DIY Hello Darlin' Wall Art

Rai144661
by Rai144661
$10
30 Minutes
Easy
I have an aunt who is 100 years old. Seriously. She’s still sharp as a whip and doesn’t mind a bit to express her opinion on anyone or anything.
And I love that about her. And I hope I got that gene.
Last spring, she decided it was time to leave her home and move to an apartment in a retirement community. Yep, she lived on her own until she was 99. Her husband died over ten years ago. After she had moved, many of her items were left in her home waiting on her grandkids from various places in the country to come and get them. One day, the realtor walks into her home and discovers around 90% of the things that were left were missing. Long story short (there are more details on my blog), a month later I walk into a local antique store and find many of my aunt missing items. Turns out that a man living in a next door neighbor’s house who had a key to my aunt’s house held an estate sale and sold all the remaining items in her home. He had given her no money from this sale, or asked anyone’s permission.
The antique store didn’t have all the items, but they did have the precious bridal portraits and the painting, which were very important to her. The owner of the store sold all the items to me at his cost and I brought them home.
How’s that for some craziness?
I tell you this so that you can please be on the lookout for your elderly loved ones. There are some really low people in this world.
The grandkids didn’t want any of the items I had found at the store. I donated some things, but held onto others like her dishes you saw here, the mirror in my entryway, that brass key in my gallery wall, and the framed print I used to make this “hello darlin’” wall art.
This is what the art and frame looked like before. Let me say that the art wasn't bad, it was drawings of herbs. However, the art wouldn't fit anywhere in my kitchen.
The frame did fit perfectly between the posts on the bed in the guest bedroom though. It was like it was made for the space.
I took off the backing, painted the mat kelly green, and cut out the hello darlin' and side patterns on my Silhouette (the cut file is on my blog post if you would like it) If you don't have a Silhouette, I also have a tutorial for how to cut out letters without one. I used glitter card stock as the background. And don't worry, I held onto those herb prints in case I change my mind one day.
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 2 comments
  • Brenda Thompson Brenda Thompson on May 09, 2014
    I would of made 3 pictures out of the original drawings. These were keepsakes for your 99 yr old grandmother. Not to sound mean, what you did won't be as memorable as the original.
    • Rai144661 Rai144661 on May 09, 2014
      @Brenda Thompson Thank you for your thoughts, Brenda. I did mention in the post that I kept the original prints - I didn't want to get rid of them, they just didn't fit in my kitchen. I kept the frame as is, just painted the mat, and switched up the artwork. I'm sure one day, I will re-frame the prints, but right now, they don't work in my space. I'm a firm believer of holding onto things that are special, but also for making them your own. I have many things of my aunt's that are special and I wouldn't dream of changing, but this was something I made my own.
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