DIY Photo Blocks

Everyone, especially grandparents, LOVE photo gifts all year long! I've seen where you can order these online but if you've got a little time to spare, you can make these photo blocks yourself!

Have you ever walked around the craft store and were struck with inspiration? You get home and go online only to find someone else already came up with this? Yeah, so apparently I didn't invent these DIY photo blocks. What the heck, I'll share it anyway. It's a good reminder to get those photos out of your camera, phone and computers!

You need:

Wood Block(Michael's $4.69, don't forget to look for coupons!)

Photos

Mod Podge

Scissors or paper trimmer

Foam brush

These blocks are about 3 ½ squares so 4x6 photos will need to be trimmed. Take the time to make sure photos are cut evenly. The fastest way I found was to make a square template. I cut my photos slightly smaller than the square. Before I stuck on photos, I painted the corners of the cube black. Since there will be no photo on the bottom I painted that black as well.

Using a foam brush, I applied a thin layer of Mod Podge to one side of block. Carefully position the photo onto the block and press down. Repeat for all sides and allow to dry. You'll probably have to wait for a couple sides to dry before you can do the other sides. You don't want the Mod Podge to smudge or photos to move before they are dry. 

Use a white pen or paint to write a message or the year on the bottom of the block. After the first layer of Mod Podge dries, do another layer of Mod Podge on top of the photos on all sides. Allow block to dry thoroughly before handling.

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Matryoshka Plaque

I have been slightly obsessed with Matryoshka Dolls for a couple weeks now and this paper pieced wooden plaque is the first of many projects I've been planning. I've had so many ideas for Matryoshka projects, I had to start writing them down so I wouldn't forget! These pretty plaques are made up of images cut from magazines! Yup, I'm recycling again. I have so many magazines which I do try to read, but there just aren't enough hours in the day!

Supplies:

• piece of wood(scrap section in home improvement store is perfect for this)
• old magazines
• Mod Podge
• glue stick

I started out by drawing the doll shape on a piece of paper and cutting out. I use this as a template so I can piece the cut out paper into the right shape I want. I chose to stain my wood but it's up to you what look you want.  Now just flip through your magazines and look for pretty pictures/patterns that will work with your design! If you don't have any magazines you could always use scrapbook paper too. My faces are circles cut from large faces in the magazine and then I use pen to draw on the eyes and mouth.

I glued my paper pieces together with a glue stick first to make sure everything stayed together the way it was supposed to. Now, just Mod Podge the pieces onto the prepared wood. Magazine paper is pretty thin and will rip when it gets wet so be careful! Follow with a few layers of Mod Podge to seal it really well.

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