Shanty 2 Chic

So a while back, I discovered this blog called Shanty 2 Chic. I think that Michelle shared it with me, but I can't remember for sure. Either way- it is one of my new favorite blogs to read! They take "shanty" looking things and paint them, sand them, pretty them up... make them chic.

About a month or two ago, our church secretary posted on facebook that she was getting rid of some old pictures out of the church office, and did anyone want them? I immediately jumped on them as soon as I found out they were framed. She warned me that they weren't very attractive (ahem), but I knew I could make them into treasures.

I took this one the other night, and while watching the Bachelor (shush, I know, I KNOW!), I made it into one of my favorite pieces of art in our home.

I took out the glass & artwork, and brushed on white acrylic craft paint roughly around the frame. I didn't make it super thick because I wanted to see a teensy bit of the wood showing through.

Once it was dry, I dampened a paper towel, and then put a few drops of brown acrylic paint, and rubbed it over the frame, so that it would get into all the little decorative crevices.

I then adhered two overlapping pieces of sheet music (from the "Can't Buy Me Love" Scripts kit) on top of the pre-existing "artwork", and then adhered the photo right in the middle.

I didn't even measure it to make sure it was centered. I'm a risk taker like that. ;)

I inked the edges of the mat board that was in there to give it more distinction.

Jillibean Soup corrugated cardboard alpha letters from my stash (dry brushed with more white paint) adhered on top of the photo finished the look!

(I tied some green ribbon I had through some of the staples on the back to hang it up, since I was hanging it in the landscape orientation and it didn't have the right hardware for that. I also didn't replace the glass because I think the letters would be too thick inside.)

I'll share with y'all in a few days what I did with the other frame, but since I forgot to take before pics, it won't be such a long post. :)