With just a few budget-friendly materials and a little creativity, you can create elegant cottagecore-inspired décor that looks like it came from a boutique home store.

Dollar tree summer art in a painted frame.

Whether you’re decorating for summer, refreshing your living room, or creating handmade gifts, this project offers an affordable way to achieve a high-end look. Follow along for helpful tips, creative variations, and simple techniques that make this craft beginner-friendly. Let’s get started!

Why You’ll Love This Cottagecore Dollar Tree Summer Art Idea

Creates beautiful high-end cottagecore wall art using affordable Dollar Tree supplies.
Easy, beginner-friendly project with a full step-by-step approach.
Perfect for adding soft summer cottagecore décor to your home.
A budget-friendly DIY that’s ideal for seasonal decorating or thoughtful handmade gifts.
Easy to customise with different colours, florals, botanical prints, or vintage-inspired accents to match your style.

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Materials Needed

Dollar Store Frame, any color or finish (or use a thrifted photo frame)
Acrylic white paint and muted green
Craft glue
Paintbrush
Hot glue Gun
Summer-themed printable that fits inside frame

How to Make this Cottagecore Dollar Tree Summer Art Project

Remove glass and picture backing from the frame.

Paint the surface of the frame in green and let it dry. If the paint appears streaky, allow the first coat to dry completely before adding a second light coat rather than one thick layer.

Painting a Dollar Tree frame with green paint.

Apply a layer of craft glue on to the paper backing. And while the glue is still tacky, brush on a layer of white paint. As the paint dried, a crackle finish will appear. (You can check out the step by step instructions, with a video tutorial, on how to crackle here).

Cut around the printable and then glue it on to the center of the crackled backing. To prevent your paper from wrinkling, apply adhesive in a thin, even layer and smooth it gently from the centre outward.

Insert back into the frame.

Add another text printable over top of the backing if you have it.

Reassemble the frame. Glue a paper butterfly to the corner of the fram and place it on the shelf to enjoy!

Try Different Cottagecore Themes

Personalise your artwork by choosing a theme that suits your décor. Botanical illustrations, wildflowers, pressed fern prints, vintage birds, butterflies, herbs, and soft countryside landscapes all work beautifully for a classic cottagecore aesthetic.

Experiment with Colours and Finishes

For a traditional cottagecore look, use muted shades such as sage green, cream, dusty blue, soft blush, and warm beige. A light dry-brushed finish or antique wax can give inexpensive frames and embellishments an aged, vintage appearance.

Create Larger Statement Pieces

Instead of displaying a single frame, combine several coordinating pieces into a gallery wall. Mixing different sizes creates an expensive designer look while still staying within a small budget.

How to Display Your FINISHED COTTAGECORE Project

Your finished cottagecore Dollar Tree summer art can instantly brighten any room with a cosy summer feel. Create a home décor idea by hanging several coordinating botanical prints above a console table or mantel for a collected cottage-style display.

For a charming kitchen or dining area, lean framed artwork against a backsplash shelf alongside vintage-style pitchers, woven baskets, fresh flowers, and candles to create an effortless seasonal vignette.

This project also makes a thoughtful gift décor idea. Pair a handmade frame with a small bouquet of dried flowers or a scented candle for birthdays, housewarmings, Mother’s Day, or hostess gifts.

Elegant DIY Summer Art

Creating beautiful seasonal décor doesn’t have to cost a fortune. With a few affordable Dollar Tree supplies and a little imagination, you can make elegant DIY cottagecore Dollar Tree Summer Art that looks far more expensive than it is.

Have fun experimenting with colours, florals, and vintage-inspired details to make each piece uniquely yours. If you enjoyed this project, be sure to save it for later and share it with friends who love budget-friendly DIY decorating.

More DIY Cottagecore Decor Ideas

Make a handy towel rack with a piece of driftwood and some hardware store hooks. Plus over a dozen DIY crafts ideas you can make this summer! — Towel Rack

Become a Sustain My Craft Habit insider to receive fun freebies!

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Collage of instructions with text overlay to make cottage core art.

High-End Look for Less: DIY Dollar Tree Cottagecore Summer Art

Jane & Sonja

If you've been dreaming of charming farmhouse-style décor without the designer price tag, this DIY cottagecore Dollar Tree summer art project is the perfect way to transform inexpensive supplies into beautiful seasonal wall art.

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Print Instructions Pin Craft

Materials

Dollar Store Frame any color or finish
Acrylic paint white paint and muted green
Craft glue
Paintbrush
Hot glue Gun
Summer-themed printable

Instructions

Remove glass and picture backing from the frame.
Paint the surface of the frame in green and let it dry.
Apply a layer of craft glue on to the paper backing. And while the glue is still tacky, brush on a layer of white paint. As the paint dried, a crackle finish will appear.
Cut around the printable and then glue it on to the center of the crackled backing.
Insert back into the frame.
Add another text printable over top of the backing if you have it.
Reassemble the frame. Glue a paper butterfly to the corner of the frame.
Place it on the shelf to enjoy.