Do I see a contender for Artist's Date #4?

It is quite possible that The Artist's Way is a disease.  I feel creativity spreading throughout my days and weeks. Today I stopped by the dollar store to get some batteries for Honey's BBQ lamp. While there I saw a hideous frame:

It cried out: "Please, rescue me!" But what could I do with a hideous gold frame? That's when inspiration struck. I have spray paint (always a favorite). I have fun scrapbook paper (on clearance at Michael's!). I have Mod Podge.  It was time for a mini project. Not something big enough to be considered an artist's date, but something fun.

I removed the glass and the matte from the frame. I spray painted the frame black to match the paper I chose. I then took the matte and cut strips of paper to Mod Podge along the inside:

Once I let it dry, all I had left to do was reassemble everything and choose a photo! This was my first attempt, so it wasn't as perfect as I would like, but it works and I am excited to try it again. Poor, forlorn frames, fear no longer -- I will rescue you from a life of misery!

Today's artistic endeavor inspired me to look around for other projects.  I've been looking for lamps for the family room, wanting something unique, in my price range, and "nowtro" (kind of like the 70s, but updated -- like our house). Tonight I found a tutorial for a wonderful lamp idea and I am so excited to try it!  It seems the ideas just keep coming. Yay!

UPDATE (1/28/11):
I realized that I should start offering links on my posts back to different crafty blogs where I've shared my ideas and found great new inspiration.  I've posted some "buttons" to various blogs that I love and have linked, but this is probably a better, more deliberate way of keeping track of things.  So here it goes....

You can find this project on The Shabby Nest's Frugal Friday.