Make It Monday- Canvas Photo

Make It Monday- DIY Photo Canvas

visit Ashley at the Pollock Potluck for her Make It Monday segment! 

So, I was intrigued by THIS Pinterest post.  I LOVE canvas photos, but I REFUSE to pay an arm and a leg, when I can get a great print, throw it in a frame and save myself an easy $70.  I love photography, but I cannot spend that much money on one photo.  Anyway, when I saw this, I figured it was worth a try.  The worst I could manage would be ruining a $2.00 print from Walmart and a canvas... what the heck? So, here we go.... I forgot to take a BEFORE picture of all my supplies, but you get the point... Mod Podge.  LOVE IT, a photo canvas, some acrylic paint and a photo.  My ORIGINAL plan was to use the same size photo as the canvas, but because I apparently can't read directions, I bought a larger canvas.  I didn't realize this until I painted it black.  I promise I follow directions better than my students... PROMISE.  

Anyway- after I painted it black, I added the photo, sealed with Mod Podge (did I tell you I love Mod Podge?) and waited (impatiently) for it to dry.....

Yes- standing here waiting...

Thought since I'm waiting I should include a shot with MOD PODGE!

When it dried with coat number 1, it looked pretty good, but the sharp contrast of the corners of the photo and the black border didn't do it for me.  A quick review of another DIY blogger on Pinterest suggested sponge painting the edges dark brown or black to give it a fade (I don't know if that's what it's really called, but I'm calling it a fade).  

Final Product:  LOVE!  

Yes- that's me- with my HUGE biceps... I wish my husband didn't have lens darkening glasses... he looks like a creepy 40 something man.  I promise he's not. 

Make It Monday (on a Saturday...)

Okay- give me a break.  It was the fourth.  I was being lazy at the beach and I forgot to post!  But I did really do my Make It Monday!  Anyway... I decided to do this and this for my post.  I figured even though they are two separate projects, I did them on the same day, and they are similar, so it should only count for one!  

So, I went to Michael's and they were having a sale.  Love when that happens and I haven't planned it!  Anyway, I picked up some shadow boxes.  I still wasn't really sure how I was going to decorate them.  I'm creative, but I don't really have the artistic follow-through.  So- I decided to buy some of the foam letters.  They're pre-shaped, different colors and if I messed up, I could peel them off and throw them away!  

Shadow Boxes and Kid Stuff (right from the shoeboxes where they were stored!)

Then, I selected the letter colors that I needed and measured how to best present them in both boxes (this took WAYYYY longer than expected!)

Looks like they letters are getting bigger- but they're not- I was trying to take a picture with a baby on my hip!

Then, I placed all of the things out before gluing and pinning.  

I still needed to pick up photos from Wal Mart, so they get added at the end!

 Final product was pretty impressive, especially for my not so artistic self!   When I finished these, I was inspired to do the memories box.  I don't scrapbook, so I always feel bad throwing away momentos from games, shows, museums, etc.  This is a nice way to collect them.  I think I'll try to fill a box each year.  (Who knows if I'll really be able to keep up with that!)

This was the finished product:

Add stick on letters- and you're done!

Make it Monday (on Tuesday!)

I've decided to team up with Ashley at the Pollock Potluck and do a Make it Monday post!
I didn't want to spend a lot of money on Father's Day, because we both get a lot of the things that we want- but I wanted to make it memorable.  Our kids are really the reason we get to celebrate these special days, so I wanted to give Eric a gift from the kids.  So- with letters painted by Mackenzie- and a photo session at the park, here's what we came up with:

 

I'm happy with how it turned out.  It started with these photos:

I tried to get one with the letters spelled out- but Mason was DONE.  So- this was the best we had:

Our Father's Day was nice.  Eric has to work on the weekends- so we didn't get to see him all day, but we went out to dinner with both grandparents:

Mason getting ready to go!

With Mimi and Poppy!

With Lita and Lito!

Family shot!

Diva!

I'm STILL alive!

Can you believe it? I'm still here- even though I took nearly a year and a half off. And shame on me for doing it. I wish I had documented those oh so great days of Mackenzie's but life got in the way. I promise it won't happen with the duo. So, my first resolution of 2012 is to BLOG more! I enjoy reading everyone else's blogs, so why would I not continue with my own? It was so nice to look back on Mackenzie's pregnancy and compare to it with Mason's, so I know will look back again someday and be happy for these memories. So without further adieu, here are this year's resolutions:

1. Blog more- Why would I NOT blog about these two????




2. Financial responsibility- looking at the Dave Ramsey way of doing things. Another blogger friend, Jen, wrote a really inspiring post about Dave Ramsey and I've heard of him before, so it's work trying. Hubs and I have some debt to get rid of, and I'm sick of this burden on my back. We'd like nice things, like a new car and a bigger house someday, so it's time to get rid of the debt and start saving. We're very good at saving for things like our retirement and our kid's college, but we don't save in the day-to-day scheme of things. Not.Good.

3. Photo a day- see this link- this is the best way (along with blogging) to document my life (especially my oh.so.cute. kiddos!)

4. Lose this baby weight! I'm taking it easy on myself here since Mason is only 7 1/2 weeks, but I don't feel good in my skin or about myself when I'm not close to my normal weight, so I joined Weight Watchers again, and my blogger friend Jaime started a facebook group for several women (mostly moms) who are looking forward to a New Year and a New You! That's a great way for me to think about it. I don't need to look the way I did when I was 20 (that will NEVER happen), but I'd like to be proud of my mom body and rock a bikini again someday (okay, I have stretch marks, but maybe at least look REALLY hot in a tankini!)

So there- it's in print. I have to stick to it now- yes?