DIY Sand Dollar Wall Art

I would love to be able to tell you that I've had this amazing post planned and prepared all week for you all. And that since, I'm "retired" now, I've spent the entire week putting this project together and getting everything ready for the Friday post. I would love to tell you that. However, it's a lie. 

You see, despite being retired {aka unemployed and desperate for human interaction}, I have found ways to busy my days with chores, appointments, and other not so fun things. And, finding inspiration in our apartment right now is near impossible. We have almost nothing left in our space to organize, and I shouldn't really create new things because it just adds to the list of things to pack. 

I said I shouldn't, not I wouldn't. 

So this week morning, I put together these summer inspired pieces of wall art. 

When I say this morning, I literally mean, like one hour before posting. I just picked up the frames last night on my way to dinner. They were sitting outside a framing shop I've walked past numerous times and always said I'd stop, well there are no excuses when you're retired. The shop puts out three bins full of broken, damaged, or incorrectly sized frames every day, and they are on a serious mark down. These heavy duty black lacquered 11x14 frames were $7 a piece. If there's a frame shop near you, definitely stop by and see if they do the same. The majority of the frames I looked at, I couldn't even spot the error. 

I was inspired by Pottery Barn's current decorative art line to create something a little beachy, but I wanted to add a little pop of color to it. 

Using two large sand dollars Brit and I picked up on vacation last month {we did not find any this large, these were purchased for decoration}, some ribbon, and heavy paper, I was able to put together a little summer decoration... that won't be hung up until we're in our new home. Minor details. 

I wanted to make the frames matted so traced the interior frame and cut a large, heavy duty, bag. I covered the bag with 4 sheets of tissue paper, and wrapped it as I would a present. I used 4 sheets because tissue paper is so thin I wanted to make sure it was thick enough. 

Measuring a 7x7 square in the center, I cut out a hole. Now, I had a matted frame. 

To add the pop of color, I glued some colorful ribbon {green clover and neon pink} to a cereal box, just as any normal person would. 

I taped the mat and cereal box to the inside, and that was it! 

A little peek at the inside

Now, if I were to hang these here, I would hang them using Command Picture Hanging Strips because they are my go to, and I would hang them on the wall across from our large black framed mirror. Buuuut, they're not getting hung up. They're going to lean against the wall until it's time to start packing things up, then they'll sit in a box a little while until they can finally be hung up shown off in our new home {hopefully mid-July!}. 

Not too bad to a very quick, easy, and last minute project, right? How have you added summer into your home? 

Thanks for visiting!