So I was perusing some retail websites looking for something interesting and possibly creepy to decorate the lab and shop. Most of what I found was pretty expensive for a place that is constantly full of floating sawdust and corpse particles. I had just about given up when it struck me like a shillelagh to the noggin that I actually run a website where I make things myself. Duh!
So, I changed focus, went over to Vintage Printable and set about betterizing my shop and lab.
Wanna see how I did it?
You could probably really do this project up well and sink a bunch of cash into a good frame if you like. However, since these are going into the shop I went as cheap as I could. I got these frames at Ikea several years ago for a couple of bucks. I have no idea what they cost now. But if Ikea isn’t your flavor, go to a thrift or dollar store. Don’t break the bank on frames.
Choose your pictures and print them. Then cut them to the proper size for the frame.
Make some tea using tea bags and put it into a bowl.
Wad your pictures and then open them back up and smooth them out. Do this a couple of times to make the paper nice and distressed-looking.
When you dye things with tea, the results will vary from project to project. Two things to note: The strength of the tea and the length of time spent soaking will affect the stain. Additionally, air bubbles, for example, might keep some areas unstained while others are stained heavily. Use the teabags as weights to hold down the paper and also to add a deeper stain to certain areas.
When you are satisfied with the stain, hang the pictures out to dry for a while.
When they are dry, put them in their frames and hang them on the wall.
Please let us know what you think in the comments section below. As always, please submit your own project ideas, pictures, and blog submissions to scarydad@scarydad.com
