Passport Out-takes

We are in the process of applying for passports. I took some pictures of the boys the other day, asking them to just sit there, then we could take some funny pictures.

Here's what happened.

Jonathan

Jared

Josiah

I love my cuties, crazy as they may be sometimes!

Portrait Canvasses {DIY Art}

This is one of my favorite projects ever. I'm thrilled with how these canvasses turned out, and for super-cheap! It's not a new project and it's certainly not the only how-to out there, but I wanted to share it because I still puffy-heart love it. So here's my original post from a year and a half ago!

____________________________________________________

I love the look of canvas portraits, don't you? 

Sometimes you can find pretty good deals, but even those good deals times three kids can really add up! I decided to find out a way to do it cheaper. 

$2.50 each, in fact! 

Here's how.

I started by taking a jump drive to Staples and asking for 8 1/2 x 11" color copies of my high resolution images on card stock for 98 cents each.

Then I went to Michael's and bought a 10-pack of 8 x 10 canvasses for $25 on sale for $20 plus my 20% off coupon which means I really paid $16. $1.60 each isn't bad!

Next I painted the canvasses with white paint to act as glue. Mod podge would be better, but I didn't have any. I knew the paint would work as glue because of this project. 

I had already trimmed the white edges off the pictures--don't bother! Just try to center the picture on the canvas because you'll have to trim it down and you don't want to cut off too much of your kiddo's head!

Press and smooth out the back side of the canvas.

I was worried about the card stock wrinkling, so I weighed it down with books in the middle and left it overnight. 

The next day I trimmed the edges off the card stock with a razor--I'm fancy like that! I'm sure an exacto knife would do the trick.

Then I went over the edges with a fine-grit sandpaper. You could paint the edges of your canvas if you want, but I like the white with the bright colors.

To really protect your canvasses, you could paint on another layer of mod podge over the top, or polycrylic. I haven't done that yet, but I plan to! 

Here you can see that it did wrinkle a little, but it's only noticeable from a certain angle.

I love my new canvas portraits, and coming in at $2.50 each, I made a copy for the grandparents too!

_______________________________________________

Just in time for the holidays! Break out those cameras and get some shots of your kids in the pretty leaves, then make some portrait canvasses for the grandparents!

This is Day 17! Come back for another two weeks of awesome DIY art ideas!

Photo Canvasses {DIY Art}

It's Day 2 of the 31-Day challenge! My topic of choice is Easy, DIY Art for Your Home!

In my most recent living room tour, I showed you this series of canvasses I have had in my home for about 10 years--that's right, they were something I brought with me to this marriage! I still love them and find they work best grouped together.

To make these canvasses, I chose five of my favorite pictures I took on a trip to Europe in 2003. I printed these shots at home in 8 X 10 and stuck them down on freshly-painted canvasses. The wet paint acted like glue, holding the photo in place. It didn't wrinkle the photo either, as it was on heavy photo paper.

Next, I painted a border around the prints, then put stickers under the pictures to label where the shot was taken. Black paint on the outside edge frames the canvasses.

I got the canvases on sale at Michael's and the paint was a friend's leftovers after she painted her living room, so the whole project was pretty inexpensive for the impact.

Minus the trip to Europe, of course.

I hope you're enjoying this series! 

Family Portrait {Wordless Wednesday}

Mohican State Park

 A few weeks ago, our family took a little trip out to Mohican State Park here in Ohio. 

 We started the adventure by our two oldest asking to climb this fire tower. Jonathan made it to the top; Jared was content to go about 2/3 of the way--and we were nervous the whole time as the stairs and handrails are completely open!

 Josiah and I stayed firmly on the ground.

 After being at the highest point in the park, we drove down down down to the river in the valley.

 This covered bridge had to be explored. And photographed.

 The men stopped to watch a fisher.

 Jared, age 4.

 Of course there was time for throwing rocks into the river. And eating them, it appears.

 Jonathan spotted a shell while he was gathering more rocks.

 Jonathan, age 6.

 Josiah loves to swing! I've never had a 2-year-old who does so well on a regular swing!

 I just love this (slightly dirty) face!!!

 Jared has really grown lately. His legs are getting so long and slim.

 Jonathan taught himself to swing. He's always resisted my attempts to help him learn, but on this day he was showing off how high he could go all by himself. 

 Ohio is hillier and woodsier than I thought it would be. It's beautiful! (Spell-checker didn't complain about either of those words, so they must be real. Lisa?)

 After awhile we walked back across the bridge and Jonathan spotted a trail. 

"Can we see where this goes?"

The sign said it was a mile to a waterfall. Why not?

 The boys ran ahead. 

 In typical boy-fashion, they had to climb this rock. They posed themselves, I kid you not!

 I love them and their goofy faces so much! 

 These guys. Discussing something super-important while they wait for the slow-pokes to catch up.

 More climbing. More posing. 

 And finally, the waterfall!

 At the time, I was annoyed at this lady who just would not move out of my picture. Now I thank her for adding perspective to the size of the waterfall. 

 No, this picture didn't get loaded wrong! We're behind the waterfall looking up at it! Fun!

 Look! Proof I went!

>>PEEK<<

Josiah walked most of the way there by himself but was happy to ride on Daddy's shoulders on the way back. All of the boys did a great job keeping up, not complaining or whining. It was a 2-mile hike round trip. We enjoyed our time at Mohican State Park and will definitely pack a lunch so we can enjoy it longer next time. Warning: If you visit us in Ohio we'll probably take you here!

Thanks for sharing our family outing with us!