When people think of op shops, often the first thing that comes to mind is cheap-arsedness. I used to be in this camp, but then two things happened to me to change my mind.
- I started this blog based around DIY’s. Do you know how expensive it is to run a DIY blog? There’s so much STUFF needed. Why do you think there’s so many “Cheap and easy” themes posts out there? My hus-bang is a web developer, not a reality TV star. I have limited funds.
- I went to this course called Smart Busy (you can read more about it here). Basically, it made me more aware of the actual cost of things and educated me that being thrifty (not cheap) is a way towards happiness and nothing to be ashamed of. You can read more about thriftiness here.
So I’ve got this new mindset around sustainability when it comes to doing my DIY projects. I’ve even picked up some hard rubbish, something that I never thought I’d do in my life. Coincidentally, if you ever want to challenge yourself and end up doing a bunch of things you never thought you’d do in your life, start a blog. And watch my YouTube video (of which there will be more soon!).
So these two points were what led me to visit an op shop the other day and come home with this massive frame holding a Mediterranean scene. I remember my parents having one similar hanging on their wall back in the 90’s.
That’s probably how long the frame had been in the op shop. It was beat up! But it only cost me $8.75. Oh yeah!!
If you’ve been following me for a while, you would have gotten wind of my love for chevrons. There’s something about them… the symmetry I think, that really gets me. In the early days of blogging I completed some chevron hangers made out of Fimo that I really wasn’t happy with. Ever since I’ve been toying with the idea of making some out of wood, but not having the skills or confidence to actually purchase the materials (which would have come to A LOT more than $8.75).
So, when I saw this frame in the op shop and realised that someone had already done the work for me, I had a mini blog-gasm.
Here’s how you go about making your own thrifty chevron wall art.
1 large wooden frame, circular saw, drill, orbital sander, spraypaint, hangers.
Half a day.
Remove everything from the frame, including the glass and screws and the offending Mediterranean print.
Measure and cut the corners of the frame for an instant chevron!
Sand the corners of the frames.
Paint! I used a matt white spray, and because the blue underneath was grey based I decided not to use a primer.
Measure and place two hangers on arms of the chevron. This is where I went wrong in my first attempt, putting the hanger in the middle of the triangle. It is tricky to mount on the wall that way and stay level.
Hang away!
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