Artsy-Shmartsy

I used to adorn my walls with anything cheap and stylish. As I've gotten older I have changed my criteria: cheap and meaningful (and hopefully stylish)

Sometimes those two are hard to put together. On our recent cruise, I mentioned to my husband that I really wanted to find a piece of art in Grand Cayman because that island has a special place in my heart. We searched and searched. All of the art was ridiculously high that day (I've heard they up the prices when a ship is in port). So I started looking for 5x7 greeting cards and came upon these two treasures by the same artist:

Frames: $3 each, Walmart

Mats: $1 each Hobby Lobby

Greeting cards: $2 each

Total for (2) 8x10 pieces of art: $12

I applied the same idea a couple of years ago while visiting Europe. Even though the prints were smaller (4x6), having three in a large frame created the illusion of a large piece of art:

Frame: $15 Michaels (mats included)

Prints: $3 each

Several years ago I visited my brother in San Diego and fell in love with the coastline. I picked up some 11x14 prints from a small vendor at La Jolla beach. They now adorn my guest bath:

Prints: $12 each

Frames: $10 each Target on clearance

Speaking of Target, I couldn't pass this tin sign up in their dollar section.

Each year our family attends a summer festival in the mountains of NC. Last summer a local artist (who sells her work for $$$) donated a copy of her version of the festival, with all proceeds going to the town. It is (nearly) poster size, so it fills our upstairs hallway nicely.

Print: $10 (actually free, thanks mom!)

Frame: $3 yard sale

For other ideas on inexpensive ways to adorn your walls check out this, this, this and this.