Wordless Wednesday

DIY photo canvas wall collage 12x12 inch squares

I've been trying to decide what to do with our wall in our dining room since we bought our house in September. I'm so pleased with the way this turned out. Photography has always been a hobby of mine and I really wanted to display some of the photos I've taken over the years. Here is the layout I designed in Photoshop.

I love how I know exactly when & where each photo is taken. Starting top left, 1) Rocks, Carlsbad Beach 2) Orchid at my father-in-law's wedding, 3) fall in Truckee, 4) palm tree at Carlsbad Beach Campground, 5) Surfers at dusk Carlsbad Beach, 6) Sunset, Carlsbad Beach, 7) Secret Harbor Lake Tahoe, 8) Heart in Sand Carlsbad Beach, 9) Butterfly in Carlsbad, 10) Sand Harbor Lake Tahoe, 11) Pine Cone, Carnelian Bay Lake Tahoe, 12) Seashell Carlsbad Beach, 13), Lake Tahoe Incline Village, 14), Lake Tahoe Homewood after a Snowfall, 15) Sunset Water Carlsbad Beach.
I knew I wanted canvases but they are so expensive and I didn't want to spend a fortune on this project.

I started by selecting what images I wanted and I resized them all to 12x12 inch squares. I ordered each print from WHCC for about $4 each. I then went to Michaels and got the super value packs of 12x12 canvases. Total cost of each 12x12 canvas is about $7-8 which surely beats the price of $45 each at print shops! And, from far away you can't tell that they aren't real canvases. :)

With a little Mod-Podge and a foam brush here is the finished product (excuse the crappy iPhone photo).

Makayla Jo | two month update | May 9, 2012

Makayla had her two month checkup and here are her stats:

Weight: 10 lbs, 7.3 ounces
Height: 22 3/4
Head Circ.: 36.8 cm

She has grown so much in the past month! The biggest thing to report is that she is officially in her beautiful room in her crib. We put her in there on Friday, May 4th, which was the day she turned 8 weeks old. The first night she slept from 9 pm to 3 am! SIX hours right off the bat! We were amazed at how great she did. She really loves being all stretched out, her arms way above her head or out like an airplane on her sides. I think she was getting really squished in her Fisher Price Rock N Play, which is what she was sleeping in since we brought her home from the hospital. She has been sleeping on average 6-7 hours during her first stretch of sleep at night but then decides its only cat nap time after her 3-4 a.m. feeding. She will then usually be up every hour until 6-6:45 a.m. when her daddy comes home from working overnights.

She has definitely started cooing, smiling, responding to voices, and sticking our her tongue!

We did a LOT this month:

played with Grandpa on Mother's Day 

Celebrated our first Easter

Celebrated our first Mothers Day

Had lots of smiles & giggles

Went to my work to say hi to everyone

Held your own bottle for the first time (haven't done it since) - 6 weeks

Found your thumb for the first time

Snuggled with Dad

Slept in your own bed

Went to the Flower Fields 

Practiced Tummy Time

Got a pedicure ;)

Went to LA

Took lots of walks by the beach in the warm weather

You got your two month shots :(

Had lots of snuggles for a couple of days following your shots 

Had the biggest smiles and giggles

Introduced you to your new BFF, Sophie the Giraffe

Makayla Jo | storyboards

I created these two storyboards for Makayla's bedroom. They are 20 inches x 20 inches and are in frames from Ikea above her dresser/changing table. A very big thanks to Krista Lund for the template.

Stephanie & Stephen | custom destination wedding save the date magnets starfish

Studio M | custom flourish business logo design

Cali Crochet | custom etsy banner design

Pasion de Papel custom business logo design and custom etsy banner design

Shabby Chic Floral Boutique | custom business logo design

Panache Affairs Weddings and Events | custom business logo design

Tonya McCarthy Photography | custom business logo for photographer

Wordless Wednesday

Top Reasons to Use a Wedding Monogram

When reviewing marriage blogs, it is clear that wedding monograms are a top trend. A wedding monogram can be a unique graphic, which you can customize to match your wedding theme. This monogram can be put on everything from invitations to the cake topper to table linens. Read on to learn more about the top reasons to use a wedding monogram.

• Unique and Personal Touch – A wedding monogram should be created so that it is representative of the couple and the type of wedding ceremony they wish to have. A wedding monogram can be made to have a more traditional and elegant feel, using a strong, classic font and a black and white color scheme. A monogram can also be made to have a more casual feel, or even a shabby chic theme. The choice is yours, and is only limited by the number of fonts and color choices available. If you'd like a more unique monogram, you could even have it designed by an artist. The monogram you create will be very personal to you and your partner, making it a good way to add your "stamp" to the event of your wedding.
• Consistency – Planning a wedding can be a complicated and stressful process. When you are making so many different choices, including venue, food, and dress, it can be difficult to ensure that all the decisions you make match your theme. This can be a good reason to introduce a monogram to your wedding. The monogram can be a common thread that ties all the different parts of your wedding together. Try to include your monogram throughout the wedding, on the invitations, place settings, napkins, and cake. You can also create dishes printed with your monogram, or include the monogram in party favors and thank you notes. Your guests will recognize the monogram as a major part of your wedding.
• Keepsakes – The monogram you create becomes a symbol of your love and union. As a result, this monogram can be cleverly put on display in your home, such as on dishes, towels, and pillows as a reminder of your special day. You can also create monogrammed stationary, and use your monogram in thank you notes to your guests. 

If you are interested in wedding planning, consider investigating bridal consulting degrees.

Sources

Wedding Monograms.com (2012)

Nelson Design (2012)