Guest Post: Ballard Knock-off

{Ballard knock-off print}

hi everyone, I'm Alison from

i'm happy to be

guest posting here on thrifty decorating

and i crafted this project just for the occasion

i called it my

ballard catalog print knock-off

when the last ballard designs catalog

made it's way into my mailbox

one of the items that

caught my eye

was this glycee print on canvas

and i wondered

if i could make something similar

i culled my raw materials from around the house

instant coffee

pages from an old and unloved book

a canvas board

decoupage medium

black construction paper

using the original as a guide

i cut out my book pages into shapes

i mixed the instant coffee with hot water

to dye some of the paper strips

and let them dry for a bit

then i dry fitted the paper pieces onto the canvas board

when i had them just right

i carefully began pasting them down

and covering the entire board with decoupage medium

after drying a couple hours

i second coated the whole thing

the next step

was to 'age' the art

with a mixture of

decoupage medium

water

brown paint

which was too dark

but after a few more tries

i got the desired color

i brushed the tinted medium on

and let dry

finally

i spray coated with a clear glossy coat

for the shiny finish i wanted

the total cost: $0

since i already had the materials

time spent: a lovely afternoon

payoff: total thrifty satisfaction

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Visit my websites: http://stuff-and-nonsense.net

aagnew.avonrepresentative.com

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Thanks so much for sharing!

Alison has other amazing ideas over at her blog Stuff and Nonsense!  We went to the same college way back and she still lives in our college town in a 100+year old home lovingly called the Duff House that she is restoring.

Here are some of her amazing transformations!

(before)

(after)

I also like how she turned this:

(before)

....into this!

(after)

I love Alison's crisp, fresh style!  (and she homeschools, too!)  If you get a chance, check out some of her ideas at ......