52 Mantels

June 1, 2012

Canvas Photo Transfer {Tutorial}

Last month I shared this Canvas Photo Transfer tutorial over at Lolly Jane (aren't those sisters cute?!), and today I'm sharing it here in case you missed it. This is such a fun tutorial for easy artwork using your personal images and a home printer!

My baby girl turned one in February (of course, I shared all the "tweet" birthday details with you!) and I wanted to display one of the photos from her 1 year photo shoot. I remember seeing this tutorial on A Beautiful Mess awhile back, so I decided to give it a whirl. I love the way it turned out!

Basically, to create a canvas transfer, you take a laser printed copy of a photograph and, using a gel medium, transfer that image to a blank canvas. Due to the method of transfer, your image takes on a beautifully aged appearance.

To start this process, you'll need:

a plain canvas

a paint brush

scissors

water

gel medium (I used Liquitex- Matte Super Heavy Gel from Hobby Lobby- don't forget your 40% off coupon!)

a laser printed image on regular printer paper**

**please note, the original image has my daughter facing the other way. In my haste, I forgot to tell my printer to print a mirror image. Don't skip this step, especially if your image has words in it!

1) Gather your supplies, print a MIRROR image copy of your photograph and trim the border from that image

2) Paint a generous amount of the gel medium over the entire canvas surface

3) Press a copy of the photo, image side DOWN, onto the canvas, making sure to center it and then smooth out any bubbles or wrinkles. Then...walk away for 6 or more hours before going on to step 4!

4) After 6+ hours, sprinkle your canvas with water (I just used my finger tips to do this, but a water bottle would have been even better!) and begin rubbing the paper from the canvas, leaving the image on the canvas. This is the trickiest part of the entire process! Be extra gentle as your rub and peel the paper from the canvas.

**A few tips: Do NOT over-wet your canvas or over-rub one area. The spot in the lower right corner is where I used way too much water and the brown blur in the top left hand corner is a spot where I rubbed too aggressively. Learn from my mistakes! Also, be especially careful over faces. It would be very easy to distort the face by excessively rubbing. Imagine your cutie pie with only one eyebrow or no nose. Yikes! Be extra delicate in that region.

5) When the paper has been peeled from your canvas and the image is completely dry, paint a thin coat of the gel medium over the entire canvas. After the first coat dries, go over your canvas in short, back and forth strokes, leaving random peaks in the gel. This will add texture to the canvas and give it the look of a painting. The gel will go on white, but dry clear and matte.

This process might sound complicated, but it's really not! It's a lengthy project only because you must allow the gel to dry between steps. I started one evening, let it dry overnight and finished the next day. It was SO worth the time, though!

Got any cuties you'd like to put on a canvas??

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May 30, 2012

Thursdays Are YOUR Days, Vol 21

Wednesday sure did sneak up on me!! You?? Long weekends are great for getting me all confused about the day. On Monday night I told my hubby that it felt like Saturday night. His response? "It's not. It's Monday night".Thanks for clearing that up, honey! :)

I hope you all had a great Memorial Day weekend!

Before we get this party started, I wanted to let you know about the FUN wedding week that Liz from Love Grows Wild is cohosting with Kelley from The Grant Life. Every day this week they've been sharing wedding-related tutorials. And, on Sunday, they're hosting a special link party for all things wedding! So, dust off those wedding posts and go show them off on Sunday. And, in the meantime, go check out their fun wedding details!!

To see what I've been Pinning, Tweeting and Sharing, check out my Pinterest, Twitter and Facebook pages!

This Week on 52 Mantels:

On Friday, I shared the tutorial for this Patriotic Washi Tape Art

On my 36th Mantel Monday, I showed you my Memorial Day Mantel

And, yesterday I gave you a shared the tutorial for this Dresser Makeover!

And, what about you?? Link up your recent projects so we can admire!

Rules/guidelines/niceties:

1) If you aren't following 52 Mantels, please do so!
(But, hey, even if you don't, you can still party with us. We're cool like that.)

2) This is a party, so mix and mingle. Please check out some of your fellow party-goers!

3) Grab my button and put it in your post, on your blog or just add a text link back to 52 Mantels!

4) Feel free to link up as many posts as you'd like

May 29, 2012

Dresser Makeover (and Bedroom Sneak Peek!)

For my birthday this year, I decided it was time for a mini-makeover in our master bedroom. You know the drill: new curtains, new throw pillows, out with the old, in with the new. Of course, my budget didn't allow for new furniture, so I've spend the last couple of weeks painting the old.

This dresser is my hubby's dresser and it's been his since childhood. I think his grandpa built it, but I forgot to do my fact-checking. So, let's just say his grandpa built it and pretend that's the solid, confirmed truth. Excellent.

To start, I painted the dresser in homemade chalk paint using dove white flat paint from Behr. To find my chalk paint recipe, go here. I like chalk paint because it covers so well and doesn't require priming. I hate to prime things. After it was painted with two coats (and dry, of course!), I took my power sander and distressed it. A lot. Like, once I started, I couldn't stop.

I knew I wanted to do something fun on the drawer fronts, but wasn't sure what until I discovered this decorative trim from Jo-Ann's. If you remember, I used the small (duct tape size) roll of this stuff (in a floral pattern) on my Mother's Day mantel. This is exactly that, only larger. It's sticky on one side, vinyl on the other. And, it adhered beautifully! I love this stuff! I'm thinking that perhaps Jo-Ann's is discontinuing the sale of this product because everything was HUGELY discounted. This roll cost me $3.99, down from $19.99.

To cover my drawer fronts with it, I first measured and cut the appropriate size using the handy grid on the back of the trim. Then, I removed the backing, placed the trim on my drawer fronts, smoothed out bumps and made slight trims with a sharp exacto knife.

Rinse and repeat (in my case) 4 times.

This was the fastest part of my dresser update. Seriously. Go hunt down some of this trim. Before it's all gone. If you don't use this exact product, a similar look can be achieved with paper, wallpaper or fabric.

(but, let's be honest, that wouldn't be nearly as quick and easy)

I really like the way this dresser makeover came together! And, when I tire of this vinyl trim, I can peel it off and do something new.

As a side note, I'll say that what disturbs be about the before picture, truly, is the outdated accents atop that black dresser.

Ever put something in your house and leave it there for an entire decade and then one day realize the world around you has evolved and your lamp is still old-world gold and amber?

Happens to me all the time. If you find yourself in a similar pickle, please know a little Rustoleom Spray Paint in Lagoon can fix you right up.

Hello 2012.

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May 28, 2012

Memorial Day Mantel- Week 36

Happy Memorial Day! I hope today finds you spending time with friends and/or family, remembering the men and women who've given the ultimate sacrifice for the great, ol' US of A.

I'm actually writing this on Saturday because I'm crossing my fingers that lil' punkin will be healthy enough to leave this house and head on over to the in-laws for Memorial Day. We've been cooped up in this darn house for days (and days, and days), but on Monday (well, today, if you're reading this on Memorial Day) we're combining Memorial Day with my brother-in-law's college graduation party.

We're just right proud that he done gone off and got hisself all learned up.

(what? I told you I've been cooped up for days and days.)

The tutorial for the American flag Washi Tape art can be found here. And, did you notice I even put Washi Tape on my mantel?? And, my blue/white vase? I told you I've Washi-ed the heck out of things lately. One of the awesome things about Washi Tape is that it isn't very sticky, so it peels right off without leaving a residue!

My wreath tutorial can be found here. And, the tutorial includes 3 variations so I can switch it up all Summer long. No need to store a bunch of wreaths, now is there?

I hope you have (had, or are having) a wonderful Memorial Day!!

And, because it's also my brother-in-law's big day, Hotty Toddy.

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