Summer is coming to an end which means you’re probably getting around to printing off your vacation photos. Rather than sticking them in plain old frames, turn them into a piece of art for your walls using some of the mementos you found on vacation!
I decided to make mine a gift for my parents and used a photo of them at Cannon Beach while they were visiting in June!
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Supplies:
Stretched canvas (a few inches larger than your photo) – I used 8×10
Photograph – Mine was 5×7
Mod Podge
Seashells, stones, sea glass, drift wood, etc
Small paint brush or foam brush
Hot glue gun
Acrylic paints (optional)
When I originally started this project, I tried to do these stenciled letters in sand. The sand was a mess and the lettering was off and overall it just didn’t look good! I had also left my canvas blank so it looked pretty plain and boring. I decided to scrap the entire project and start over! I peeled everything off that I had glued on and tried my hand at painting! This is the original one that I did…
After I ripped everything off.. Not looking so great!
I really don’t know how to paint. I leave that up to my boyfriend who has the talent and knowledge to do so! I don’t know the proper technique, how to blend colors, or what kind of brush I should be using. So if I can pull this off, then you have no excuse not to try as well!
I didn’t have the intention of painting anything in particular; I just wanted a blue “ocean-like” background. Just pour out a few dabs of similar colors and paint! Since you’re covering most of it with a photo, it’s not going to matter if there are small mistakes so have fun with it! Keep blending and moving the paint around until you have something that you like. Below are some photos of how mine evolved into a wave background. Give your paint a few hours to dry before beginning the next steps for this project.
Start out by placing your photo in the center of your canvas and use a measuring tape to make sure you have an equal amount of space on all sides. Using a pencil, make small marks behind the corners of the photo.
Next spread a thin layer of Mod Podge in the space that your photo will go. Set your photo (image side up) on the canvas and lightly press down over the entire picture to ensure it sticks. Wait about 15 minutes for it to dry.
Now lay out your seashells and stones where you want them on the canvas. Pick them up to add dabs of hot glue, place back down on the canvas and press firmly for 30 seconds.
I decided to leave off the lettering that I did on the original. Sometimes less is more : ) Once everything is glued down you’re done! Hang it up and enjoy the reminder of your wonderful summer vacation and the fact that YOU created this piece of art! ; )
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Seashell Mosaic Votive Holder
