27th Year Challenge: Month No. 1

So back here, I talked about how I was going to tackle at least one project each month, no matter how big or how small.  With baby shower planning, I went pretty small for August, but the result was still well worth it!

I decided to put pictures on canvases.  I love the look of these but am completely unwilling to pay the dollars it costs through even inexpensive sources like WalMart.  So I started out by printing some pictures through Snapfish and had them delivered to my door.  I had 2 11″ x 14″ and one 16″ x 20″.  I think the total cost was around $30.00.

Then, while at Michael’s one day, I found canvases outside on sale.  I believe a two-pack for the 16″ x 20″ canvases was around $9 while the smaller canvases were $7 for two.  I know I can find canvases cheaper in other places but this was convenient.

When I got the pictures, I simply smothered the canvases with Mod Podge (make sure you really get it all the way up to and think on the edges or your photo won’t stay down.  Then I just sat the photo in the Mod Podge and pressed down.

Then I used a foam brush to slather more Mod Podge on top of the photo being sure to use long, consistent strokes from edge to edge.  Note that any strokes in the Mod Podge you see while we will dry clear but the texture will remain on the photo – that’s why I made sure to follow the strokes all the way to the edge of the canvas.  I didn’t want smudges in the middle of my husband’s handsome face! 🙂

Once the Mod Podge dried, I used acrylic paint to paint the edges of the canvas and then just a little on the edges of the photograph.  This made it look less perfect and maybe more vintage?  I don’t have the right word.  All I know is Chase and I love the effect, and we loved the way the dried Mod Podge on the picture made it look more like it was printed directly on the canvas.

Here was the final result. What do you think?  For about $14.00 each, we were completely pleased!  And the project was super easy.  The hardest part was honestly figuring out what pictures to print and where to put them.

So that’s one down.  Now only eleven more to go, and what’s that already upon us?  Ahh, yes, it is September.  Happy projecting!