Make your own canvas photos

I just love the look of big canvas photographs. I dream of one day having all the walls in my house covered in my photographs, all done on canvas. Well looking around at the prices of even the smallest canvas photo and my dream fades away.
I took some fun pictures of me, the hubby and kiddos just before Christmas. They are Brady Bunch style, everyone looking at someone else. Cute really. Haven't gotten around to framing them yet.. really wanted them on canvas..... Anywho, one day while spending some quality time in blogland I came across a post at The Sassy Pepper blog (how cute is that name?). I had no idea you could Mod Podge a photograph to a canvas! Oh how exciting! The look is close enough to the real thing that I am quite happy with the results, as well as my savings. I bought 4 -8x10 stretched canvases at Michaels for $12. I am sure I could have gotten them cheaper, but I couldn't find a coupon, and I was super impatient. A big bottle of Mod Podge for $8... still sick that I didn't have a coupon or use patience to wait for one. The Mod Podge will last a long time though and I can use it on many more things. I took the photographs, so they were free as well as the prints!  I won a photo contest over at Not Quite June Cleaver and the prize was a Snapfish gift certificate.
You can follow The Sassy Pepper's instructions, but I did things slightly different so here is my version.

 I used Matte Mod Podge. Not sure what the results would be with another type. I don't think I would like the Glossy as the end product wouldn't look like I wanted it to. They do make an Artists Brush kind but I couldn't find it. This works well for me.

Please note the spelling. This is Mod Podge. Its not pronounced Modge Podge. I think a lot of people pronounce it that way and for some reason it really annoys me... and now I feel better.Thank you for listening.

Gather your supplies 

First, I painted the edges and a bit of the top of the canvas with black paint. Decorative paper on the sides is cute, but for this application I didn't want the sides to visually stand out. 
Once this is dry add a layer of Mod Podge to the entire top of the canvas and let it dry. This will seal it and give the picture something to grip to.

 

Trim your photo a tiny bit around each edge. You can leave it as is, but it hangs over the edge slightly and I didn't care for the look. 

Next, add a layer of Mod Podge to the back of your photo then place on the prepared canvas. Use a rag that you don't mind getting the Podge on and smooth the surface of the photo. Dont worry if you get some Mod Podge on the front of the photo. It wont ruin it.  I then turned the canvas over and smoothed it out from the back. Sorry, I didn't take pictures of this.

  

Add a layer of Mod Podge to the entire top and edges of the photograph (will be milky until dry). Trust me it will be fine. Unless you have used a picture you printed at home. If thats the case, stop now and go order yourself some professionally printed photos. Home printed inks will not hold up to the moisture and the colors will smear. I like my photos printed Matte. I tested this first on a glossy photo and I don't think I like the way it looked. 

Use a paper towel to pounce or blot the surface of the wet Mod Podge. This is my very own idea :). I wanted mine to have texture and look as much like it was printed on canvas as possible. I used a Bounty Paper towel or you can use a napkin. Be careful if you use a cheap napkin. It may not hold up and end up sticking to your Mod Podge.

Let this dry and then add another layer of Podge and then pounce with paper towel again. I did this 3 times total. No reason, I just thought that sounded like a good amount. You can probably get away with only one layer.

 Here is a close up of the textured surface after 3 layers of Mod Podge and paper towel pouncing. Looks pretty close to a canvas print.

 

And here is my final product!

I am soooo pleased with this. Cant wait to do more!

It cost roughly $4 each. I saved $120 to $200 ! Woo Hoo!

 

You could also do this with calendar pages, pretty wrapping paper, fabric... so many fun projects you can do!