nate's own personal life experiences... all focused on his philosophy (and book title) The Things That Matter...

 

Read more about what's new with Nate Berkus at

The New York Times.

 

See the slide show and feature for Nate Berkus at

Architectural Digest.

From the book, the Things That Matter:

The Home of Brooke and Michael Hainey, Designed by Nate Berkus

 Nate Berkus - The Things That Matter

available at Barnes & Nobel

 "Berkus invites readers into his own home as well as into twelve others, including a sleek steel-and-glass high-rise that soars above Chicago, a rustic cottage in the Hudson Valley, an ultra-chic atelier that maximizes every inch of space, a Greenwich Village townhouse that holds multiple art collections, and a study in meaningful minimalism in Marfa, Texas. The distinctive interiors beautifully displayed in this book offer revealing portraits of their owners’ lives and the inspiring choices that have made them who they are today."

 

On twitter, follow along tweets #ThingsMatter

Can't wait to see this line this Sunday at Target - Some fave items are the lamps, pillows, boxes, brass bowls and a tray. What do you think of his new line? Have you had a chance to peek at the book? He's sceduled to start his book signing tour today in new Jersey... I sure hope he puts PHOENIX, AZ on his list of book tour stops!

Thanks for stopping by!

 

Love Neutrals? Get Southwest Chic!

This Moodboard Monday asks: How does a city girl move here metropolitan style out west and merge it into her Fashion + Home decor? Answer: She keeps her foundation neutral, and merges rustic details with her east coast influences to do the desert and get Southwest Chic! If you love neutrals, but you're looking for a way to refresh its style this Fall season - Southwest Chic is the look for you...

 

Southwest Chic Mix - Fashion + Decor

Benjamin Moore has some great neutral colors, 

also inspired by the desert...

 

Benjamin Moore Colors:

 1. Desert Light

2. Desert Twilight

3. Desert Tan

4. Desert Sunset

5. Desert Camel

 

Geode & Gold Cuff

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A desert lifestyle can merge both fashion & decor...

 

Mix textiles & stones...

 

Agate & Gold Cuff

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 Petrified Wood Bookends

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Agate Stacking Boxes

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Petrified Wood Bookends

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Southwest Chic

 Keeping the foundation neutral is key plus mixing in metals and pattern scale in related colors. Antique brass accents work great as the metal mix. Navajo textiles are indicative of the southwest area, but an alternative this native motif can be Mexican. Although Mexican textiles can be very vibrant and colorful, you can also find them simplified in shades of grey (just not 50!) plus black & white paired with a color like brown or red.

 

Mexican textiles from Urban Outfitters last Fall, 

but easy to find thru thrift or markets living in the southwest...

 

The textiles can be used as a throw, or hung as wall art, and are also durable enough to layer with other woven rugs.

 

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BTW: HAPPY BIRTHDAY RALPH LAUREN!!

Born October 14!

When we were getting ready to move out west, two key elements I wanted to add to our existing decor to make it more "Arizonian" were a cow skull and a Navajo rug or pillows. Not Navajo, but I did recently score a Mexican blanket in Black & White at Goodwill... Not a bad add for only $4. At various markets, (especially up in Sedona) these Mexican blankets & textiles would run from $28 - &78 each...

 

My PINspiration...

Scored at Goodwill...

 

A simple add to modern decor for a southwest chic look:

Textiles & Cow Skull

A master at mixing fashion and decor influenced by the southwest colors, climate and landscape is Ralph Lauren. I just LOVED the look he had created this past Summer called Desert Modern - He also brought the outside in...

 

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Definitely not the 80's look of southwest!  

And because it's so neutral, a simple layer of color can change it for a season - for example: add touches of turquoise in the Summer. The southwest style also mixes well with other motifs such as Moroccan, Aztec and American Indian. Pairing the rich textiles, worn leathers and woods works beautifully with white...

 

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See more PINspiration at:

Southwest Style and Desert Modern 

 

 

Thanks for stopping by!