PUT YOUR BEST SNAPS ON DISPLAY
We’re taking so many awesome pictures these days for Instagram and Twitter — but chances are, they stay on your smartphone and never make it into an album. Turn your best snaps into woodsy wall art in six easy steps. All you need is a printer, wood canvas and the desire to decoupage. Create a wall with the texture and warmth of wood using snapshots from your life. By Debra Norton
TRY IT
Step 1: Gather and shop for the supplies. Print images using a standard printer or have them printed at a copy shop, it’s up to you. We used an inkjet printer. Mod Podge recommends that you seal an inkjet print with an acrylic spray before applying product. We skipped this step and found that the inkjet print works fine as long as you let the Mod Podge dry completely. You’ll need:
á Wood canvases or panels cut to size at a lumber store. á Printer á Cover paper or card stock paper á Scissors or a paper cutter á Mod Podge á Foam brush á Bone folder, brayer or other hard-edged object to smooth out the paper i.e.: edge of credit card. (A brayer is a small roller used to roll down and smooth surfaces).
á Photos to print
Step 2: Choose a photo and print onto cardstock paper. We printed 8 x 10” prints on 80-pound white cover stock paper. Let the print dry completely before moving on to the next step.
Step 3: Trim the photo. Trim the photo to fit the wood canvas or panel that you’ve chosen for mounting.
Step 4: Apply layer of Mod Podge. Apply a smooth layer of Mod Podge to the wood board with foam brush.
Step 5: Mount the photo. Carefully place the photo on the wood and smooth out any creases or bubbles with a bone folder, brayer or credit card. Let dry for at least an hour. The paper should feel completely dry, no dampness before you move to the next step.
Step 6: Seal the photo. Apply a thin layer of Mod Podge to the photo to seal and protect it. Brush the Mod Podge lightly across the paper, so that you get a thin layer with minimal brush strokes. Let dry for an hour before handling.