Remember that grid of eight Ribba frames above our sectional (that we got right the second time around)?
Well, we figured out some in-the-meantime “art” for them (so we don’t have to stare at those brown squares every night). You know, until we come up with something better. And it only cost us five bucks. Okay, $5.17 if you’re being picky. So worth it.
We’re still not 100% sure what we want there in the long run, but we’re leaning towards something graphic and colorful. And since the brown frame back is the opposite of that, we wanted to at least put something in there temporarily that wouldn’t cost much or take any time to toss together. Enter one of our favorite solutions: 12 x 12″ craft paper from Michael’s.
We picked out eight sheets that complement Sue (aka: our inspiration napkin). They were the perfect size to slip in our 12 x 12 Ribba frames and at about 60 cents a pop it was kind of a no-brainer.
We tried a few different arrangements on the floor before putting anything in frames. Since we had picked a couple of duplicate colors, we wanted to keep them far enough away from one another, so we ended up with this grouping:
The frames definitely helped them feel less like sixty-cent craft paper and more like something worthy of being displayed behind glass (seriously, what can’t you slap in a frame for a more polished look?). It definitely added that temporary injection of color we were looking for, and it was kind of reminiscent of the cool art that we saw – and loved – in this House Crashing adventure from back in the day (aka: a month ago).
It’s kind of like a simplified version of Sue the napkin now lives on our walls, eh?
We’ve been living with them for the last 24 hours and might be in danger of falling in love with them as a not-so-temporary solution. Uh oh.
They just look so much nicer than the brown frame backs they covered. Actually, what we’re thinking that we might do is try to build on the concept somehow, like adding some modern white doilies, stencils, or layering some other pattern in front of them so we still can enjoy the color scheme that “shows through” while creating something a little more graphic. Almost like a custom version of those Classical Symmetry prints from Crate & Barrel (this set of six retails for $369, btw).
Or we might still consider doing the personal photo thing by using the colorful paper as large mats around small square black & white pictures. Sherry even mentioned sticking tiny fortune cookie fortunes in the center of each colored sheet of paper. So you have to get really close to read them. ‘Til we decide on anything, we’re kinda loving the cost-of-a-Subway-footlong solution for these eight frames. And of course we’ll keep you posted when we finally get around to updating them for the long haul.
Do you guys have any colorful art that you’re loving? Or affordable sets of images that you’ve spotted? Oh and how cool is this solution to empty Ribba frames that Krissy posted on our Facebook page? As Sherry says (way too much) “um yeah, love it.”
Psst- We announced the winner of this week’s giveaway. Click here to see if it’s you.
Jen says
Oooh, that could totally just be it for the space! I love how simple it was and how great it looks, even without the patterned paper {which would have been my first inclination of where to take it}.
I have a grid wall of Ikea frames too, full of b&w love for my kiddos: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ClSU4iSXUgU/TRy5ZpJHyHI/AAAAAAAAIHE/c8zWhTdgZLA/s1600/LivingRoomAfter2.jpg
Not sure I will ever part with the prints inside, but it’s nice to know there are other inexpensive art options for the frames themselves!
Thanks!
EeekaT says
I absolutely LOVE this idea – so creative. Do they have these frames in black? I always wanted to do something like this with black & white family photos. Brilliant. Btw, I’ve been meaning to tell you – my boyfriend and I go to estate sales all the time here on Long Island. But they have them everywhere and you can find them on estatesales.net. I know how you love finding great pieces of furniture, antiques, lamps, etc. – we have found some beautiful things for very little $$$. One of our favorites is a 1950’s outdoor picnic table that sat on a woman’s covered porch since the 50’s! It is in immaculate condition – we repainted it and its aas good as new. Its a really fun thing to do on the weekends – especially in the Spring/Summer. Definitely check out the site!
YoungHouseLove says
Yup, I think they sell them in black and wood and white. Maybe check ikea.com and search “ribba frame”? Good luck! Oh and as for estatesales.net we just signed up. Should be fun!
xo,
s
Jenny says
I actually really love this, and don’t think you need to rush and find anything else! Oh and I seriously love the napkin inspiration!
Tardevil says
Like the color choices. Might be cool to change it out one day with a photo cut up into 8 different pieces all to make up one big photo. Just a thought.
Irene says
I was thinking of words too.
Tash says
Cheap and easy way to add some pizazz (is that how you spell pizazz) to the room. I can’t wait until you fix Karl’s legs.
YoungHouseLove says
I know right? They’re killing me slowly. Soon I hope!
xo,
s
Lena says
How about using some japanese masking tape? The tapes could be the same (maybe two or three different ones) on all of the different backgrounds in different patterns.
Lena says
Of course you could do letters or words with the masking tape too!
YoungHouseLove says
Ooh fun! Always a possibility!
xo,
s
Michelle says
I LOVE this. Love love love. I would just keep it as it! The burst of color is so fun!
Barb says
Brilliant….I love it just the way it is. So simple…so beautiful. SPOT ON JOHN AND SHERRY!!!
B.
Alison says
That’s a great idea to add some color when you aren’t sure of what you want on the walls permanently. I may have make a trip to Michaels!
branne @ the ravenna girls says
I love how the art reflects the outdoors on a tonal background and creates sort of impromptu “reflection art” in the glass. I wonder what would happen if you pup sunpaper in there and tried to make sun art?
Allison says
This looks great!! Just a thought – for a bit of unexpected interest, maybe toss Sue into one of those frames, replacing one of the sheets of paper? Keep her intact, though, of course! Thinking of it as homage to the inspiration ;)
Christine says
I have marbled paper framed in my dining room and they are my favorite. I was at a historical days demonstration and a vendor was showing how paper was marbled and typically used for the inside cover of books. (google images if you are interested) I have always meant to take it up as a hobby – maybe when the kids are older.
Great idea – I love it.
Robbyn says
I love it! Like, a whole lot.
I made a whole wall of art for my son’s playroom last week for $18.
I bought 8 simple black 8×11″ frames from Dollar Tree and a book of insect botanical prints from the bargain section of Barnes and Noble.
It was a super cheap, super easy project with a big impact.
Andrea S. says
Love it. Great use of color (and your pennies). :) Your yellow rug reminds me of this “You Are My Sunshine” poster:
http://www.andreasteed.com/node/1148
YoungHouseLove says
So sweet. What a cute print!
xo,
s
Sami says
I love the almost metallic look of the C&B prints. Maybe a graphic stencil with a metallic paint or silver leaf instead of white. Add some dimension and bring in the gray tones of the living room. I like the fortune idea too – to read the top ones though some people might need to stand on Karl (like me – I’m a shorty) eek!
Marlo says
Looks GREAT! So simple with such an impact!
MelanieO says
Love this! I used Ribba frames with baseball themed scrapbook paper for my son’s room a few years ago. He’s outgrown them, and now I know what I can do to recycle those frames in another part of our house. Thank you for a brilliant idea.
Sarah Ray says
gotta love the ribba. my goal is to fill an entire wall with them. i’m getting close!
http://girlandgreatdane.blogspot.com/2011/02/thoughts-on-ikea.html
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, love that post. The dog booty had be laughing.
xo,
s
Katherine says
Looks great!
Kelly Carlson says
Love it! And you even centered the frames with the ceiling beam! Cheers to symmetry!
Renee says
Looks good and a great way to inject color!
Here’s an idea you might like… you could use a regular inkjet printer to print black/white photos on transparency film and then layer it on top of the color paper. Since printers don’t actually print white, the “white” in the photo would be the brilliant color showing through. Hmm, I might have to do that in my own home :)
YoungHouseLove says
That’s genius. Never thought of that but it’s amazing.
xo,
s
laxsupermom says
Love the color in the frames! I’m kind of in love with Sherry’s idea of fortune cookie fortunes in the center of those big blocks of color.
I’m a huge fan of DIY artwork. Both of the big colorful art pieces in our living room are of the cheapo DIY variety. The family hiking silhouette painting and the multi-framed gallery style map were easy cheap projects.
Your new home is coming together so nicely. I’m in awe of how quickly you’re able to affect change in your home. You guys rock!
YoungHouseLove says
Fun! Love both of those projects!
xo,
s
Jordan@the2seasons says
How fun, I love color and what a cheap and easy way to do it!
Jennifer says
Awesome job, Young-stas — perhaps my favorite of your ‘quick fixes’ yet! Those colors really make the room.
Amy Wolff says
Where did you get that ottoman in your living room, I forget….. I am in love with it.
YoungHouseLove says
TJ Maxx a while back! Even though it’s not a storage ottoman I just had to have it. When John gave in I was the happiest wife ever.
xo,
s
Ryan says
I am all for leaving them as is! I love how they are just yummy punches of color, but aren’t overly distracting.
That’s my two cents, which I know you were dying to hear! :)
Rachael says
I’ve been checking out your blog for the last month and really love it, but this is the first time I’ve posted a comment. I just wanted to say that I LOVE the idea of the fortune cookie sayings so much, I’m going to steal it!! Thanks! :D
Elizabeth says
You could keep the card stock (or I like “fancy” wrapping paper or wallpaper) and put square B&W photos. That way the color pops as a “frame”…if you will.
Kate says
I used these in those same frames-LOVE, and cheap:
http://www.amazon.com/CARTE-PATTERNED-American-Crafts-Paper/dp/B003BFLIJS/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1299788901&sr=8-3
Kate says
Also, you can get them at Michaels with a 40%off coupon
http://www.amazon.com/CARTE-PATTERNED-American-Crafts-Paper/dp/B003BFLIJS/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1299788901&sr=8-3
Lyndsay @ Mr. & Mrs. says
wow!! what a difference that makes! I have some frames that are empty and lying around because i haven’t decided what photos to put in them yet.
i am raiding my scrapbook paper supply as soon as i get home!!
Beverley says
When we first moved into our house we were seriously cash strapped when it came around to hanging things on the walls in our kitchen. I looked no further than the recycle bin for inspiration. I cut out 5″x7″ sections of various cardboard boxes (cereal, cake mixes, frozen dinners, etc) and put them behind white mattes in 8″x10″ frames. It was meant to be temporary but I received so many compliments that I’ve kept them :) I sometimes change them out to fit a current color scheme or even use wrapping paper during the holidays.
Shelley says
Love this idea! I also love the way you decorate for “now” with plans to possibly change things later. I think too many of us (by this I mean – my husband!) think that once something is in place, it has to stay there forever. Or some of us (meaning me) are afraid to commit to something so we end up doing nothing until we are 100% sure!
You really know how to keep things fresh! Great job once again!
Jo says
I love it!
Pamela B says
I was totally going to suggest doing black and white family/baby/wedding photos with the coloured mat around the outside. That would be a pop-of-colour-best-of-both-worlds solution that you could switch up whenever you wanted to try new photos or colours!
karen @ our slo house says
Oooooh…
I can’t believe something so simple could be that awesome! You just blew me away.
Amy says
I absolutely love this!
The reflections in your photos gave me an idea that I thought I’d share. If you put a pattern or some stenciled words on the glass when the light hits it will leave the reflection on the colored paper. Not sure of the logistics on that, but it looks good in my head…
YoungHouseLove says
Ooh, that’s an interesting idea for sure!
xo,
s
Aliesha says
Um… HOW are you two so creative, bold, and frugal all at the same time? This idea looks like a million bucks. Love it!
Kate says
I actually really love this, too! I think the coolest option as far as adding a little something more while keeping the pretty + Sue-esque color scheme would be to print out small square black and white photos (family shots, Burger, a few more abstract) in like a 5×5″ square size. I know a few companies will do this for you (MPix has the 5×5″ for $.79/ea for 1-10 prints: http://mpix.com/PrintPricing.aspx. I’ve used them for pro printing and they are a good quality printer!)
Either way, great (and cheap!) idea!
Jenn C. says
Very nice! Personally, I’d leave it alone. It’s totally a reminder of Sue without being literal and actually hanging her on the wall.
Another idea for the fortune cookie fortunes would be to type them out in whatever font you like best and print them directly onto the paper in a coordinating color. Gives it a little graphic-ness (is that a word?) without again being too literal.
Christina says
what a nifty trick!! Hello! Those Crate & Barrel prints are crazy expensive! You can definitely do this with scrapbooking paper :) Thanks for the tip!
Paige says
woooooahhh woah woooooahhh (that’s my attempt at Kevin McAllister’s shrill of excitement in Home Alone [when he flies down the stairs on a sled])
anyway. really cool guys. really, really, reeeeally cool.
ima have to steal this idea now, ok?
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, after that impression, go ahead and steal away! Haha.
xo,
s
Mindy says
So creative…..I love the colors! It gave me more inspiration for my living room!!
kim b says
“It’s kind of like a simplified version of Sue the napkin now lives on our walls, eh?”
OK when did you become Canadian eh!
LOL
YoungHouseLove says
I know right? John says that all the time!
xo,
s
Ling says
Such a smart and inexpensive temporary solution. You two are so resourceful! By the way, you might want to check out my latest blog post. You strike me as being consumers of pop culture, so thought you might dig my Tube Interiors series…
Mira says
Our 2 year old makes art for our home :)
http://omgmiraisturning30.blogspot.com/2011/02/high-art.html
YoungHouseLove says
Cuuuuute!
xo,
s
lori says
I have a series of 9 12×12 record frames on my wall in a long straight line, that change whenever the mood strikes me…usually seasonally. Right now it’s “birds on a wire.” But then I’m addicted to scrapbook paper. Maybe I’ll post a pic for y’all.
Michelle says
What a great idea for wall art!
Quick question- where did you get that gorgeous yellow rug?
I’ve been on the hunt for one…..
YoungHouseLove says
That’s the Moorish Tile Rug from Pottery Barn, but they no longer sell it, so maybe try ebay?
xo,
s
Harinee says
Love the art/walldecor! I too thought of the “front”, “back”, etc. art that you guys have mentioned as soon as I saw the first pic!
But I’m really commenting to say that the questions about your yellow rug would make a great drinking game! How many times in one post do you usually say “…they no longer make it, maybe try ebay?” :)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, probably every hundred comments. Take a drink!
xo,
s
Nicole Cottrell says
My hubster and I frame calendars. We buy small calendars and regular sixe clanedars. We have a gallery wall of the smaller square size Ribba frames along with frames from Restoration Hardware.
It is so chic. People always ask us where we got all of our fabulous art.