Paper and skeleton leaf frame

Hands-on time: Less than two hours.
Skill: Easy.
Cost estimate: Less than $20 for the materials.

Materials & Tools

• Picture frame - the type used for photographs, with a mat that has 3 or 5 openings (I used a black satin Multishot picture frame by Nexxt, available at Loomis Art Stores and other picture frame retailers)
• Assorted papers (new or remnants) in various colours and styles
• Ruler and pencil
• Scissors
• Double-faced tape
• Glue stick
• Skeleton leaves

Paper art is easy and can dress up your walls to add a splash of colour. Using a basic store-bought picture frame with multiple mat openings and paper remnants, this quick style solution is sure to keep your decorating budget on track. The cardboard backing of the picture frame is decorated with various paper strips in an array of colours, styles and textures. Paper art frames make perfect transitional décor accents because they can easily be altered to suit the changing of the seasons. A skeleton leaf is applied over each paper strip montage to add sheer delight, a nice touch for the balance of the fall season. The leaf can effortlessly be replaced with paper snowflakes made with velum paper for the holiday season.

Decorating with paper has never been easier, especially with all the gorgeous papers that are now available on the market. Paper is an adaptable medium that can easily be transformed by cutting, tearing and gluing. Today, papers are creatively and ingeniously being used and incorporated into a multitude of decorative accents.

Take the picture frame apart, remove the mat and the cardboard backing and set the frame and the glass pane aside for now. Place the cardboard backing on a clean work area. Gather paper pieces in assorted colours and styles, make sure they're co-ordinated in style and colours. Measure the mat opening, horizontal and vertical (rectangular or square, depending on the style of frame you are using). Cut pieces of paper in assorted colours to make strips that are slightly longer than the width of the mat opening. Cut or hand-rip paper pieces to make strips approximately all the same size in length and width. You will need about seven paper strips for each mat opening.

In this case, I used 35 strips of papers - seven for each of the five openings - in assorted colours and styles ranging from red, copper, white, burgundy and tone-on-tone prints.

Place the mat over the cardboard backing. Using a pencil, lightly trace the shape of the mat opening onto the cardboard. The outline will be used as a guide for placing and gluing the paper strips. Place the paper strips over the pencil outline shape (horizontal or vertical depending on which way you will hang the frame), space them out evenly, varying the colours placements. Measure if needed. Glue the paper strips into place, using a glue stick or double-sided tape along the top edge and sides of the paper strips. Start with the bottom strip, overlapping and layering the other strips. Leave the same amount of space in between each paper strip. Repeat steps to glue the remaining paper strips for all the remaining sections.

Make sure the glass is thoroughly cleaned on both sides before placing it back into the frame. Position the mat over the paper strip composition on the cardboard backing. Apply a skeleton leaf over each mat opening. Place the glass over everything, making sure that the leaves are sandwiched nicely into place. Adjust the leaves if needed. Apply the frame over the montage, hold it tight at both ends, flip the frame over, and secure the clips back into place.

Variations

• Wallpaper remnants, paint-chip samples, fancy hand-made papers with large prints or just plain colourful papers are perfect to enhance plain picture frames to add interest and colour to walls. Picture frames can be easily altered with different themes and colours for each season. Paper art frames are a real decor chameleon and an inexpensive way to decorate with flair. Add pressed flowers or ferns at the centre of each mat opening for a fresh spring and summer décor.
• The mat inserts can be stencilled, stamped or watered-coloured for additional panache. Don't hesitate to paint the frame in different colours to work with your décor.