Wall Art

I had a hard time coming up with an idea for this month's whiplash competition. I wanted to be sure that I really used trash/waste and not things that I wouldn't otherwise be throwing away. For example, I have a TON of fabric scraps, but I don't consider them waste because I plan on using them all up one day. The problem there, though, is that I'm always adding to the scraps much faster than I use them up.

Anyway, I eventually decided on using phone books in my project because they are most definitely waste. Every year we get a new set of phone books and every year I ask my husband to remove the old books from our house, but they're all still here in one gigantic pile. We have at least four year's worth of phone books and I don't think we've ever used one of them. The internet is just so much more convenient. Add some empty cereal boxes to the mix and a bottle of Modge Podge (which will represent the 10% non-waste portion of this project) and I'm ready to go!



I had never tried decoupage before, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity to do so. I got the idea to frame a decoupaged word for some wall art, because I believe that you can never have enough wall art. I eventually settled upon the word "art" (as suggested by my husband) because it accurately describes the purpose of this project and it has the added benefit of only being three letters long.

I cut out the letters from the cereal box and pilfered all of the interesting-looking colored adds from the yellow pages. I tried to add a few things that had meaning to me. I included a little map of the town I live in and an add for Orioles and Redskins tickets for my husband, who is a fan. I also added some things that made me laugh, like the squirrel with the dead, dead eyes and the tap-dancing crab.

I decoupaged entries from the white pages for the background. I did my best to find pages with the names and phone numbers of friends and family. It makes it like a game to try and find them all. Plus, now I know which of my friends choose to be unlisted. I am also unlisted, so my number does not appear on the collage. So sad. But so worth the reduction in phone solicitations.

The frame is made from several layers of the cereal box glued together and then decoupaged over with the yellow pages. I tried again to find entries that were meaningful, like goodwill/thrift stores and animal shelters.

I'm happy with the results, but never again will I try to decoupage something as thin as the yellow pages. Such thin paper makes for many bubbles. Maybe next time I'll move up a notch to used wrapping paper. If there is a next time. I think I'm going to stick to fabric for a while.


Since there is nothing very unusual about phone books or cereal boxes, I am entering my "art" into this month's competition as "Creative use of normal/household waste." There are some wonderful and very creative entries this month. Be sure to check them out!