DIY Photo Canvas

Went out to take some family photos in the beautiful Autumn colours before it was too late. Fell head-over-heels in love with this one (which is amazing since we set up the tripod, the timer, and I ran like the wind to get in front of the lens before the shutter went off!)

This one was also amazing, but my hair isn't doing quite as much natural blowing in the wind, and Oliver looks a little colder...

Which he was. It was a chilly photo taking extravaganza. I photoshopped the redness out of his nose and cheeks, but it was there, let me tell ya.

But I loved that one photo so much that the next day I couldn't stop staring at it on my phone. Just staring at how wonderful it was, and how happy it made me to be so blessed with such an incredible family of my own. I think it take it for granted sometimes, since living in a basement apartment, being pregnant, financially supporting my family and my husband's schooling, being a super-mom, and running my own business can really get me feeling overwhelmed, and pretty bummed about life. I can't stop thinking "Why don't I have a house? Why don't I have rich parents that just give me a down payment for a house? Why can't I live closer to my family and friends? Why is there never any money?" But the truth of the matter is that I am beyond the moon, past the stars, home-run at the world series blessed beyond measure. An incredible marriage to the man of my dreams, I healthy and incredible genius son, a roof over my head, food in my fridge, and happy memories each and every day. And that photo reminded me of that somehow.

So I wanted to have it.

Not just have it on my phone. Not just frame it in our hallway. Nope.
I wanted to have it blown up to an enormous size and mounted in the middle of our main living space in the apartment.

But who can afford photos on canvas? Hello overpriced novelty item.

So instead, we found a creative and much cheaper way to get the job done.

I, of course, apologize for the poor quality of the photo. I instagrammed it because I couldn't wait to share it with the world, because it made me so darn happy, and I haven't had a chance to take a proper picture of it yet. But I think you can tell from that instagram the scale, and also the incredible awesomeness.

Basically, what we did was I got my hubby to pick us up some 2x3's from the nearest Home Depot, and when we got them home he built me a basic frame. Then we got our photo printed at Wal Mart in the largest poster size they have, and wrapped it around the frame ourselves! We just stapled it to the back, and voila! DIY Photo Canvas.

And I am so in love with it that every time I walk past it, my heart just flutters. Oliver loves it too, and he points to it and says "Dada 'n Mama 'n Baba." Which melts my already fluttering heart.

So in love with my family. :)