Scrapbook Paper as Art

Have you ever gone to a specialty scrapbook store just to drool over the lovely papers found there?  I sure have.  I'm not a scrapbooker but when I see those artistic papers I can't help but try to figure out where I can use them.  A friend just asked for some ideas of what to do with her inherited stash of gorgeous paper, so here are some ideas. 

A while back I showed you a project I helped a friend with:

She had a huge wall that needed something big, yet didn't cost too much.  We found a Ginormous frame at a garage sale, painted out the background, and then mod podged scrapbook paper she had selected.

Here are a whole bunch of other ideas I've found using scrapbook paper:

(dollarstorecraftsjr)

(jcaroline)

(moneysavingmom)

 You can find square frames at places like IKEA, dollar stores, and Kirklands.  Or skip the frames and just mount the paper on wood squares or foam.

(casacullen)

I like how this gal found these pre-matted $5.99 frames at Michael's, added the paper and grouped them together to make a bigger impact.

(BHG)

I love breaking out of the mold of the square frame and placing the paper in chunky mats.  Very artsy!

(BHG)

While these are framed fabric, this unique arrangements would work well with paper.

I personally like mixing in family photos like in the arrangement on the left (sorry for the cruddy quality.)

(lifecraftsandwhatever)

We've seen all these tile mosaic art pieces in Restoration Hardware and Pottery Barn. You could make one easily.  But the cost of the tile and the weight would be crazy.  This lady made hers from paint sample chips and you could do the same with scrapbook paper. See how she did it here.  I like the metallic glaze she did over the top of it.

(remodelholic)

Here's another version of the mosaic. See her tutorial here.

(AndThen...)

This whole playroom wall was covered in scrapbook paper!  Perhaps a bit bold, but you get the idea.

These paper butterfly specimen art go from simple to very detailed.  You can just use a butterfly-shaped paper cutter or print out butterfly shapes from online and use delicated scissors to cut out varied shapes out of your paper.  I don't know about you, but I'm going to start snatching up shadow boxes and deep frames at goodwill!

I LOVE these ones!  While the shapes are all the same, they made each butterfly out of 3 layers.  So pretty!

 

These are basically the same idea as the butterflies, instead, fold your scrapbook paper into origami cranes, flowers or whatever shape you want.

(curbly)

These paper chains were made from scrapbook paper, shaped in to squares and framed for a unique piece of art.

(hollydollydoodar)

This creative art was made with textured wallpaper as the background and the flower pieced together from scrapbook paper.  Lovely, huh? Reminds me of a quilt.

(wheelerthree)

These would be easy to do using a piece of plywood or mdf, paint a background, a branch and then make your blossoms out of scrapbook paper (look for tutorials of flowers online-they're everywhere!)

From very simple to very artistic.  Hope you found some ideas to decorate using such a gorgeous and inexpensive resource.