DIY His & Hers Mounted Pictures

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Mod Podge used to adhere photo to canvas

Did you know it was called Mod Podge, not Modge Podge?  I have been calling this wonderful product the wrong name for many years.  I love how my husband pointed this out to me today as I was completing this project.  Who knew?

This project was created to add some personalization to our master bath.  We have so many wonderful pictures from our many travels and none of them are displayed around the house.  Picture to frame is the most obvious choice, but there are other easy and inexpensive options.  I had never mounted a picture on a canvas using Mod Podge before and it was about time I got to it.

This project takes about 5 minutes from start to finish.  Originally I wanted to paint the sides of the canvas black to mimic a frame, but I ended up purchasing a black canvas which saved time and was the same cost as a white one.

Trim.

Although the frame and the printed picture both were advertised as 11" x 14”, that didn’t seem to be situation.  Trim the printed picture to fit to your canvas so there is no overhang. It is suggested you use a paper cutter or something that will give you a perfect edge.

Glue.

Spread the Mod Podge on the top of the canvas.  An inexpensive foam brush works best.  Coat well, but not too thick as it will seep out the sides when pressing the picture on top.

Mount.

Wearing gloves is recommended to this part as fingerprints can ruin the printed picture.  Mount the trimmed picture on top of the glue, pressing lightly.  Turn the frame over and press the backside of the canvas to ensure the picture adheres to the canvas.  There might be some seeping of the glue, just wipe with a paper towel.

If you choose, you can coat the front for the picture with the Mod Podge as well.  I choose to not use it as my pictures were matte finished. 

Mod Podge comes in a variety of finishes. Check out the different finishes then finish to your preference.  The entire look of your project can be drastically changed just on the finished of this glue product.

His

Hers

Our pictures were taken by Jeff and I on our honeymoon in Hawaii’, our favorite place in the world.  The picture of Jeff is over my sink and my picture is by his sink.  I just love the way this project turned out.

<3 mk

Adding Some Color

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Remember when I made this?  Well, I am totally in love with it, but it needed a little somethin'.  My very expensive inspirations all had some color background to them and I also wanted to add some, but I couldn’t just settle on one pattern so…I did four! 

Four?  How can you do four different patterns on a tray?  Easy.  Make them removable.

The best thing about this acrylic tray is that it is clear.  That means that you can see through it to the surface it is placed on.  Since I had already put the decal on the top of the tray, the only place left to add some color was underneath.

First, measure the bottom of the tray, exactly.  Cut some patterned or colored card stock to the measurements of the tray bottom. You probably will need to buy pieces of each to make the size fit the measurements. Michaels has a huge variety of patterned paper for under $2 each.  I was able to get polka dots, damask with green, navy stripes, and a wedding ring pattern in rusty orange.  I laminated each paper and then attached them to the bottom of the tray using double sided sticky dots.

If you do not have access to a laminator, you can get a pack of 10 self-adhesive sheets for about $8.  They work just as well as a machine.

I love the way this project turned out.  For a few more dollars, I was able to add some color to the personalized tray. My favorite was the polka dots. It's so Kate Spade.  The other patterned bottoms are equally awesome and they go so well with the colors in our living room. 

<3 mk

Personalized Child’s Step Stool

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Traditions are important to a family.  Things that are given to a child when they are young can be given or passed down to ones own children. Part of a tradition that I have started with my sister’s children is to personalize their own step stool.

For a child a step stool is more important than you know.  As adults we forget that we can see ourselves in the mirror standing up.  We forget the importance of making funny faces and sticking our tongue out when brushing our teeth. 

My husband still has his step stool that his maternal grandfather made for him.  It was crafted by hand and still is able to do its job over thirty years later - his younger (and shorter) sister had used it last.  Knowing that it has held up and our own children will be using this makes my heart happy.

I didn’t craft this wooden stool myself, it was purchased at a craft store.  However, I put the time and effort into sanding, painting, and decorating.  Oh and don’t forget, transporting up north to NY.  Each of my nephews, niece, and now my youngest niece will get hers.  It is always nice to see all the stools lined up in the bathroom, in used condition.  My sister’s oldest is now in third grade and he is so tall that it wouldn’t be required anymore, but it is nice knowing that it helped him out for so many years.

Before you paint or spray paint the stool make sure you sand it down and clean the excess debris off.  It requires a few coats of spray paint and then a final clear coat of gloss.  The top was painted with an off white spray paint. After taping the top with painters tape, I used the same adhesive stick on letters that were used in my personalized subway sign.  They came off really easily after spraying with the white. They are outlined with a silver paint marker. The clear gloss was the last step in the painting process before the decorations. 

My oldest niece was the first girl in the family so when I made her step stool few years ago it was done "princess style".  She is a little princess so it was very fitting. Glitter spray, tiaras, and lots of bling were the style.  For my younger niece's stool it was done with more of the cutesy nature directions.  All of the buggies came painted from Michael’s and I couldn't resist when I saw them.  They were attached to the sides and top using wood glue.   The outline of the white is actually a self-adhesive fabric border and fabric buttons that I found at Joanne Fabrics. A hot glue gun was used to make sure the buttons stayed on. 

No matter how you decorate it, the step stool will be special because it will be there to help them when you aren’t.  Being so far away from my family it makes me wish I could be there to help out more, but I guess I am in a way!  

<3 mk