Fun Photos

Manipulate Photos to Create Wall Art

Do you remember drawing funny noses and eyebrows on photos in the newspaper and magazines when you were younger (or maybe not so much younger)? For this project you need to channel your inner child - no art background is necessary!

This is a whimsical way to display photos of your kids or the entire family!

You will need:
1) Tags (often found at small hardware stores and Michael's)
2) Photos (digital or hard copy)
3) Decorative art papers (The Paper Source or make your own)
4) Sharpie
5) Mod Podge and artist brush or spray adhesive
6) Old buttons, broken Jewelry, bottle caps etc. (use your imagination)
7) Push pins
8) Super glue
9) Standard copy paper (if you are printing at home)
10) Imagination

Just like in the Family Photo Wall Project (DIY section) you will need to print your pictures on standard copy paper or higher quality copy paper if you are placing the pictures on a patterned background - this will be discussed further in the project.

I will offer two options for this project. Option A, will explain how to make the simple tag style, pictured above. Option B, will explain how to make the tags with a colored background, pictured below. This project has infinite creative possibilities.

  

Option A

#1 Using a home copy machine or one at Kinkos manipulate your pictures to the size you want and add black and white effects if the pictures are color ( I have tried this with color photos and have never gotten it to work, but don't let that stop you!). I usually need to print the pictures in several different sizes to figure out which one works best. For my example, I started with a picture of my son.

#2 Once you have copied the picture and manipulated it to the desired size, cut out the head only

#3 Now, lay the head on the tag. With a pencil lightly sketch the upper part of the torso. Don't worry about your drawing skills. If the body is disproportionate to the head, it only adds to the humor of the piece. Simple  neck designs such as bow ties and peter pan collars are easy to draw. 

#4 Once you have the torso the way you want it, trace over it with a sharpie.

#5 Using Mod Podge or spray adhesive adhere the head to the tag.

#6 Now, using some type of art paper, dictionary page, or other decorative paper create a hat. I usually lay a small piece of paper on the top of the head to get the arch right. Then sketch with a pencil and cut the hat out. Try different ones: party hats, beannies, crowns, top hats.

#7 Once you have the right hat adhere it to the head and your tag is finished. 

#8 The tag holder is created from random objects: bottle caps, old buttons or broken jewelry, just to name a few. Using super glue attach a push pin ( I use wooden ones) to the back of your object. Now, you have a tag and a hanger.

 Tie a knot in the tag string towards the end, push the thumb tack into the wall where you want it, hang the tag and DONE!

Option B

#1 Same as in option A,  using a home copy machine or one at Kinkos manipulate your pictures to the size you want and add black and white effects if the pictures are color ( I have tried this with color photos and have never gotten it to work, but don't let that stop you!). I usually need to print the pictures in several different sizes to figure out which one works best. For my example,I am working with pictures of my brother's family.

#2 Once you have copied the picture and manipulated it to the desired size, cut out the head only

#3 Next, trace around the tag (after removing the string) onto the selected art paper. I used some scrap paper I had stamped. 

#4 Cut out the tag shaped art paper and glue it to the tag using Mod Podge.

#5 Now trace the tag one more time onto high quality copy paper (thick enough that you cannot see pattern through it). Place the head on the white tag and with a pencil begin to draw the shirt. (sorry about the fuzzy pic)

#6 I usually lay the head under another sheet of white paper to get the correct arch of the head to create the hat.

#7 Cut out the clothes and hat. Lay them along with the head on the patterned tag. Once you have a look you like, trace over the pencil lines with a sharpie 

#8 Now glue all of the pieces to the tag using Mod Podge or spray adhesive.

#9 As in option A, the tag holder is created from random objects: bottle caps, old buttons or broken jewelry, just to name a few. Don't be afraid to glue items together. Using super glue attach a push pin ( I use wooden ones) to the back of your object(s). Now, you have a tag and a hanger.

 Tie a knot in the tag string towards the end, push the thumb tack into the wall where you want it, hang the tag and DONE!

These fun photo tags also make make great personal Christmas and Birthday present tags. 

Be creative!