I had no idea custom framing was so expensive until I needed a frame for a very large watercolor painting that I bought and love. When the frame options were going to cost more than the art itself I had to hit the pavement in search of a better solution.

I’m thrilled to say I didn’t have to look any further than my local hardware store. I bought aluminum and vinyl door jamb (yes, with a “b”) weather-stripping. The weather-stripping came in a set of three. Two strips measured 84” long and a shorter strip was 36” long. The price was about $15.00.

There are so many different finishes to choose from to match your art like white, nickel, silver, gold, and bronze which is what I decided to go with.

Check out Loews.com for weather-stripping in a variety of finishes:

My hardware store cut the pieces exactly to the measurements I needed for $5.00 extra and they did it while I waited. Each strip has pre-drilled nail holes so I used extra large upholstery tacks (5/8” wide) in a brushed nickel finish to give my art frame that industrial look.

For a package of 500 tacks be prepared to spend about $46.00. You have to buy them in bulk, but I end up using them for so many different projects so it’s worth it. What can I say…it’s frame-tastic and I came in way under budget!

Hard to believe iconic beauty, Audrey Hepburn, was teased as a young girl for being tall, lanky and having large eyes. When I picked up this book, Being Audrey, I fell in love with each illustration and cannot wait to frame some of the images in a little girl’s room…especially the one with Audrey and her dog. Children will be inspired by reading the story of Audrey’s life illustrated in watercolor.

The handcrafted Audrey pin I recently bought in Korea is a reminder that she was beloved all over the world.

You can get the same look by printing a favorite Audrey image onto a fabric transfer sheet. Iron on the transfer onto silk or cotton and sew it into a small pillow pin.

I don’t know about you but I hate the words craft, crafty, or crafter. Luckily, sites like etsy.com are showcasing craft as a hip art form.

I recently discovered a tool called the Fiskars Crank Hand Drill that instantly changed the way I create home accessories. The product claims it drills a clean hole in paper, plastic and even metal. It is under $20 so I thought I would give it a whirl.

I dusted off an old metal candelabra, which never had enough holes to hang a stylish cluster of crystals, and put the hand drill to work. I was shocked how easily and perfectly the drill pierced the metal. I made perfect holes all around my candelabra and was able to hang the vintage crystals my mother had given me.

My next project is to transform a Lucite jewelry box with six drawers with new drawer pulls.  In the meantime, I’m enjoying my candelabra all over again

Give it a whirl in your home. Enjoy!