Hello Funky PolkaDot Giraffe readers! Wow, that was a mouthful! My name is Dana, and I am the author and creative force behind Saturday Mornings! I started blogging when I realized that being a newlywed, going to school, and budgeting equaled reevaluating the way I spend money. So I set out to decorate my home by recycling and revamping! Here is a peek at my Jamaican wedding!
Because some of my first projects are hidden in the archives and covered in dust, I want to show you a throwback tutorial. It is actually the most viewed post from Google searches. We had a wonderful reception on the lake on the Fourth of July weekend, and the fireworks, although hosted by the city, was an amazing treat for my guests. I also got phenomenal pictures of that night, and I wanted so badly to have them framed and matted, or perhaps put on a canvas. But my budget would not allow it. Here is my favorite picture, before I did my magic on it!
You can see some of my guests watching in the bottom left corner. I headed out to a craft store that was advertising half price canvases. I chose the size I wanted, and darted home to get started. I couldn't wait to show the husband my new frugal side!
To get the final look, you will need a color printer, a paintbrush, Mod Podge (regular and brushstroke), and a blank canvas wrapped around a wood frame. You will want to print your photo on plain paper, about an each larger (on each side) than your canvas. Cut the photo out, and adhere it, centered, to the canvas, using regular Mod Podge. Make sure to wrap the picture around the canvas so that the sides are covered completely, and trim the rest. Let it dry for at least thirty minutes.
After it is dry, you want to use your paintbrush, larger brush for larger canvas, and vice versa. You are going to literally paint the picture with brushstroke Mod Podge, leaving your brushstroke marks, and covering the entire thing, including the sides. Let this dry, and you can choose to do another coat if you wish.
You now how your own picture, on a canvas, and it looks just like an oil painting! It is amazing! Here is my final product.
Total cost: $2.00
Custom Oil Painting: at least 50 times that amount
I would love for you to come and visit my blog, Saturday Mornings, and see some of my other how-to projects. I also host Strut Your Stuff, starting on Saturday mornings, and running through Friday. This link party is a contest for the Best of 2011, and each month someone is showered with prizes and featured by myself!
Here is a sneak peek at some of my other popular posts!
Bye for now! See you on Saturday Mornings!
