Can't Afford Expensive Art? Create Your Own Scrapbook Paper Statement Piece

When you first get your own home or apartment, it can be difficult to stare at the blank walls. You know what you want your living space to look like, but you just can't afford the investment into nice pieces. Thankfully, there are many ways to create elegant and classic rooms without the cost of purchasing expensive pieces of art. Scrapbook paper is a great way to create a specific vision at a low cost. It's versatile and it only costs cents per sheet. If you're trying to create an inexpensive look for your living space, consider the following scrapbook paper craft for your home. 

Framed Scrapbook Paper Tiles

Simple geometric designs create a structured look in any space, and they're easy to make on your own. You can use a variety of scrapbook paper patterns to match your color scheme and overarching theme, from country chic to steam punk. Creating a grid of square frames filled with different patterns of scrapbook paper will create a great statement piece without the price tag of expensive art. 

Head to the craft store's paper crafting aisles. Scrapbook paper is sold as individual pieces or in themed pads. When you're choosing your scrapbook paper, you'll want to find a variety that all fit within the same color scheme without repeating patterns. No matter what color you're working with, find different shades and tints of the same hue. Be sure to throw in a solid piece or two to keep the entire grid visually stable and balance out the different patterns. 

If you're not sure if you're capable of matching pieces, purchase a pad of scrapbook paper. You might have sheets left over, but you'll know that the pieces you choose for your grid all follow the same color scheme. 

Materials Needed:

• 12 12"x12" frames 
• Roll of butcher paper
• Painters tape
• Scissors
• 12 sheets of varied scrapbook paper
• 12 photo nails and hammer
• Level
• Ruler
• Pencil

Directions:

1. Trace photo frame onto butcher paper and cut out. Repeat eight times. These will be your stencils to properly space the real frames on your wall. 
2. Mark a small dot on each piece of butcher paper where the nail will be placed. 
3. Place your top left butcher paper stencil at its approximate location, adhering it to the wall with painters tape. Be sure to place the nail hole at the top to guide your hammering later. 
4. Measure 1.5" below and to the right of the first stencil. Place those stencils in their approximate locations with painters tape, making sure nail marks are positioned appropriately. 
5. Continue measuring 1.5" borders and placing your stencils until you have three rows of four frames. 
6. Check each piece with your level. 
7. Step back and assess the layout. Make adjustments so the grid is centered on the wall or over a piece of furniture. 
8. Place each of the 12 pieces of scrapbook paper in a frame.
9. Using the dot you drew in Step 2 as your guide, hammer a nail into each of the 12 pieces of butcher paper.
10. Remove butcher paper from the wall. 
11. Hang each of the 12"x12" frames on their nails. Vary your colors and patterns of paper so that no two adjacent pieces are too similar. 

Creating a cohesive and well-designed living space doesn't have to cost a lot of money. The paper crafting aisle of your local craft store or places like Decorsteals hold the secret to designing a clean and modern space that can match any theme. A grid of framed scrapbook paper will add structure, color, and variety to any drab living space. Simply lay out your grid and hammer in your frames, and you'll have a great statement piece that costs very little to create.