And believe me, I feel ya. But when you figure I haven't really paid anything for all the "art" pieces I have finished, I guess it's not too bad.
Have you guys seen their massive piece of blueprint art. It measures something like 5 ft long! Anyhow, here's a miniature version for my little space.
This project was totally painless. First I found some blueprints or schematic drawings online. I was looking specifically for images of bridges. I looked for bridges from places we like to go, specifically Cape Cod, Brooklyn and San Francisco.
{BUT-Make sure the graphics are public domain!}
{BUT-Make sure the graphics are public domain!}
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy-l3FVTdfEGTty-y60t_QcEm6ebYBJnTFUI_2LAo3hYGBo1y1KBnyntQqtwA08GTH35Z7XdHFhLWFwlFcWrMRvNDnqo77PWc4ww42YuXBgtXwoLMePBdZb5wXjcvy4dmUk4ehazjGsy9R/s320/san-francisco-ca-golden-gate-bridge-technical-blueprint.jpg)
On the left is an example of what they looked like pre-photo editing.
I uploaded them to Picnik, then to be able to change both colors, you click on "Create" then you want to click on "Effects." You're looking for "Duo-Tone;" once you find it you're able to select the colors you want to contrast.
I picked stark white and matched the gray to the Restoration Hardware image in the photo. That got me to this image on the right.
I decided the smaller writing would look itty bitty and possibly blur (as my pics weren't the highest resolution.)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd-moZ5ED0wLY3pq-wDele0f7CCYDIItJoo6aKHyP1wTarrNoEImdVpuzcMPC7P9Y4k5LnnAHOagtjD0xYEh4TU7400aia6zPI3FKD5XkjkOA9XTchONCFY35pEk3WN0FxMT_4-bssjx2G/s320/san-francisco-ca-golden-gate-bridge-technical-blueprint.jpg)
I decided to edit out the smaller the words and replace them with the bridge's actual measurements, but in a larger font. I figured this would be pretty "blueprinty." Here's the print, framed and on the wall.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp0hJAzG4P7XV4dznxovaNHTRg5Yv8qB6xynDA1Y0718f1v3GpwwT91Ve9DVdt0dJ6EZuMbrWpLFD_vMJ2c6WE6FgzhzmId-Vttu1geMDPms12542u2yD6J6XeLyr7aSvUm2mUccmLpQ0/s400/blue-+gold+gate-+SHOP.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTPUy7fz-KRiFLY06JU5A9Y-Fynor01Gr4jAXOESFk7rUzCg0Is70JBXkLjPvzcMIr2EiXfWMN4Jv61y9JDt19iYF18LQDqG-FHph6EAYEjY960QAx3H2APO4GRwzE-Gbeec6aEk24rjo/s640/gallery-+left.jpg)
Thanks for checking out the "Mini Me" version to Restoration Hardware's
UPDATE: My SHOP opens 4/2/12. So swing back by if you'd rather just buy one of these!!