I'm not quite sure how I talked myself into creating this monstrosity of a project, but Ethan's room requires additional decor, especially above the bed, and since we're on a tight budget these days, the only real way we're going to get a decent piece of art on the walls is by me utilizing the magic of paper and modge podge. Sounds simple enough, until Chris rampages to the nearest Michael's store and purchases a 4 foot by 3 foot blank canvas. It barely fit in the car! I almost thought I was going to have to tie it to the roof! Laugh. Amazingly, I squeezed the thing in the back of my Honda civic and away we went! It wasn't until I dragged the canvas into the house that I realized how absolutely crazy I was in thinking that I could actually cover the canvas with paper from corner to corner. Obviously, the rational part of my brain was well aware of the tedious nature and time investment that would have to be put forth if I was going to really succumb myself to pasting 104 4" x 4" squares (sewn & distressed) onto a massive size piece of fabric. Seriously Chris, what were you thinking? I obviously wasn't....ambition always gets the best of me!
I stood back and took an image of the canvas as a whole and it ended up looking ridiculous. It's too big of an object to be photographed semi-decently. And see them little squares? There will soon be over a hundred of them and each will be a family member of either turquoise, red, olive green or yellow. They'll be hints of black and cream as well...it'll be eye catching to say the least!
I'm doing a quick arrangement of stitches around the outskirts of each square. Thankfully, I've a hefty duty sewing machine to help me with all that stitching! It's an investment I've never really regretted - the machine still runs like it's brand new too!
And yes, that would be Amber laying claim to the canvas - I thought it'd be kind of cute to include her in the photo :)
Following the sewing is the hand application of Distress Ink. Swipe and sponge it on as quickly as possible 'cause there's another hundred of them waiting - I plan to sit a full evening and distress the entire pile of squares while watching a round of the First 48 or Parking Wars...
And here's a pic of the paper assortment that'll eventually find it's way to the car-size canvas - isn't it nummy? Perfect for a little guy's room!
And on to a completely different topic, white balance. I've a long history of going without a decent grey card for managing white balance on my camera. I've never really owned one before - well, after aimless attempts to color correct images in photoshop, I finally caved and picked up this $12 "wearable" card combo from Amazon.com. It is the bomb!! I wish I would of bought it a long time ago as it makes a huge difference in the successful output of accurately colored images. To use it, I simply photograph the card with my camera (stretch and click!). I then access the camera's menu and instruct it to use the image {containing the grey card} to set-up color parameters best suited for the environment in which I'll be taking my pictures. I often do a double check and grab a couple misc. shots to make sure the parameters are decent {usually they are}. From there, it's all photography 'til another white balance reading is demanded.
If you're curious as to the specifics of this particular product, you'll find it HERE. If you ask me, I think it's a really great deal! I'm extremely happy with it...
Can't leave without a cat pic, right?! I should probably start charging this cat rent since he thinks my scrapbook desk is his turf and not mine. Funny thing is, I let him lay there like a lion because I've a weakness for cute cats like him. So much so, that I allowed him to make himself at home on top my new Collage Press papers from Pink Paislee. Love is blind my friends...
We'll see how far I get with the canvas this weekend - I'm betten' that'll not see more than twenty squares by the end of the weekend, but who's really counting anyway? Smile. Have a great weekend guys! ~CM
