Thrifted Botantical Print Makeover with Ribbon Trim

A few weeks ago, my daughter and I made an impromptu stop at the thrift store.

Where I found this lovely botanical print on the wall.

It was $7, a bit more than I wanted to pay for this second hand piece of art, but I just couldn't leave it behind.


Something about those red flowers made me smile the minute I saw them.

The frame was a mess, painted in a haphazard fashion, but I was ok with that. It'd be a simple fix.

However. 

Once I got it home and brought it into the living room, I had an idea that didn't involve that frame at all.

Until I saw my latest acquisition in the room, then I knew that I needed to swap out the tulip print with the new botanical one. 

While I loved catching a glimpse of those tulips, my signature flowers, whenever I walked past the living room, lately, I felt the need for a change...and the new print seemed to satisfy that craving.

And all I needed to do, was remove the old picture and pop the new one in its place. 

I started by turning the new frame over to inspect how the print was locked inside.


The back was covered with paper.

So I grabbed a small razor blade and cut it away from the wood.


When I peeled it back, I noticed there were staples that kept a piece of cardboard and the print in place.

I pried them loose with a screwdriver to free those pretty flowers. 

In the meantime, I removed the tulip print from its frame and pulled out the red, linen matboard. 

Unfortunately, the prints were not the same size.

That meant I had to figure out how to bridge the gap between the red mat and my smaller print.


I contemplated my options for a long time, until I finally decided to use this red checked ribbon.

It was thick enough to cover that gap and just the right color.


It would be a quick and easy DIY after all.

Or would it? Well, that's debatable.

It started out ok, as I used a ruler to center the new print on the backing paper that fit inside the frame and measure the space I needed to cover.


Once I had it positioned perfectly in the center of the matboard, I taped it to the paper.

Then I tucked the ribbon under the mat and over the white outline of the print and taped four separate strips in place, as well.


That was a task that took longer than I thought it would.

The ribbon kept moving, exposing the white border and getting the squares on the ribbon to line up at the corners, in a pleasing pattern, wasn't easy either.


The ribbon kept sliding around...and when I finally got it positioned exactly where I wanted it, as soon as I flipped it over to pop it in the frame, it moved.

Over and over again.

That's what I called my husband into the living room to help me, because two heads are better than one.

And four hands are better than two, right? For this project? Definitely.

Unfortunately, four feet were too many, and as my husband and I tried to dance around each other, he stepped on the glass in the frame, which was on the floor. Not good.

It was late, I was frustrated, but my sweet husband, thankfully not hurt, got the vacuum and cleaned up the shards of glass.

Then he calmly suggested the magic solution to my moving ribbon problem. He said that I needed to suspend the art and drop the glass and frame onto the print from the top. 

So I balanced the print and mat on top of a pillow, placed the frame on top of it, then reached under to secure the metal clips.


And it worked!

He really is a genius. The guy has an engineer's brain, which serves me and my crazy DIY brain well.

I was so happy with the process, and the look of the first print, that I decided to use the ribbon to accent the old print on the other side of the sofa.


Creating a new pair of prints that were unified by the same frames, same matboards and same ribbon.

A pair that was particularly difficult to photograph, thanks to all the reflections the camera lens picks up.


So you'll have to take my word for how truly fabulous they look on the wall.

That simple ribbon totally refreshed my old rose print. I swear the colors looked brighter...proof that the right frame is art in itself. It makes such a difference.

The combination of the ribbon and that bold red matte elevated that $7 thrift store print into something that looks like it cost so much more.


Making me smile a little brighter when I walked past it.

And giving my entire living room a fresh new feel.

How fabulous.

😌

Do you have an old print that could use an update?

Oh hey! Before you go, it's time for another round of thrifted shares from my creative friends!


Be sure to click the links below so you can check out all the out of the box craftiness and decor! You're sure to be inspired.🤩


DIY Outdoor Fairy Light Lampshade
My Repurposed Life

Refinished Vintage Metal Patio Chair
Shop At Blu

Thrift Store Lampshade Makeover
Our Crafty Mom

DIY Upcycled Globe Light, Cloche, Pedestal Bowl and Paper Towel Stand
Funky Junk Interiors

Thrifted Botanical Print Makeover
Exquisitely Unremarkable (That's me!)

Glass Rainbow Garden Tower
Redhead Can Decorate