Okay, guys..I did it! Um...we did it! That would be...my hubby and I did it.

I kept my word. {Phew!}

It's Friday and the framed art is done! I'ts really pretty simple but there were a lot of
"firsts" for me on this project:

- First time using gel medium. {what's that?}

- First time doing compound cuts and measuring. {wow, can't wait to do more}
- First time getting through a project from start to finish in 24 hours.
 {Okay, so maybe that's not a first but it sure has been a long time since it happened!}

On to the tutorial for this project...

Here's the finished framed canvas. I will be adding it to a gallery wall as soon as I figure out what else I want on that wall. For now, I think it looks pretty good here on the mantel...especially since it was SO empty!

 

The inspiration for this project came from my favorite magazine that I have mentioned a bazillion times here...Life:Beautiful. If you don't know about it, check it out and subscribe. You will NOT be disappointed. And I digress...

What you will need:
Materials
A reversed template of any sort. You can download the one I used here.
Printer Paper
Gel Medium
White 8.5 x 11 copier paper
Preframed Canvas
Decoupage Medium
Four 1/2in x 3in x 3ft boards or trim to fit the borders of your canvas
Wood filler (optional)
Spray paint in the color of your choice (optional)

Tools
Spray bottle with water
Foam brush
Printmaking rubber roller (optional)
Fine-grit sandpaper
Measuring tape
Pencil
Protractor
Handsaw or Miter Saw
Hammer
Nails/Brads

Okay, stay with me. I know that list seems quite long but it's really not a lot of stuff and there are a ton of optional items. Trust me, if I can do this...anyone can!

First, apply your gel medium to the middle of the canvas where you will lay your image.

 

 

 

Then, take the sponge brush and spread the gel medium evenly across the canvas making sure there are no large clumps or bumpy areas and adhere your reverse print to the canvas.

 

You will want to take your fingers and apply pressure around the paper to ensure you get all the wrinkles out as you see above.

 

If you have a rubber roller, use that to achieve a smooth surface or if you don't have one you can just do what I did and use a silicone spatula. Works like magic!

 

 

After you're comfortable with the consistency of the medium and the paper, you get to take a break. Now you can go sip on some yummy tea or coffee, wrestle with your toddlers, take some kids to soccer practice and then come back to the project.

 

You will need to let the gel medium dry for 2-3 hours. {cue Jeopardy theme music}

 

Once the medium is completely dry, you will want to take your handy dandy spray bottle and lightly spray the paper all over.

 

The untouched portion on the pic {left} below is what the paper will look like after you spray it with water.

 

Gently begin to peel the paper. You can also take your hands and rub or use the sandpaper at this time as well to get all of the paper off.

 

Don't worry about removing the words by applying too much pressure or rubbing too hard. It won't happen. At least, it didn't for me.

 

 

 



This is what it will look like mid-process. Messy.

 

You can, at this point, allow the canvas to dry and sand lightly once more to get rid of all the access paper or you can leave it as is once it dries and move on to the framing and sealing of the piece. Either way, not a huge deal. Totally up to you!

 

I chose to move on just because I am not the most patient person!

 

We just happened to have some weather aged trim in our garage so I used this to trim the canvas. If you don't have any of that just hanging around, you can purchase this type of trim from Home Depot or Lowe's and it's normally priced by the foot so know your total dimensions before going in to purchase.

 

If you'd like to achieve a weathered look you can use the vinegar and steel wood method and then apply Rustoleum's Driftwood  or Sunbleached Stain for the perfect weathered look!

 

Sidenote: I think it would be fun to finish off the rim in gold, silver, black, gold leaf...possibilities are really endless! And I used scripture on this one because we just need more of it around our place but you could use just about any quote or image you want.

 

Sooooo, moving right along...

 

I am the worst at pics for tutorials and admittedly a bit rusty so no pics of the way we made the cuts.

 

{Insert hubby help here}

 

Essentially, we measured the corners of the frame and cut 45 degree angles from the corner of each trim piece.

 

 

Does that make sense? Perfect!

 

After the trim pieces were cut to size we hammered brads {painted to complement washed wood color}, into each side of the frame to secure to the canvas.

 

Optionally, you could build the frame with wood glue and nails, let it dry and then fit the canvas into the frame. I felt as though this way made for a little more stability and would less likely come apart. Again, personal preference...

 

 

 

And here is the finished product again...

 

 

I just love the way it turned out, don't you?

Maybe this will give me just the kick I need to decorate the mantel before Christmas!

 

And I have a feeling we will be making many more of these!

 

If you make any version of this, I would love for you to share! Or, if you have any questions feel free to ask. I am sure that I left out some info!

 

 

  

Happy Amazing Friday!

Linking up with:
DIYShowoff
The Inspiration Gallery
 Feathered Nest Friday
 Sunday Showcase
Chic on a Shoestring
 WOW Us Wednesdays
Time Washed
DIY by Design
 

Right now, everything around our home is a project.

 

For the past few months I have been playing virtual musical chairs and well, kinda literal musical chairs, around the house.

 

My hubby, well...let's just say he still doesn't get it.

 

Since everything is still a bit hodge podge and not ready for the cover of House Beautiful, Country Living, Better Homes and Gardens or the like, I thought I'd show you a few things around the house that I just love.

 

Being in a rental is not exactly easy when it comes to decorating. Luckily we have some awesome landlords who allow me to experiment from time to time. Since they are okay with us hanging things on the walls and making small holes {which I am VERY thankful for} I am putting up gallery walls all over the place. This typography art is the beginning of the study area in our living space.

 

The style of the house is a 1950's ranch. The layout isn't the the best and the entry, living and dining are practically one small space combined. Once all of the restyling and moving around and purchasing of furniture is complete, I will have to show you around.

 

Here's another fave. Vintage books and a brass magnifying glass.

I purchased the books from Melaine over at My Sweet Savannah for only $7. Thought they would be great for layering and adding height. They were!

Aaaaah, the infamous antlers. You can read more about these here. I think I am going to move these from our dining area to the frame wall below and perhaps add a few different types of antlers all around the frames to add a touch of classic whimsy to that wall.

 

They just may be my favorite of all and I love how the gold contrasts with the Iron Ore from Sherwin Williams.

 

 

If you follow me on Instagram, then you saw that yesterday I got a little "Homegoods Happy" with the next two purchases. I bought this Aztec style stool for $20 and actually thought it was a deep gray. Got home and realized it was a dark navy. Darn.

Oh well! Still love it and I know I can work it in.

 

As a pillow, perhaps? Ha! Now, I to find out where I can find THIS SAME EXACT pillow...and two of them.

 

This is our new baby. I say that since our kids are in love with it, especially our youngest, Grayson. Honestly, it's one of the softest things I have ever felt aside from a real rabbit. Pretty amazing.

 

It's faux fur, of course. But if looks and feels SO real.

 

 And last but not least, these frames above our sofa. I purchased these from Target. They are from the Threshold line and I love the natural wood. This is where I mentioned placed antlers. Two on top or one beside each photo, what do you think?

 

So those are a few things I am loving around our place.

 

If you've followed for a while, you can see that my style is changing just a bit. A little less farmhouse and a little more modern eclectic. I like to call it Rustic Chic. Or, maybe "Country Glam". What do you think? What are some of your favorites in your house? I'd love to hear!

Are you following me on Facebook, Instagram? Let's talk about it there, shall we?

Hope you all have had an amazing week!

Be sure and hop back over tomorrow for our 1,000 IG follower giveaway with The Charming Farmer!

 

 

 

 You don't want to miss it!

Two out of our four kiddos love drawing and creating things with their hands. I'd like to say they get it from...well, their mama.

They also love to hang their creations up all over the house with washi tape, Scotch tape, pretty much whatever they can find to make it stick to walls, doors, furniture...

I decided that instead of having pieces of paper and artwork all over the house that we would consolidate their masterpieces and contain them in one area of the house. A kids' gallery wall if you will.

Yesterday, I needed to run out to Target to pick up a few things and if you're a Target shopper you know you can't just go into that place without checking out a bazillion other things that SHOULD have been on your list. This is especially true when it comes to their clearance sections. Right?

I found these frames marked down to $0.88 each. What? I just knew I could do something with them and then I remembered I'd wanted to make a gallery wall for the kiddos so I snatched them up! All 12 of them! Yippee!

Since I am loving Rub'n Buff and all things gold right now, what better way to transform and accent these frames than to add a dab of the liquid gold goodness to them to help them "pop" off the wall?

 

You really don't need much when using Rub'n Buff for a project, just your finger. Since I had a lot of frames and I am an OCD crafter, I used a paintbrush to coat these frames.

 

 

I didn't get a good pic of the in-between of applying the wax to the frame but the process doesn't look amazing.

 

 

First, I dropped a little of the wax on each side of the frame. A little really does go a long way.

 

After that, I just took my brush and begin to spread it {in one direction} along the sides of each frame. You really don't want to go back and forth with the wax. It begins to cure pretty quickly and if you do, this will happen...

 

 

See those areas that look a little thicker than the others? That's because I got a little crazy with the dolloping. {yup, that is a word!}

 

 

 

I ended up going back after the wax cured and sanding very lightly to get rid of the rough spots and then waxed over with a VERY small amount. Hey, practice makes perfect and I am still getting to know the product.

 

This little project only took about an hour from start to finish. That is, of course, since I decided I am SO BAD at hanging pics so I used Dap and Museum putty instead of nails for pics until the hubs could work his magic. Yep, sure did.

 

I think it turned out pretty good. What do you think?

 

 

Have you used Rub'n Buff or any other products to transform your home décor lately? I'd love to see them!

 

 

 

 

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