I recently remodeled my master bedroom and needed an art piece for above the headboard. Normally I would shop online and in discount stores until I found something that would work with a color scheme I had already created, but this time I wanted to create something myself. So, after perusing my tools and random leftover project bits, I decided to create some paper art using a hexagon die cutter I had found on sale at Joann's. The beauty of this project is that it opened a whole new world for me to be creative. I've never done a paper art project like this and after completing it, I believe I am hooked to both it's simplicity and range of possibilities.

Step 1: Determine Size of Art Piece

In hindsight, I should have put more thought into this step. The size I chose was because of the piece of mounting board I had already on hand. It turned out alright and I like the way it looks, but it’s a little small for the space above our king bed….I’ll have to consider this and maybe make another one in the future. My finish size was 7 inches tall by 48 inches long.

Step 2: Gather Supplies

The main reason to figure out size first is to determine how much paper you need to complete the project. I actually ended up with more colors than I expected because I was running out of the main colors I had chosen. I really liked that I added in a few white and dark pieces to add accent, but I did not plan on size ahead of paper purchasing, so I ended up digging into my supplies at home to find matching accents when I realized I would run short of pieces. You should be able to calculate approximate need if you know your finish size first. I had only purchased about 6 pieces of 12 x 12 card stock at first. Depending on how close you can get the cuts together can also extend your resource to it's full potential. I purchased a few books of paper later to have a variety of options on hand for next time.

SUPPLIES NEEDED:

-Mounting board or styrofoam as base mount.

-10-20 pieces of 12x12 card stock, mixed colors of your choice.

-Glue sticks

-Hexagon die cutter.

Notes:

*My color inspiration came form our bed quilt. Usually when I design a room, I branch accents from a main styled piece, ie the blanket to tie everything in together.

•The mounting board or styrofoam is so much lighter than wood, and easier to carry and hang on my own. However, if you plan on moving many times, it may not hold up as well as a wood base. I don’t plan on moving any time soon, therefore the lighter material was perfect for my paper project!

•I found the Fiskars die cutter & the card stock on sale at my local JoAnn’s.

•You can use 8.5 x 11 stock as well, but naturally you would need more pieces depending on your project size.

Step 3: Cut Your Mounting Board

Cut the Mounting Board to appropriate size. Ensure even lines. I decided to reuse a piece of mounting board that I had on hand, but I still had to trim to make the edges clean.

Step 4: Die Cut Your Hexagon Pieces

I just started by cutting out as many pieces as I could from the paper I bought for this project. In fact, I even used the edges of the paper that had a printed border of a lighter shade. I wasn’t sure if I would use them at first, but adding those pieces added a fun effect. Little imperfections that draw the eye.

Step 5: Line Up Your Pieces Into the Pattern You Desire

For this step, I actually drew a box onto a separate board, the same size as my cut piece and played around with designs and patterns until I came up with the look I wanted. Have fun with this part! This uses your raw creativity! Do you want to create clean, crisp lines? Chaos? a pattern? There are so many options. Try different patterns and take pictures to compare. You can always revert back to one that you may have liked more. Make sure you center your pattern to the space you have available. It'll ensure smooth gluing when transitioning to your mounting board.

Step 6: Time to Glue!

Once I made my design, I would line up the first 5-10 pieces as exact as possible on my cut piece, then go back and glue them on, one at a time. This process ensured that I spaced the pieces as evenly as possible. Don’t stress too much about the exact space. Hanging on the wall, no one has scrutinized too closely and no one but myself has noticed any mistakes.

TRIM AS NECESSARY

Remember when I mentioned centering your pattern? This is why I created the entire pattern first before gluing anything. I had cut some hexagons in half to fit at the bottom and top edges, however on the sides, full hexagon pieces went over the edges, not in half. I trimmed these up at the end to finish with a clean edged piece of art. However, You can get a completely different look if you leave the overhang.

Step 7: Hang It Up!

Because this piece is so light and easy, You can use the 3M velcro strip on the wall and back on the piece to hang, or if you aren’t too concerned with nail holes, like myself, a small nail through the two top corners will do just fine. I actually used 2 small headed nails and put them through a white space into the wall. You can’t see it unless you are looking for it, and they were nails I had on hand.