If you are like me, you decorate on a budget. Sometimes buying framed custom art is not in your budget. There are inexpensive alternatives to buying art to decorate your home and you don't even have to be an artist. Hopefully one or more of these ideas will fit your situation.

• Find a science book with interesting illustrations (You can check one out at the library or buy one at a used book store if you don't have a good book at home). Make photo copies of the illustrations (scan and print or take to a Copy store and make copies). You can focus on a part of an illustration for a more abstract look.
• Frame pictures from an old calendar, group postcards or greeting cards in a frame or note cards.
• You can frame old sheet music or maps for a unique look. (If you take a damp paper towel dipped in coffee you can add an aged look to your sheet music).
• Some people like shadow boxes. Show off old or antique jewelrry or watches in an old frame or display antique kitchen utensils for a country kitchen.
• Another great kitchen idea is to frame wine labels or old canned good labels. (Coffee staining can add an aged look to these).
• Fabric, wallpaper or giftwrap can add pops of color and patterns to your walls when framed as well.
• Frame different size mirrors and group together to bounce colors or light from other walls into the room.
• Make a theme frame, inserting vacation photos, travel tickets or movie ticket stubs.

When thinking about your frames, maybe you don't have any frames at home already ready to be filled, or don't want to spend much on frames. Try these ideas when choosing your frames.

• Dollar stores have a multitude of inexpensive frames. Sometimes all it takes is a little paint to add character to these frames.
• Yard sales or Goodwill stores have inexpensive frames you can purchase. Some may need a little TLC, but the age and wear may add character to your wall art if you so choose.
• Embelish your frames with old stamps, ribbon, scrapbook paper or buttons to add character to them.
• Transform a terra cotta saucer for a plant into a frame. Add a little Elmers glue to the base and lay in your photo/artwork to create a unique picture frame.
• Get creative with a wreath, cork board, message board by attaching photos with a little hot glue or Elmers glue attached with ribbons. (Cover an old cork board/message board with fabric and hang the ribbons across or crisscross for a unique look and attach your photos or postcard art).

There are many different ways you can add art to your walls without spending much money...time to think outside the box and see what you can create!