DIY Photo Canvas - another Completed Pinterest Project !

I love a photo on canvas.

Actually, I just love a canvas.

And I had been wanting some family photos for Trailerhood II.

It is my second home.

And my home is not a home without photos of my people !

Soooo...

I thought I would try making my own.

Cause... I'm cheap you know.

I guess it's not actually a Pinterest project that I've pinned.

I've looked at  LOTS of pins on how to make these ,

but apparently never pinned one.

GEEZ....

However , I did pin this idea , which is basically the same method I used.

From visualobsessions.blogspot.com

Here is what I did :

First I printed out some of my favorite pictures from my computer.

( on card stock )

Some of the posts I've read had them printed at a photo store.

I didn't do this for two reasons ,

#1 - I'm cheap , remember ..

#2 - I wasn't sure if the Modge Podge would ruin good quality photos , so I didn't want to chance it.

Then , I took 4, 8x10 canvas' from Hobby Lobby,

painted the edges, 

( which you wouldn't have to do if you wrap your photos, but mine weren't big enough )

Painted Modge Podge all over the canvas ( liberally ),

placed the photos on top of the Modge Podged canvas .

And smushed and smushed and smushed.

The first two , I painted Modge Podge on top right away ,

but it looked like my color was running so I didn't do that on the last two.

(exactly why I didn't have my photos printed professionally)

You can't really tell from this picture , but Addie was looking really streaky.

On this one she was not.

So ... I just stopped.

I let them dry overnight.

In the morning , the top two were still a little streaky but the colors had not run.

And they had a really great finish.

I decided to give them all another coat of Modge Podge.

I LOVE HOW THIS PROJECT TURNED OUT !

This is what I learned from this project:

Patience is key when working with Modge Podge

( not easy for me ...)

Let each coat completely dry before applying the next.

Painting Modge Podge in the same direction is important so you will  not get a "streaky" finish.

Being able to cut straight is a plus...

AND..

last but not least ,

You can have great looking photo canvas without spending much money at all !

I will defiantly be making more of these !

From jojofam.blogspot.com

Linking to some or all of these great parties :

Sunday Showcase@ Under the Table and Dreaming http://www.bystephanielynn.com/
Sunday's Best@ My 1929 Charmer http://my1929charmerblog.com/
Meet Me Monday @ You're Talking Too Much http://youaretalkingtoomuch.blogspot.com/
More the Merrier Monday @ DIY Home Sweet Home http://diyhshp.blogspot.com/
So Very Creative Party@ So Very Creative http://soverycreative.blogspot.com/
Make a Scene Monday @ Alderberry Hill http://alderberryhill.blogspot.com/
Make it Yourself Monday @ An Original Belle http://anoriginalbelle.blogspot.com/
What's in the Gunny Sack @ The Gunny Sack http://www.thegunnysack.com/
Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/
ShowMe What You Got @ Our Delightful Home http://www.ourdelightfulhome.blogspot.com/
Party Time Tuesday @ Northern Cottage http://www.northerncottage.net/
Cowboy Up Creative Linky Party @ The Farmehouse Porch http://farmhouseporch.blogspot.com/Tout it Tuesday @ Claiming our Space http://www.claimingourspace.com/
Tutu's and Teaparties Pinteresting Party http://tutusandteaparties.blogspot.com/
A Pinteresting Party @ Here's to Handy Andy http://herestohandyandy.blogspot.com/
Show off Your Stuff @ Fireflies and Jellybeans http://firefliesandjellybeans.blogspot.com/
Primp Your Stuff Wednesday@ Primp http://micheleravendesigns.blogspot.com/
Your Whims Wednesday @ My Girlish Whims http://mygirlishwhims.blogspot.com/
Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home http://romantichome.blogspot.com/
Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/
Inspiration Friday @ At the Pickett Fence http://atthepickettfence.com/
Fabulous Friday @ Faith,Trust, and Pixie Dust http://michellelunt.blogspot.com/
Fridays Unfolded @ Stuff and Nonsense http://www.stuff-and-nonsense.net/
Shine on Friday @ Happy-Go_Lucky http://happy-go-lucky-harvey.blogspot.com/
FFA @ Sassy Sites http://sassysites.blogspot.com/
Delicately Constucted Friday @ Delicately Constructed http://www.delicateconstruction.com/
Creative Genius Party @ Creative Paige http://thecreativepaige.com/
Weekend Bloggy Reading @ Serenity Now http://www.serenitynowblog.com/
Say G'Day Linky Party @ Natasha in Oz http://www.natashainoz.com/
Manic Monday @ Silo Hill Farm http://silohillfarm.blogspot.com/

Homemade Hand Lotion

This was supposed to be my (Almost) Wordless Wednesday with Addie post.

But that didn't happen..... for a couple of reasons.

At Christmas , my beautiful niece Spencer ( I've bragged about her here) made some homemade hand lotion.

I loved it !

She told me how she made it ( in my family we are not known for having EXACT recipes).

We just kinda dump....

Well , I used  what she had given me and decided to make my own.

Reason #1 this project didn't happen on Wednesday with Addie ~

She LOVES lotion.

I mean REALLY loves lotion!

*Flashback *

Remember when I was working on the flowers for my nephews wedding ?

(If not you can get reminded here.)

And...

 I was really stressed out ( cause I'm crazy like that )

And...

 I had to get Addie ready for rehearsal ( flowergirl incident).

Well...

 I had the flowers  loaded in the car.

 I had her all dressed in her pretty clothes her Mommy had packed for her.

 And I was finally trying to get myself presentable.

Plus...

 I had totally under estimated the amount of time it took to get one little flowergirl and one Grandma ready.

And of course I didn't know what to wear ....

Anyway...

 I looked up and ...

 NO ADDIE !

I said, " Addie where are you ?"

I hear her little voice on the floor beside my bed , " I over here."

I look over and she has my lotion open and ALL*OVER*HER*FACE* !

Looking back , I wish I had gotten a picture.

 At the time I was just trying to get her to the bathroom before it got all over her clothes!

So I kinda chickened out when it came to having Addie's assistance with the homemade lotion.

Ok, back to the project.

Here are the basic ingredients Spencer used ( and I did too )

Cocoa Butter

Olive oil

Vitamin E oil

Aloe Vera Oil

Spencer infused the olive oil with tea . I'm not sure what kind , but it had an awesome fragrance.

I had some essential oils , so I decided to use them for fragrance.

I used tree containers of Cocoa Butter ( from Dollar Gen)

About 1/4 cup olive oil

About 2 ounces Vitamin E Oil ( Dollar Gen again )

About 1 ounce aloe vera oil

I used too much oil .

It will be great for my super dry legs and arms , but it is too oily for me to use regularly on my hands.

Some people would like it.

I've read blogs ( looking for specific recipes ) where people recommend using straight olive oil on your hands.

That's not for me.

Plus I don't think mine smells nearly as good as Spencer's.

I used some lemon , lavender and a tiny bit of patchouli oil, but it still smells like cocoa butter and I don't really care for it.

But I will use it and maybe try again.

I packaged it back up in the empty cocoa butter jars.

 And added some cute labels, that I found here for free.

Now ...

 Reason #2 for not posting on Wednesday.

My little princess has learned a new thing ~ pouting !

I couldn't quite believe it.

Twice she got mad .

Once at Papa and once at My and she went into the kitchen , put her head down and said , " I poutin'."

Geez....

That was a new one ...

She still won't let me take her picture either.

She hears my camera come on and she refuses to look at me.

These are the best I could get.

She's smiling , but she still won't look at me ...

Got her !

Happy Wednesday Friday !

 

Sunday's project

I know I haven't shown you many projects lately.

#1 - I've been lazy.

#2 - I've been more into decorating than DIYing.

But we have had such fantastic weather for January that I finally felt energized.

Plus being home helped a little too.

Last weekend Emily and I did some shopping.

We spent most of our time in Hobby Lobby.

She had taken down her Christmas mantle and wanted something more "everyday-ish".

We didn't really know what we were looking for , but as so often happens in HobLob,

inspiration HIT !

At the end of an isle, they had what looked like canvas' but were cloth.

I asked the lady working how they made them and she directed us to "canvas stretching frames"

AWESOME!

Maybe you already know about these.

It was a new discovery for me.

They come in individual pieces so you can make any size frame you want.

The ones we bought were anywhere from .89 to $1.69.

Anyway a 14x24 frame for around $6 !

Bargain !

They are grooved so they literally just slide together !

Next we looked for fabric.

We found the perfect piece in the clearance bin for $5 a yard.

We only needed a half yard.

I cut the fabric , leaving and inch or so for stapling.

(maybe less, who measures?)

The frames are a soft pine which made stapling really easy .

Finished  frames.

LOVE these!

Cheap way to add texture

and FUN!

The new mantle.

I had had these candle sticks at the store for quite awhile and they hadn't sold.

That's OK , I like them on Em's mantle.

We also reused her bead garland, which I love.

And antlers too.

She has just a bit of her Mama in her :)

She had this gorgeous vase too.

It was a consignment piece from my store, ReStyle.

I knew she would love it when it was brought in,

I text her a picture and she text back , "YES!"

I'm not completely thrilled with the star color and I think we need something with a little height behind the antlers, but it's a start...

I finished a few other projects that I started long ago .

I'll be sharing those soon.

Joining these linky parties:

Check out the awesomeness!

http://debbie-debbiedoos.blogspot.com/

http://diyhshp.blogspot.com/

http://soverycreative.blogspot.com/2012/01/so-very-creative-party-time-19.html

http://my1929charmerblog.com/sundays-best-link-party/

http://youaretalkingtoomuch.blogspot.com/2012/01/meet-me-monday.html

http://theshadyporch.blogspot.com/

http://michellelunt.blogspot.com/2012/01/fabulous-friday-linky-party-17.html

http://romantichome.blogspot.com/

A Lonely Drawer gets a New Life

I've got a quick DIY post for you today.

I've read on different blogs about taking old drawers and turning them into shelves and I thought I would give it a try.

I took an old drawer that was laying around the garage and painted it white .

Then I Mod Podged some fabric to the inside.

I made it several weeks ago , but didn't post it because I wasn't really sure I liked it.

I hung it in my bathroom.

I'm still not sure if it will have a home here or not.

But I changed the collectibles for Christmas and I must say I like it a lot better.

More little cardboard houses and bottle brush trees.

I LOVE them !

If you have an old drawer laying around

( not really sure why you would unless you collect a LOT of junk like I do )

it's an easy project.

The jury is still out whether it will stay or go .

What do you think?

I would love to know.

Linky this so-so project to :

http://dittledattle.blogspot.com/

http://youaretalkingtoomuch.blogspot.com/2011/12/meet-me-monday-15.html

http://www.thegunnysack.com/

http://www.getouttamyheadplease.com/2011/12/show-it-off-link-party-2.html