DIY Photo Canvas

     Ever since Mike and I got our pictures back I have been wanting to make one of these canvases. I see the tutorials all over Pinterest and thought how easy it would be to do this. The prices of photo canvases is absolutely ridiculous and there is no way we can afford as many as I want around my house. lol. 

     So...I got the motivation up last weekend and asked my friend, Abby, to join in on this adventure with me. We both braved our sicknesses and took a trip to Walmart to pick up the Mod Podge and her photo print. Then, at about 10pm, we got to it!!

     The process was definitely not a hard one. Time consuming, yes, but only because of all the waiting you have to do for everything to dry. Other than that it was just a lot of spreading, pressing, and sitting.

WHAT YOU NEED:

1 16x20 canvas

Mod Podge - I got mine in matte

your 16x20 photo of whatever print you like 

sponge brush

Xacto knife or razor blade

WHAT YOU DO:

Brush Mod Podge all over the canvas fairly thick. You can spread it on the back of the photo, too if you would like. You want to do this fairly quickly, but don't rush.

Then, place your photo on the canvas evenly and press to stick. ** I used a print from Walgreens. It was a better photo quality than Walmart, but there was an edge of white all the way around the photo. Based on my experience, definitely trim off all that white before you place the photo on the canvas.** I turned mine over on a very clean table and put something heavy on the corners just to make sure they stuck. Let that dry........

     After the Mod Podge dries (I let mine dry overnight) you need to trim the edges. I turned my canvas face down and just lined up the xacto knife with the canvas and cut. With this photo paper I needed to press very hard so make sure you aren't on a surface where you could damage anything. Gently pull off the excess paper. Then Mod Podge over the entire picture/canvas in order to seal the photo to the canvas. 

Don't worry it will dry clear...

Once it dries you are done!!!

     My corners were a little jagged because of the photo paper, but it actually didn't look that bad after the Mod Podging. I sanded down the entire side in order to make it uniform. Next time, I'll keep that in mind.

Before Mod Podge

     

DIY Napkin Wall Art

I came across this idea from The Small Things Blog and thought...how easy!! It literally was the simplest DIY I have done yet.

I have been looking for two pictures to go in the hallway for a while now. I just can't see spending a lot of money on, well.....anything really. So, when I came across this on Pinterest I thought, alright, I can do that. Total price?? $11.00 for TWO!

Here's what you need:
2 frames (I got mine for $4.99 each at Christmas Tree Shops)
2 cloth napkins ($0.49 for two at Christmas Tree Shops)

I ironed the napkins because they had quite a crease in them from the fold. I just didn't want it to show through in the frame. All I did was line up the napkin how I wanted it and put the back on. I did do some things to make it easier, however.

It seemed easier to take the fake family picture that always comes standard in frames and push it behind the napkin. I started off trying to fold the napkin just perfectly so that it was the right size, but then you could see the fold when the back went on. So, I figure if I could push the page behind it it would be the exact size. I guess I could have just cut it, but I'm not wonderful at that and I didn't want to mess it up.

I also use some styrofoam to place behind the parts that didn't have a fold to keep it in place.

Here they are! Sorry about the blurry...my phone is definitely not a great one!!