Make: Sunshine Printable {free download!} and triple panel wall art tutorial
Monday, June 11, 2012 at 06:00AM 
I'm guest posting over at the Creating Keepsakes blog today, talking about some fun inspiration I found on pinterest that prompted me to create this:
Click on over to CK's site to see my inspiration, or continue reading here for a free download of the above artwork, a quick tutorial on how to create the triple panel display shown above using this print, and a few more quote printables available for free download!
Let's start with the downloads. These are all .jpg files sized for printing at 8x10 (they could also be printed out at 16x20, but other sizes such as 5x7 will result in part of the artwork getting cut off). Click each photo to be taken to the hi-res version, then right click to download to your computer. Then send to the photo developer of your choice! (Just be aware that all photo developers aren't created equal: I had mine printed at my local grocery store because I was in a hurry, and the colors didn't turn out as vibrant as they should have. No biggie - it still looks fine, but you generally get what you pay for when it comes to photo processing.) One more note: I'd recommend turning auto color correct OFF when you order these prints.
You are my sunshine printable by Autumn Baldwin
quote attributed to both Thomas S. Monson and Barbara Johnson
quote from A. A. Milne {Winnie the Pooh}
quote from A. A. Milne {Winnie the Pooh}I wanted to give credit to another blogger who created a sign for her son's room using this same quote (can be seen if you scroll down here) - that's where I got the idea to add the banner. However, the sign is an anonymous entry to a craft contest, so I don't know the actual blogger's site yet. I'll add that in when I find out who she is!
Grab any of these prints that you like by clicking on the image. I hope you like them!
Now I want to show you how I turned this:
...into this:
I used an 8x10 inch piece of quarter inch thick MDF. It's sold in 2ftx4ft sheets at Home Depot and the like for about $4, and it's great for all sorts of craft projects. I used it for the fabric covered wall hangings seen here, and the quote artwork seen on the wall here. You can grab a sheet at Home Depot and take it to the cutting area in back and ask an employee to cut it to any size squares you like.
MDF is nice because it's smooth and extremely lightweight, making it perfect for things you might want to hang on the wall. But you could use any sort of scrap wood for this project, as long as you sand it down smooth before attaching your photos.
I cut my 8x10 inch piece of MDF into three strips, each 8 inches wide and about 3.25 inches tall.
Then I flipped my print over and traced each of the pieces on the back, so I'd know where to make my cuts on the print (take care to position your panels so that you cut in between the text so no words are slice right in half.
I cut the print into pieces, then trimmed each piece so it was just slightly smaller than the MDF panel it would go on. Then I used spray adhesive to attach eace piece of the print to a panel (find my tips for using spray adhesive here). When the adjesive had dried, I pulled out some sandpaper and distressed the edges of each panel.
Finally, I flipped the panels print side down on a towel and then used scrap piece of MDF to join them back together. I made sure there was a small space in between each panel, then used wood glue and a staple gun to attach the scrap MDF to all three panels.
Now, quarter inch MDF is so lightweight that if you don't have scraps and a staple gun, you could probably attached these panels back together using super glue and popsicle sticks!
You can use a small picture stand (the one shown here is from the dollar store) to display your quote art, or you can super glue a sawtooth picture hanger onto the back and hang it on the wall using a nail.
You could also simply attach the entire print to an 8x10 piece of MDF or wood, or even an 8x10 canvas (like I did in this post).
Enjoy!
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Reader Comments (8)
I think this is one I can actually do! Thanks
These printables are GREAT! Especially like the sunshine one =) Thanks for sharing
Visiting from Flamingo Toes
Love this! When you have your prints done sent to a local place, what kind of paper are they done on? I would guess photo paper but do you request matte? Thanks for such great instructions and sharing these printables with us. JG
Uh, I didn't mean "done sent"! Might as well have typed yee haw and gosh durnit! ;-)
Wow, this is such a great idea! I need to try this sometime soon...it looks so simple! Thanks for sharing!
Jackie - I do request matte when I get these printed, and it is just on normal photo paper, gosh durnit! :)
Oh my goodness, I love this! I'm your newest follower!
I absolutely love everything about this project! I just pinned it so I can come back and make it soon! I'm hosting a craft contest on my blog and the entry period is open now through the 11th...I'd love for you to stop by and see if you'd be interested in entering! If this is any indication of what you can do, I'd love to see more!! http://www.oneartsymama.com/2013/05/one-crafty-contest-enter-here.html