Sunday, August 14, 2011

Bird Prints on the Cheep, Cheap

Vintage Bird and Botanical Prints
are always a staple in home decor;
they just never go out of style.
And in the catalogs you can usually find some form of them for sale.

I've found a lot of the smaller prints in flea markets,
 but the larger ones are a little more scarce.
I love these from Ballard Designs but they had a sizable price tag for the set.




I'm not the first one to blog about this,
but one of the best sources for quality prints is calendar art.
Cavallini and Co. puts out fantastic poster size art calendars
 each year in several wonderful themes.
Birds, botanicals, Paris prints, vintage maps, and butterflies
just to name a few.



I didn't buy one for this year,
and I regret it, because now there isn't a one out there,
but I did have my 2010 calendar.


I had a print that was a little outdated, but the frame was still good.
so I trimmed down a calendar page,
and now I'm using it in my kitchen.

(goodbye...little peaches!)

(hello, sweet birdie and nest!)

(better shot in the dining room)





Sorry, it's so hard to get a good shot without glare.


And this is a vintage print that I found at a garage sale for a few dollars.
I just painted the old oak frame black;
now it's similar to the pricey catalog ones.





I have it in my Dining Room above this old metal flower stand.


and this one, let's just not talk about it...



Even Miss Wrigley is skeptical...


an old print and a dry brush of paint, ta da!


(sorry for the glare again)


There are a lot of inexpensive ways to find great prints
Don't be afraid to buy a "less than" print and frame if the price is right.
A little paint and a print exchange can result in a usable piece of art
without paying break-the-bank prices.

Joining in with these great parties this week:











And Good Life Wednesday at A Beach Cottage

See you all Tuesday morning with another



Hope you had a great weekend,
love, 


42 comments:

  1. You have some great tips here, Debra. I was pricing botanical prints at several places online and couldn't believe the range of prices...mostly higher than I wanted to pay. They are timeless and fun to decorate with though. I love your bird and nest poster and you did a lovely job with the frames!!

    XO,
    Jane

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  2. Debra, I love bird and botanical prints and I waited too late to get my Cavallini calendar. I'm waiting for the 2012 one to come out. I need to check. All your prints are so pretty and framed so well. Nicely done.
    Babs

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  3. Can't to wrong with birds or florals. I forgot about using a calender. Thanks for the reminder.

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  4. I'm a huge fan of botanicals...when we cleaned out my grandmother's house I found an envelope with 8 bird prints...they were in perfect condition. My dad said I could have them...I kept 4 and I gave the other 4 to cousins. Such a treasure...the calendar is a great idea. I have also found wonderful botanicals at, of all places, Hobby Lobby!

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  5. Like all your new art, but the last (in white frame) is my fave, it's really gorgeous!

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  6. Great tips! I completely forgot about those calendars. I guess I'll add a 2012 to my Christmas list.

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  7. These are great! I love calendars and this one has fabulous pictures! What a nice transformation!

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  8. Lovely images Debra. A nice coat of paint on a frame makes a huge difference.

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  9. Debra, your idea for this art work is great.. And your home is looking beautiful more and more everyday..

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  10. I am such a sucker for botanical and bird prints Debra and your new ones look just gorgeous! Love your cute title too! :-)
    Vanessa

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  11. Debra, the calendar idea is terribly clever. I love all of them. hugs♥O

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  12. I love the bird prints, like you I find pictures and some time photos that I like and frame them. It just seems to fit my style better and it makes a great one of a kind! Love your ideas!
    Debbie

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  13. Beautiful transformation and repurposing, Debra! Wow! :)

    xoxo laurie

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  14. Love your prints. My mother absolutley loves birds...always has.

    I have been doing some painting today myself. I told my family that painting and redoing are therapy to me. When I get a little stressed, I paint or "fluff".

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  15. Hi Debra! I knew we loved a lot of the same things. . . I just didn't know that we love them on the same day too! haha! Cavallini calenders just beg to made into projects don't they! Yours turned out fabulous!

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  16. Hi Debra, the calender is a great ideal. I have a stash of bird prints put away that I plan on having framed one day a using them! Love all of your bird prints... pretty pretty!!!

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  17. Oh my Debra-
    that Cavallini calender looks soo beautiful- wish I could get one in Denmark----- you made the bird one look so beautiful in the frame- and your other painted frames looks gorgeus, dear.
    Such beautiful ideas, -thankyou.
    Hugs from me.
    Dorthe

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  18. So pretty Debra! If you want to snag some others...for free...try the Graphics Fairy.

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  19. Great post, Debra! As a bird lover, I am always drawn to bird prints. Thanks for the great advice!

    xo
    Claudia

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  20. So very neat, I love the idea of buying the not so great print and exchanging it for the right one!
    I'll have to check the company to find out about the calendars!
    Thanks for sharing this!

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  21. Thanks for sharing these tips and gorgeous prints! Have a blessed day my friend, HUGS!

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  22. I have a gorgeus italian calendar with animals and birds,I love it,I will put its pictures in my kitchen one day.

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  23. Love these Debra! So pretty and they are perfect in the spaces!!

    Lou Cinda

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  24. Debra,
    Your bird prints are lovely, dear. I adore how you used frames you had and those you found thrifting to design exquisite art for your home decor! Another great source for art...Nell Hill's on~line! Thank you for this inspirational post!
    Fondly,
    Pat

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  25. Your frames are wonderful. YOu are such a clever girl to reuse and repaint! There is something truly inspirational about giving our things new life!
    Yvonne

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  26. Lovely! I do like that last one, the Iris - just beautiful!

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  27. Oh, my! I'm a goner. Just found your blog through Confessions of a Plate Addict. We have a common faith as well! Love your blog and will be back reading back posts!

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  28. I love this idea, Debra, and hope to use some botanicals or bird prints in my entryway makeover...

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  29. What a great post, Debra! I love birds, and your framed prints are fabulous! The one that you found at a garage sale appears to be an Audubon. Love it! And I have used many of Cavalinis products, they are awesome!!!

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  30. Botanicals are such a great decorating tool - they never go out of style! ::Jill

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  31. I love the bird and botanical art prints.Good job.

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  32. Debra, I love the bird and botanical prints. I still have saved in my inspiration file the bird prints you added to the small window frames from a door. Thanks for sharing at the Open House party.
    xo,
    Sherry

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  33. I love bird & botanical prints, but I don't have any in my home! I definitely need to change that. Yours are lovely!

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  34. This looks lovely. You have a great blog. I look forward to seeing you at My Dream Canvas. Take care Anu

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  35. Thanks for this idea! I'm always looking for affordable wall art! Yours looks great!!

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  36. I love all your birdie prints...and birdie themed items, Debra. I do the same thing - switch frames and prints around. It's more fun to get "the look" when it's cheap. ;)

    Thanks for linking to the party again this week. I love seeing what you're up to.

    Blessings,
    Liz @ the Brambleberry Cottage
    http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/

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  37. Hi Debra...

    Oooh...I love the bird and botanical prints! I don't know why I don't have even one in my home. Thanks for the great tips for the prints. There really are so many beautiful calendars out there. I will be keeping my eyes out now! Each one of your prints just look beautiful in their new frames and in their new homes! Beautiful!!!

    Warmest summery wishes,
    Chari

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  38. Love old and antique bird, nest and egg prints, Debra!
    Love your collection!
    xx
    A

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  39. I love what you did with the pictures. They look wonderful! I do adore bird pictures. Isn't it amazing how they change up with new pics and painted frames?
    have a great inspirational day!
    Judi

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