Aggie Family Portrait

This first appeared on the Deals show, but I wanted to include the tute on my blog...  My husband is super cautious and doesn't like for us to have anything on our cars about our kids, sports, schools, etc.  So, I wanted to make some easy art which would have these popular collegiate stick families you see on everyone's cars, but make it nice enough to hang on our wall.

I channeled my best Bob Ross and am quite pleased with the results!!  In the early mornings, when the kids wake up before 6 AM during the school year, we can actually catch some episodes of the Happy, little tree guy on our local PBS station!!  My kids love him, but I digress...  This was super easy, though I had a little challenge, which if you watched the show I didn't have my husband's sticker on the art project.  The show we taped is here...

Alas, my husband did not graduate from my alma mater.  He didn't even attend the school, so I didn't think it was fair to put his sticker on the art project as an Aggie, even for the show.  So, I had to sub the Aggie Dad and paint my husband's school initials on the project in his school colors, which took four coats of pain pen to color his jersey yellow.  Be patient, it will cover with several light layers.

I have included a tute, but I think it's pretty self-explanatory...  If you have any questions, please feel free to send me a note!  :)


Materials:

Wood
Saw/sander
Trim (optional)
Hanger (optional)
Paints/sponges/brushes
Collegiate Stickers (Found mine on clearance!)
Paint Pens
Wood glue
Rubber bands/clamps
Homemade Stain

Instructions:

1. Cut down your wood and sand down the edges.  You may also have your home improvement store do the cutting for you.  Mine is 12 inches, square.
2. Use your sponges to paint out the background scene you want for your sticker family...  Be easy on yourself, it's meant to be cartoon-y.
3. You can either use your stickers and create your family picture or use the paint pens to draw your family in. 
4. Paint your trim with the homemade stain...  I did five coats (you can tell the original color of the wood, next to the stained one) and didn't bother letting it dry in between coats...  I like how forgiving the vinegar solution is.
5. Glue your trim around the picture and secure with rubber bands/clamps.  I let mine dry for 24 hours, just in case.
6. Place the hangar on the back.
7. Admire your unique, wall art in the days, weeks, months to come!

How do you like to decorate on the cheap?

Take care, 

Morgan

See the second strip in natural with the other strips in 5 coats

Wood square

Cheapest art supplies ever!

Very complex drying clamps (rubber bands!)