Filling your home with artwork can be expensive. Adding a gallery wall here, an oversized landscape there, and a smattering of matted family photos in between can easily cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars. To spare your budget, try turning an inexpensive poster into a pricey-looking piece of art — all for only a…
• Printed artwork, such as a floral still life or landscape, of any size
• Bottle of matte Mod Podge
• Thrifted frame, no glass necessary
• Medium-size, flat paint brush
For a personalized touch, choose an image that represents something or somewhere meaningful to you. For instance, a field of tulips could commemorate a beloved trip to Amsterdam, or a bucolic landscape may remind you of spending childhood summers at your grandparents’ farm. Etsy has plenty of digital images to shop, which you can then print on high-quality photo paper, either at home or at a drugstore.
Once you’re ready to make your masterpiece, clear a crafting area slightly bigger than your artwork and lay down butcher paper or newspaper to cover the area. Place the artwork on the paper and wipe the image with a microfiber cloth to ensure no dust is sticking to the surface. Then, apply a thin coat of matte Mod Podge to the picture, using short, crisscross strokes with a flat paint brush. Set the artwork aside to let it dry out of the reach of children and pets.
After waiting 24 hours for the Mod Podge to dry completely, apply a thicker second coat using the same painting technique. Crosshatched brush strokes create depth, simulating shadows and adding texture to bring a three-dimensional feel to a once-flat image.
After the second coat is dry, it’s time to frame your new art. It’s best to pair these images with not-so-new frames, so try scouring a local vintage shop for wood or gold frames. Goodwill is full of them, and depending on where you live, your neighborhood sidewalks also may be a treasure trove of found frames — especially around the end of the month, when people tend to move. Whichever frame you choose, be sure to remove the glass. That’ll look more realistic and emphasize the texture of your new artwork.
What was once a flat, printed image could now pass for an expensive piece of art. Your budget will thank you.
