Happy Friday, all! It’s time for another edition of the Get Your DIY On monthly challenge, and this month’s theme is Pinterest-inspired projects! That sounds easy enough, but I definitely took the long way around when finishing my project this month. {Which has become kind of a recurring thing for me…}
But anyway… do you know how sometimes you see something on Pinterest and you think, “That would be easy! I could totally do that!” Famous last words. You see, I had that exact thought when I came across some beautiful DIY abstract art while I was scrolling through the never-ending abyss that is Pinterest, so of course I had to try it and see for myself. I mean, look at these beautiful pieces that served as my inspiration:
They’re so pretty! And they can’t be that hard, right?! 😉 So I gathered up all of my little craft supplies and tried to channel my inner-artist. Here’s what I ended up using:
- 18″ x 24″ canvas
- Martha Stewart gold foil sheets
- Craft paint in various colors
- Glue
- Paint brushes in various sizes
- Paper plates
- Paper towels
- Drop cloth (I used a plastic garbage bag.)
I started out by adding the gold leaf. Following the package directions, I applied some glue to random spots on my canvas and let it sit for a few minutes until it became somewhat “gummy,” then I pressed the gold leaf sheets onto the glue. When they had dried for a little while, I brushed away the excess gold leaf and was left with this:
So far, so good. Time to paint. In one of the tutorials I had read, the blogger put globs of paint in different places on the canvas and then used the paint brush to sort of smear them together, ending up with an absolutely stunning result. So I put my little globs of paint on my canvas…
…smeared them together, and I ended up with…
…a hot mess! It reminded me of bad hotel art from the ’80s! I guess my “no-brainer” project wasn’t so simple after all. 🙂 Back to the drawing board. In an attempt to save my Pinterest-inspired creation, I painted over almost everything with white paint.
Then instead of the “glob and smear” method, I tried painting swirls and shapes.
And this is where I learned that mixing paint colors and layering the paint was the way to go. I was liking where this version was headed, but it looked kind of flat. The more I layered paint and gave it more dimension, the better it looked. One super advanced and uber-technical method {Can you sense my sarcasm through your computer screen? 😉 } that I used a lot was to put a little dab of white paint over my existing color and use my finger to blend everything. This gave the painting sort of a “cloudy” look (kind of like my first inspiration picture above), and added some depth.
When I was done with all of my paint mixing, layering, and very technical smearing, I ended up with this, which I promptly hung in my newly finished and upgraded master bathroom:
Now I don’t think the Louvre is going to come calling any time soon or anything, but for my first attempt at this type of art, I was pretty happy with the end result. {Even if it did take me several tries to get there!} Plus it adds a nice pop of color to my otherwise neutral bathroom, so I think I’ll keep it… at least for now. 😉
I’m not the only one around here who has been inspired by Pinterest, though! My Get Your DIY On co-hostesses have created some cute Pinterest-inspired projects of their own!
How to Transfer Photos to Wood by April, House by Hoff
Headboard Coat Rack by Christy, Confessions of a Serial Do-It-Yourselfer
DIY Decorative Clipboards by Krista, The Happy Housie
Pinterest-Inspired Coffee Filter Letters by Mandy, The Hankful House
If you’re not familiar with the Get Your DIY On link party, each month we challenge our fellow bloggers to come up with a project relating to a specific theme, and we host a link up the first Sunday of the month at 7 pm EST where everyone can share their projects. We hope you’ll join us this Sunday, September 7th to link up your own Pinterest-inspired creations! (New projects and past projects are fine as long as they follow the theme– we’re not picky!) And this month’s party is extra special because…
Guess what?!?! The Get Your DIY On Challenge is ONE!! Yes… a year old. But don’t worry if you forgot to bring us a gift… we have a gift for you instead. An awesome giveaway opportunity!
In honor of the One Year Anniversary of the Get Your DIY On Challenge, we have teamed up with The Outdoor Trunk to offer you the chance to win their Fall Season in a Trunk!
Their Season in a Trunk is the perfect thing to get you started on Fall Decorating… It comes full of beautiful decorative items that you can use to instantly create a stunning Fall vignette in your home, or even give a whole room a fresh feel for Fall. It is a $275 value that normally retails for $199… and today The Outdoor Trunk is offering you the chance to win this for yourself!
Head over here to see all that this Season in a Trunk package includes! Thanks so much to Outdoor Trunk for providing this amazing Giveaway opportunity!!
Lisa Cooper says
September 5, 2014 at 6:24 amThe Outdoor Trunk looks wonderful! I now know my style is Coastal Fresh! I hope I win!
Indah Nuria Savitri says
September 5, 2014 at 8:26 amnot baaad at all for the first try..Love the pastel colors Abby..sweetly match your bathroom for sure…and great GA you have here..
justagirlabby says
September 6, 2014 at 10:58 pmThank you so much, Indah! I’m working on it, lol! Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend!
~Abby =)
Ania Diduch says
September 5, 2014 at 8:50 amI don’t think I would make it any better 🙂 Maybe produce some more and start selling?
justagirlabby says
September 6, 2014 at 10:58 pmHaha! I think I’m a way off from that, but I definitely would like to try some more abstracts in the future! Have a great weekend, Ania!
~Abby =)
Anna Mack Severn says
September 7, 2014 at 11:45 amOh lord hope I didn’t scare ya haha! Have a great rest of your weekend with the littles 🙂
Anna Mack Severn says
September 5, 2014 at 9:06 amAbby I think the art looks fantastic! I’ve tried that myself sans photos because it was totally a Pinterest fail, and I don’t want to end up made fun of on BuzzFeed ;0)
justagirlabby says
September 6, 2014 at 11:01 pmOh my, I never thought of that! Now you have me nervous that BuzzFeed will find me! 😉 Hope you have a wonderful weekend, Anna!
~Abby =)
Jillian @ JST Design says
September 5, 2014 at 9:25 amAbby, your abstract artwork looks great I am digging the gold leaf with the paint colours and I also LOVE your bathrrom, the board and batten looks terrific! I can’t wait to do this to our bathroom but first I have a living room and master bedroom to makeover before then! 😉
justagirlabby says
September 6, 2014 at 11:01 pmThank you so much, Jillian! You are the sweetest! Hope you’re having a great weekend!
~Abby =)
[email protected] says
September 5, 2014 at 10:10 amVery cute, Abby. Art isn’t for the faint of heart. But you did a great job!
justagirlabby says
September 6, 2014 at 11:02 pmThank you, friend! I know– art is hard! It is kind of soothing to do, though! 🙂 Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend!
~Abby =)
Theresa @ AMomInTheMaking says
September 5, 2014 at 10:22 amI loved your post! It was totally brave… I’ve never been good at the artsy painting, drawing stuff…
I still remember as a little kid weeping while trying to draw a tree in school because all I drew all the lines perfectly straight… I didn’t know how to just let be messy and creative lol
justagirlabby says
September 6, 2014 at 11:03 pmArt is hard! My cousin is actually an artist, and I always say that she took all of the artistic ability in the family and left none for the rest of us. 🙂 I texted her while I was painting this and told her to send some of her artsy vibes my way, lol. Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend!
~Abby =)
Theresa @ A Mom in the Making says
September 8, 2014 at 9:50 pmI feel like that’s how things are in my house… my mom and sister are incredibly artsy… the rest of us. Not at all lol
Sarah Beth says
September 5, 2014 at 10:38 amI saw a cow painting I had to have online and thought to myself “Oh, I can paint that”. Nope. Awful!
justagirlabby says
September 6, 2014 at 11:04 pmLol! It is definitely harder than it looks, right!? Hope you’re having a great weekend, Sarah Beth!
~Abby =)
Holly E says
September 5, 2014 at 10:51 amMy style is Boho Eclectic.
Joan says
September 5, 2014 at 11:59 amGood for you. These abstract things are so much fun, but can be a challenge. Thanks for the inspiration to try this ourselves. I used to like doing something similar with colored chalk, then hanging it sandwiched between two pieces of glass. Fun.
justagirlabby says
September 6, 2014 at 11:05 pmOoh that sounds like a cool method! I bet it was beautiful! Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend, Joan!
~Abby =)
Ashley C says
September 5, 2014 at 1:41 pmMy style is Farmhouse Cottage!
demureprincess7(at)gmail(dot)com
Kristina @ My Own Home Blog says
September 5, 2014 at 1:56 pmI kind of love all of those styles!
I especially love the farmhouse cottage and traditional classic! 🙂
Selene Galindo says
September 5, 2014 at 7:44 pmThis is so creative! I love it! And those colors are so fun together!
justagirlabby says
September 6, 2014 at 11:05 pmThank you, friend! At one point I thought I would be posting it as a “FAIL” project, but it all worked out okay in the end! 🙂 Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend!
~Abby =)
[email protected] of a Serial Do-it-Yourselfer says
September 5, 2014 at 10:34 pmI think your site ate my comment or operator error lol…What I said was…I bet this would be very therapeutic as in relaxing, just letting your creativity flow! That’s the great thing about abstract art, it can be anything you want. I think it turned out great. Don’t forget to sign it 🙂
justagirlabby says
September 6, 2014 at 11:07 pmOh no, my site better not be clonking out on me! It has been craziness lately! 🙂 I agree with the therapeutic part for sure! I actually made this not too long after my surgery and it was nice to be able to just sit and paint whatever my little heart desired! Hope you’re having a great weekend, friend!
~Abby =)
Jennifer says
September 5, 2014 at 11:53 pmI love the coastal fresh style. Great giveaway!
Sandi @ A New York Foodie says
September 6, 2014 at 12:59 pmHi Abby! That painting looks so pretty! I love the colors. Great job! 🙂
justagirlabby says
September 6, 2014 at 11:08 pmThank you so much, Sandi! Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend!
~Abby =)
Heidi says
September 8, 2014 at 10:41 amYou are so much braver than I would ever be! Your art turned out great! My style is probably farmhouse cottage or traditional classic
Lindsey says
September 8, 2014 at 2:30 pmCoastal Fresh!
Rebecca Parsons says
September 8, 2014 at 7:27 pmI think it is a great piece and you should be proud. MY style was the Traditional Classic.
justagirlabby says
September 11, 2014 at 10:17 pmThank you, Rebecca! Have a wonderful weekend!
~Abby =)
Krista @ the happy housie says
September 11, 2014 at 11:27 amI absolutely LOVE it- I seriously think I am going out to buy a big canvas so I can try this for myself…for my FALL art!! So pretty!
justagirlabby says
September 11, 2014 at 10:52 pmI’m sure you will be wonderful at art! Can’t wait to see it!
~Abby =)