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Projects don't always go according to plan, but for this particular DIY, that actually ended up being a good thing. Even though the photos and video I took make it seem like this succulent art idea turned out the way I'd intended, the truth is, I almost gave up on it.
Initially, what I wanted to do was replicate a piece of art I'd seen while wandering the aisles of one of my favourite stores: HomeSense. My goal was to recreate something that was similar, but less expensive, which, in my mind, seemed like a pretty simple thing to accomplish. Boy, was I wrong.
That being said, I could have done a couple things differently that would have led to my initial idea being a success. However, I can be pretty stubborn when it comes to certain things, especially the designs of my DIY projects.
Anyway, I'll show you what I was trying to accomplish, and then you can see where I eventually landed!
Materials
Square picture frame
Textured scrapbooking paper
Hot glue gun + glue sticks or E6000
Here is the piece I came across at HomeSense that inspired me. It's a simple shadowbox that has three fake succulents on display inside of it. Pretty simple, right?
Because I've worked on a shadowbox-inspired project before, I figured I'd be able to use the same concepts and materials from it to replicate this HomeSense find.
However, the problem I ran in to (and where my stubbornness kicked in) had to do with the size and shape of the frame I wanted to use.
If you take a quick peek at the original inspiration piece, you'll notice it's square, and I wanted to maintain that shape. I didn't have any issues finding a frame at the dollar store that was square, but I realized the wooden artist panel I was planning on using to turn it into a shadowbox only came in various rectangular sizes!
Since I was set of having my succulent artwork displayed in a square frame, I had to come up with an alternative solution that would allow me to add more depth to it without the help of my go-to artist panel.
I tried a few things, but I'm not going to bore you with the details. All you need to know is that none of my ideas worked, lol. I was about ready to scrap the project entirely, but as I was walking away from my square frame and the succulents I'd placed on top of it, the perfect solution came to me.
Rather than turning the frame I wanted to use into a shadowbox, I decided to use it to create 3D artwork!
I started off by placing a piece of woven scrapbook paper inside my frame. This created a textured, neutral backdrop that resembled the burlap from the HomeSense piece.
Next, I loaded up my hot glue gun with a glue stick capable of bonding items to glass, and began adhering my faux succulents to the front of my frame. I thought about filling it in completely, but I quickly realized I much preferred how the piece looked when I focused on placing the succulents in the centre.
Tip: If you can't get your hands on this type of hot glue gun stick, a sturdy adhesive like E6000 will also work.
Once the glue had set, my 3D artwork was ready for its closeup!
Homemade artwork doesn't get easier than this, guys. And the best part is that this a project that's totally customizable. You can experiment with different shapes, sizes, colours, and layouts — and I guarantee whatever design you choose will look amazing.
If this project inspires you to get crafty, let me know by sharing your creations with me! Leave a comment or use #katiesaracreates on social media. And don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss out on future posts!
Happy crafting!
