We were thrilled to join in with some of our favorite sites today, to take on an upcycle challenge of sorts.
The idea was to upcycle something into a new project, and since it’s all things spring, we love that we cooked up this butterfly kaleidoscope art.
Once upon a time, we had this old frame we snagged at a local flea market. It had been turned into a chalkboard, but it was when the chalkboard phase was a thing and people were buying chalkboards, but they weren’t really substantial chalkboards… just black paint. WOMP WOMP.
You may remember it from this post.
And I could give it another dose of real chalkboard paint, but basically it stayed like this forever because I couldn’t be bothered. Every time I looked at it, I was all, contemplating my love for coffee, and remembering this post where it said that, so it was relevant once.
It was time for a new look.
So into my upcycled frame, these watercolor butterflies went.
I’ve seen a lot of butterfly kaleidoscope art recently, and we thought we’d create our own.
We love our funky little take on these happy butterflies.
The butterflies are also technically upcycled {some of them} from some old art I created in the past, and with them, we added others. It’s like the inception of upcycling. Yes, I did just write that.
So I busted out the back of the frame…
And painted the back white.
Then I added a few more butterflies, and scanned them in to create art.
When they were printed and cut, I was ready to get to work. I basically arranged them on my computer first, to make sure they would fit.
If you’d like to cut your own, an Xacto blade + self healing mat is the best route. These were actually therapeutic, but I also realized it’s a lot of work for anyone who wants to recreate their own.
And then placed them like a puzzle here, while I waited on the paint to dry.
That was when I stepped back and realized, not only do I have the original butterflies if you’d like to create your own little puzzle, I have a big print if you’d just like to do it that way. You can place it in a circular frame like this, or square would be fun too. You can also shrink them down to whatever size you like once downloaded. We just love the fun colorful options it brought into the space!
We just cut and adhered them with a little glue. Hot glue, because I’m lazy, and I knew it wouldn’t bleed.
Want your own butterflies?
Just click, download and print. If you’re going for a 21″ diameter round frame, they should fit just like this perfectly, or create your own with all the endless variations!
Individual butterflies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, {we recommend cardstock}
Entire piece: whole butterfly kaleidoscope art
And if you’d like to create these fun paintings behind it – get ready for a whole day of art therapy – because you won’t want to stop.
Don’t miss the other fun sites that are sharing upcycled ideas today!
14 Repurpose Project Ideas
Egg Carton Crafts String Lights – My 100 Year Old Home // DIY Furniture Restoration – Grace In My Space // Butterfly Kaleidoscope Art – The Handmade Home // Moss Covered Tin Can Vases – The Happy Housie
Easy Tin Can Project – Happy Happy Nester // 3 Ways To Repurpose Your Candle Jars – Modern Glam // Gold Leafed Wine Bottles – Cassie Bustamante
Faux Cement Planter DIY – Craftberry Bush // DIY Wooden Ball Mirror – Zevy Joy // DIY Tabletop Tiki Torch – My Sweet Savannah // Canvas Banner Hoop Wreath – Lolly Jane
DIY Wood Slice Serving Board – Taryn Whiteaker Designs // DIY Farmhouse Wood Framed Mirror – She Gave It A Go // Faux Mother of Pearl Inlay Tray – A Blue Nest
As always let us know if you have any questions or try it.
We’d love to hear. And be sure to share with the hashtag #thehandmadehomefreebies on instagram!
Have an inspired day!
Janine Waite says
Wow, I love your butterflies. Butterflies are so colorful and you captured them perfectly. I love them in your beautiful frame!
cassie bustamante says
i can’t get over how insanely beautiful this project is!!
Lolly Jane says
This is darling, Ash. Love it sm!
xoxo
Krista says
This is SO pretty -I love the butterfly design and all the colours!
Stella says
The butterflies are gorgeous!!! I love them Thank you so much for sharing <3
ashley @ the handmade home says
Thank you so much Stella! Can’t wait to see what you create
Erin says
That frame is everything and the butterflies just make it even more awesome. I am crushing on the pot that you have your aloe plant in. May I ask where you got that?
ashley @ the handmade home says
Hey Erin! Thanks so much for your sweet comment. That pot was from Joss and Main like five years ago so I’m afraid they probably still don’t carry it. I don’t think it has a specific brand name either. It’s just one of those good staple pieces that I hold on to. I’m sorry I can’t be more help!
Erin says
Well bummer. lol. I appreciate you letting me know. Thanks