Simple Handmade Gifts – Part Six

I have been looking into CANVAS WRAPPED PHOTOS for gifts and after seeing the absurd prices for these I looked into DIY.

Super easy and super spendy looking! And very personal.

I purchased :
7 pack of — Pre-Stretched Canvas (11 x 14″) for $19 ( At Micheals—did not have coupon)
Mod Podge (large size about $7) Matte
Photo enlargement (see below) $7 each 11 x 14″ + edge

Paint brush OR foam brush OR small roller (on hand)
Household (office type) stapler (on hand)

Went to STAPLES and directly emailed our photo to the addy the guy at the counter gave me. For $7 EACH they made a beautiful enlargement 2″ on EACH side bigger than the face of the canvas—you need this to wrap the photo on the canvas edges. ( They also nicely did a “test” print to show us how it would look and how it would overhang) You can also bring in photos to them or some other places—altho I have heard that some places charge a LOT for the prints. Check around on this!

Mark where your photo is centered on canvas allowing for overhang–do NOT trim!!! Coat canvas with Modpodge; lay photo carefully on canvas. Use the centering marks you made to get this lined up right! Use a credit type card to GENTLY but FIRMLY smooth to edges–you can work on both front and back to get all sections smooth. To wrap edges—wrap over the edge using more Modpodge on the canvas. Use a SMALL cut to the corners to wrap the photo edge around–much easier to DO and SEE than to describe! Use a household stapler to secure edges to BACK of wood stretcher. (Start in center of long side; do one staple on each side; do center top and center bottom; keep adding staples –not too many!-around the back working between the center and the corners; staple the corner tabs too)

Let dry for 12 or more hours. Coat face of photo with ModPodge–one coat going long wise one going across…you WANT some texture to this! You can use a foam brush. a regular brush or a small roller for this. Make sure you coat edges (you can go back and do edges later if you want to use them to handle the work)

Let dry.

Add small hanging hardware–this depends on your wall–or prop on a shelf.

You could also use several photos and do a “quilt” or composite effect. Or add other items to the canvas. Unlimited possibilities here!

Et voila! Gorgeous canvas wrapped personal photos at a fraction (we priced this size at about $80 and UP)

OH—The handkerchief sachet would be great with a small ribbon or lace loop to hang over a closet rod or directly on the hangers! Hmmmm—- Saw how to do Modpodge print transfer to wood hangers to make the look vintage on a blog recently–very cool! Very easy!

I have been looking into CANVAS WRAPPED PHOTOS for gifts and after seeing the absurd prices for these I looked into DIY.

Super easy and super spendy looking! And very personal.

I purchased :
7 pack of — Pre-Stretched Canvas (11 x 14″) for $19 ( At Micheals—did not have coupon)
Mod Podge (large size about $7) Matte
Photo enlargement (see below) $7 each 11 x 14″ + edge

Paint brush OR foam brush OR small roller (on hand)
Household (office type) stapler (on hand)

Went to STAPLES and directly emailed our photo to the addy the guy at the counter gave me. For $7 EACH they made a beautiful enlargement 2″ on EACH side bigger than the face of the canvas—you need this to wrap the photo on the canvas edges. ( They also nicely did a “test” print to show us how it would look and how it would overhang) You can also bring in photos to them or some other places—altho I have heard that some places charge a LOT for the prints. Check around on this!

Mark where your photo is centered on canvas allowing for overhang–do NOT trim!!! Coat canvas with Modpodge; lay photo carefully on canvas. Use the centering marks you made to get this lined up right! Use a credit type card to GENTLY but FIRMLY smooth to edges–you can work on both front and back to get all sections smooth. To wrap edges—wrap over the edge using more Modpodge on the canvas. Use a SMALL cut to the corners to wrap the photo edge around–much easier to DO and SEE than to describe! Use a household stapler to secure edges to BACK of wood stretcher. (Start in center of long side; do one staple on each side; do center top and center bottom; keep adding staples –not too many!-around the back working between the center and the corners; staple the corner tabs too)

Let dry for 12 or more hours. Coat face of photo with ModPodge–one coat going long wise one going across…you WANT some texture to this! You can use a foam brush. a regular brush or a small roller for this. Make sure you coat edges (you can go back and do edges later if you want to use them to handle the work)

Let dry.

Add small hanging hardware–this depends on your wall–or prop on a shelf.

You could also use several photos and do a “quilt” or composite effect. Or add other items to the canvas. Unlimited possibilities here!

Et voila! Gorgeous canvas wrapped personal photos at a fraction (we priced this size at about $80 and UP)

OH—The handkerchief sachet would be great with a small ribbon or lace loop to hang over a closet rod or directly on the hangers! Hmmmm—- Saw how to do Modpodge print transfer to wood hangers to make the look vintage on a blog recently–very cool! Very easy!