Trendy Tuesday: Incorporating Photos

More Photos Please
by Aliya White

It’s Christmas time and I can’t seem to get enough of the photo Christmas cards coming in from my friends and family.  I make my own Christmas cards by hand each year (even though the list keeps shrinking 🙂 ) but I still like to show off all of my pictures.  With two adorable nephews, a beautiful niece, my husband’s wonderful dimples and a few random selfies, I have plenty of choices in pictures and am always looking for new ways to display them.  I am thrilled to share with you some of the fun ideas I have found for you to use your pictures too.  When making your own photo projects you should always make copies of your pictures rather than using the originals.

I adore this earthy colored toned wreath by Birgit at My Scrappin’ Life.  She used mini canvases and transferred pictures on them in sepia tones to create this lovely wreath.  It is sweet and personalized and a great centerpiece for your home or a great gift for relatives to show off the family.

Wreath by Birgit Koopsen image source My Scrappin’ Life

 

For those of us who got hot and heavy into the mason jar trend and are looking around for things to do with all of the lids, I have a great photo idea for you courtesy of the Crafting Chicks.  Jamie created coaster like images of her family and put them in this color pop red wreath.

Wreath by Jamie image courtesy of The Crafting Chicks

Another great mantel gift that can be used during the holidays and throughout the year is a clock.  Simple punches were used with scrapbook paper to create this one of a kind center stager.   I love the idea of having the photos represent some of the fun times (I have been hanging out with a punster so forgive the occasional pun) the family had during the year.  You can also use old photos and show the aging process of one person or a family lineage, even puppy to dog photo montages.

Clock from Julee Dyer image courtesy of Land of Nog

I love the versatility in this piece.  You can clip photos to it or put them on tags, spell out names, Christmas wishes or even hang special cards your received from loved ones on this window.  And of course, there is plenty of room for embellishments and flair. 

Window by Corrie Jones image courtesy of Shimelle

If you are looking for something a bit smaller and less time intensive, I have a few cute ideas for you too.  Sarah created a garland out of copies of photos of her children and wooden pieces she decoupaged.  She jazzed them up with ribbon and scrapbook paper and hung them from her banister.

Ornament by Sarah photo courtesy of Memories on Clover Lane

A nice treatment to a inexpensive frame can include the frame and the picture mat as well.  In this example scrapbook paper was used along with a common office supply so you can change out pictures as frequently as you’d like.

 

Frames by Whitney photo courtesy of Shanty2chic

If you have many pictures and not as much space, consider using a wooden block where you can include several pictures and lovely flowers too as Leeann did here.

Ornaments by Leann Pearce photo courtesy of Allison Kreft Designs

These adorable hand sewn felt Polaroids are too cute.  I could see how neat that would be to embroider the year or a note about the picture on the bottom as well.

Ornament by Katie image courtesy of Katie Cupcake

Super popular right now are customized wooden clothespins.  You can make your own with photos you have taken over the years or a scene and hang Christmas cards with them on the fridge.  This one uses a cool landscape.

 Photo courtesy of Postalpix

The vintage flair of these bell jars is just irresistible especially when I tell you they are made of upside down plastic wine glasses you can find at your local dollar store.  The magic of these ornaments is about the close up shot fussy cut and the embellishments and glitter surrounding them.

Ornament by Ashelee image courtesy of My So Called Crafty Life

The name of this last project just got me.  They are called Comfort Boxes.  They are made of empty match boxes and have little surprise photos and words of encouragement in them.  They are sweet and kitschy at the same time.

Box by Kimmy photo courtesy of Making Mondays

Most photo projects use some sort of Mod Podge which is awesome and comes in so many great varieties that it can work on any surface you are interested in.  I also found that these projects are a great way to use your stash of embellishments to decorate them as well as a good use of scrap paper you have; or a great excuse to shop for holiday or theme specific scrap paper.

There are, of course, the surfaces, which are endless. Below are just a few that I found at Canvas Corp and Paper Smooches that have possibility written all over them.

 

There are a lot of beautiful, whimsical, traditional, bright, neutral and every other style of holiday paper available.  Here are few that I liked from October Afternoon, Glitz Design and BoBunny

 

And of course you need embellishments like flairs, buttons, stickers and ribbon.  Prima always has lovely flowers and I like their die cuts as well!

So enjoy your photos for the holidays, year round, create special one of a kind gifts and definitely take more selfies: you are only limited by your imagination.

Go ahead… make something pretty.