A Little Handmade Love

My parents are in the process of moving, so I took the opportunity to try out something I’d seen on Pinterest. With three grandsons and lots of wall space, I decided they needed me to help them decorate

A few months back I saw the DIY photobooth canvases and fell in love. I mean, what could be more perfect than capturing some of those sweet expressions and displaying them in the context of such a fun past time?

Because I’m one of Murphy’s Law’s favorite recipients, I read several blogs covering the DIY photo canvas, including one with much trial and error and eventual success, and felt fairly confident when I started. Didn’t last long.

I printed my pictures on good quality standard weight paper at Kinko’s, as I was under the impression that the texture came through the paper from the canvas as the glue dried (the “wet” paper would form to the shape below it). Several of the blogs that I read had their pictures just printed on standard paper, too, so I thought it was safe.

I put down a thin, even coat of Mod Podge, applied the pictures, and the nausea set in. Remember in kindergarten when the glue would make your paper bubble and ripple? Big surprise (ha!): Mod Podge does the same thing. I tried to rub out the ripples with a towel without much success, and held my breath hoping they’d relax as the glue dried.

No dice. So, I ripped the paper off the canvas and decided to start over with card stock. This was ultimately successful (although next time I think I’ll just go for photo paper) as the texture actually comes from the dried Mod Podge, not the canvas below. The card stock still bubbled a little, but it evened out as the glue dried.

Finished product:

Here’s how I ended up doing it:

3 8×24″ art canvases
3 8×8″ photos per canvas
Mod Podge
Black acrylic paint
Black gaffers tape (optional)
Foam brush

1. Paint sides of canvas black. Dry. Paint additional coats as needed.
2. Cover the canvas in an even layer of Mod Podge (not too much!). Apply photos, making sure the edges and corners are staying down. Gently work out any big bubbles with a towel. Be careful, as the paper can tear. Allow to dry.
3. Apply thin strips of gaffers tape as border between photos, or paint lines.
4. Apply a second coat of Mod Podge over entire front (including the tape). I used the foam brush to kind of tap over the Mod Podge when it was still wet to give it the bumpy texture from the foam, rather than the streaks. Allow to dry.
5. Display!

I also took advantage of the opportunity to get up to my elbows in another craft that’s snagged my interest: card making. I’m starting simple and all I have equipment-wise is paper, pen, ruler, glue, and an X-Acto knife set. I decided to give them as much of a housewarming party as I could (being hundreds of miles away), and made the card a set of french doors opening to a “party” with a little pennant streamer that says “You Moved” (like they didn’t know…).

This, at least, went exactly as planned.

Do your DIY projects ever go as planned, or has Murphy decided you won the jackpot in “if it can go wrong”?