CHIC DESIGNS

Lovely Lampshade Details

Exotic Oriental papers transform the neutral furnishings and blue walls of this apartment from bland to beautiful. The first project: Add glam to an inexpensive lampshade by attaching a wide band of colorful paper with glue. Smaller bands of paper around the top and bottom edges give it a finished look. Keep clicking for helpful how-tos for all the paper projects you see here.

Gift Wrapped
Create artwork to "ooh" and "aah" by covering inexpensive 12x12-inch artist canvases with attractive paper patterns. Wrap the canvas like a present with a 1- to 2-inch overhang. Attach the paper to the front with double-stick tape and secure the excess paper to the frame's back with electrical tape. If using multiple paper patterns, hid seams with decorative ribbon.

Clear View
A clear acrylic tray provides a window of opportunity to showcase a paper print, bringing a dose of much-needed color to this coffee table. Attach paper to the underside of the tray using double-stick tape or, to keep your options open, simply lay the paper inside.

Terrific Transfers
Paper just isn't practical for some purposes, such as soft and comfy throw pillows. Enter heat-transfer paper, which allows you to tattoo your favorite paper designs onto fabric. A copy center will reproduce a paper image onto an 11x17-inch sheet of transfer paper for cheap. Transfer the design to fabric using an iron and following the paper manufacturer's instructions. For an eye-catching change of scale, the patterns used on these pillows were enlarged by 250-400 percent before being copied to transfer paper.

Paper Back
Don't forget to dress your accessories in personalized designs. It took just five minutes to wrap this journal with a paper belt and a few seconds more to slip a leftover paper scrap into a photo pocket on the album.


COAST INTO PARTY MODE

Coast into Party Mode

Protect your tabletop and show your creativity with personalized coasters. Choose a favorite image and adhere it to the back of a clear coaster or, in this case, a pillar candleholder. These coasters are a creative, simple way to decorate for an upcoming holiday or to add a pop of color to the design of your room. To change the design, simply soak the coasters in water, peel off the paper backing, and start over.

DECORATIVE PLATES

Decorative Plate

A clear-glass plate makes a clever frame for a profile shot of a pretty pumpkin or any other seasonal photo. Upload the image, size and cut to fit under the center of a plate, and adhere using decoupage medium. To clean, wipe plate with a lightly damped rag. Use the plates as decorative chargers or as wall art around your home.

COMPUTER CREATIONS

Computer Creations

Create personalized artwork on your computer. Type a favorite saying or song lyrics, then play around with font style, size, and color until you find the perfect fit for your room design. After printing it out, mount it on patterned paper and put it inside an inexpensive frame. This is the perfect way to make a fun piece of attention-grabbing art that fits the style and mood of your room.

PERSONALIZED COLLAGE

Personalized Collage

Create sentimental wall art for your home. Piece together diamond shapes of personalized scrap material that features fun colors, textures, typography, or images near and dear to your heart. Everything from book covers to beer cases to photographs will work for this project. Once you've compiled the art, purchase an inexpensive frame to pull the piece together.

CENTER PIECE 'CENTER STAGE'

Fresh flowers are a thoughtful touch for any special occasion. Just think what a handmade centerpiece can do! We crafted a dinner-party-ready centerpiece with inexpensive materials from the crafts store.

Here's what you'll need to create this simple and sweet centerpiece: a foam cube, clear glass holiday bulb ornament, decorative packing tape.

Using a spoon, hollow out a crater in the foam cube. The hole should be just large enough to nestle the clear glass bulb. Wrap the foam cube with decorative tape. Then simply fill half the bulb with water and poke your favorite cut flowers inside. Try lining three centerpieces along your dining table or mantel.

THE MIX TAPE ARTWORK

Mix Tape

It doesn't get much simpler than this. Paint a large artist's canvas or piece of MDF in your favorite color. We used a calm beige shade of gray. Then wrap white tape around the canvas, crisscrossing the tape as you go. For an ultra-subtle contrast, paint a few of the resulting triangles in a slightly darker hue.