I actually think that I have the nesting to thank for this previously absent motivation to create. You see, when I am pregnant, I turn into this beast. This grumpy beast who doesn't like to be creative, be insanely busy, or pretty much anything other than sleep or think about sleeping. It really does make me sad because I am one of those people typically who LOVE to have about 80 unfinished projects going on simultaneously.
I have to admit that this year's Valentine's Day gift is not just for my husband. I have to admit that I have secretly (or not so secretly) hated the decor in about.... 80% of my house for the last 2.5 years. Just haven't been feeling like this house (military housing) is a home. So, in my nesting frenzy, I have spent a lot of time making plans on how I am going to redecorate the house, room by room, wall by wall. Until slowly every room is my favorite room. I just hope to be able to do this without it looking like crap and relatively cheaply.
This DIY gift idea is going to be a Valentine's gift, but I could easily see it being used as an anniversary gift too. Because it's romantic. And lovely. And did I mention, it is actually pretty easy AND cheap? Sign me up!
I was able to use things that I already had on hand, and only had to really wait on the picture to get sent to me, BUT if you opt to use a service such as Walgreen's or CVS, I'm sure you could 1-hour that bad boy, and you could easily get this done before Valentine's Day! You can order these supplies on Amazon (I have shared affiliate links), but you can also run out to Hobby Lobby or Michael's if you are in a time crunch.
DIY Wedding Photo on Canvas
What you Need:
- a canvas (I used this Winsor & Newton Artists' Stretched Canvas Cotton 16 x 20 Inches )
- Mod Podge (I used this Mod Podge Gloss Finish - 16 oz. )
- a paint brush
- a decoupage tool (I used this Mod Podge Professional Decoupage Tool Set )
- decorative paper (4 sheets of 8.5x11 if you are using a 16x20in canvas) - I used some decorative light blue scrapbooking paper I had in my scrapbooking stash.. this is where you can get creative and personalize it to your liking!!
- a print of you and your sweet hubby (I used www.mpix.com, but if you are in a time crunch, you can access your local Walgreen's or CVS.)
The steps:
- What makes this gift super romantic and perfect for Valentine's Day or an anniversary is if you print the sheet music to your wedding song (or just a song that is important to you guys as a couple) on the decorative paper that you choose. I was able to find the sheet music to one of our favorite "us" songs "Clear Blue Sky" by (the man) George Strait on www.musicnotes.com (instant download and super cheap).
- I would trim the decorative paper pages to fit your canvas and have an idea of how the pages are going to fit onto the front of the canvas before you start applying Mod Podge.
- Using a paint brush, apply Mod Podge directly to the front of the canvas in sections as big as the decorative paper. In this instance, Mod Podge will act as your adhesive and as your gloss finish!
- Get all the decorative paper glued onto the canvas and aligned how you want it.
- Use a decoupage tool to smooth the pages out so there are no lumps or lines between the decorative paper and the canvas.
- Using same paint brush, apply an even coat of Mod Podge onto the top of the decorative paper so it has a glossy finish once it dries. It will look white when you paint it on, but when it dries it will be shiny and clear!
- I waited for this to dry because I was waiting for the photo print to come in, although you don't have to.
- If you already have the print of choice for your canvas, make sure you know where you want to put it (I put my 8.5x11 photo print in the smack dab middle of the canvas). This can be an engagement photo, wedding photo, you name it. Again, highly customizable to whatever you want to do here. I chose a picture from our first dance at our wedding.
- Apply Mod Podge to the back of the print using the paint brush, and slap it on there. If you want to be a perfectionist, have a ruler on hand to make sure it is centered.
- I would not apply Mod Podge on top of the print if I were you, because the print is already looking nice and glossy (or matte, whichever option you chose when you ordered it).
- Let it dry, admire your handy work.
- I wrote a little love note on the back of the canvas with a black sharpie, because I'm sappy like that.
This is what I call a win/win. Because a) it is super sweet, unique and creative b) it is cheap (I think I spent $25 total, and I still have a BOAT LOAD of Mod Podge) c) it's a kind of like a gift for you too, because it will be on the walls of your house. BOOM!
Hope you enjoy!
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