Friday, January 22, 2010

Tutorial: Photo Wood Blocks

Here is my first step-by-step tutorial... and I made it an easy one. I made these blocks for my mom and mother-in-law for Christmas and they loved them, so I thought I'd share. They are easy, although time consuming. And if you think they are just too much work... I would love to make them for you.

Start with Modge Podge, scrapbook paper, blocks (I bought mine here) foam brush, and photos printed on a laser printer slightly smaller than the block. (I printed my photos at 1.22 inches for a 1.25" block), a good cutter and letters (I used rub on letters bought at Michaels, but you can use printed letters or stamps- whatever works for you.)

Cut all you scrapbook paper out to fit the squares and cut your pictures out. I really suggest a cutter here, it makes it way easier.

You then use your foam brush to apply a thin layer of Modge Podge to the block and apply the paper and the photos in whatever arrangement you desire. I like to use a plain or simpe paper for the blocks that I want to apply the letters to, it makes them easily readable.


Apply another thin layer of Modge Podge.

It is very important that you let the blocks dry completely between all steps. Wait a few hours or you could end up with a gooey mess. After they are dry, you can apply the rub-on letters to the blocks by... well... rubbing them on with the end of your foam brush.

That's it, basically you are done. However, the ever overachiever, I like to age mine. To do this, use sand paper, some craft paint (I like Folk Art Maple Syrup) and a foam brush.

Lightly sand the corners and edges (I use a 120-180 grit sandpaper) At this point, I am not above child labor...
Now use a tiny teeny amount of the piant and rub it on all the edges and corners.

And voila:



They make fantastic gifts, Mother's Day, Valentines Day, anniversaries. It would be great to give at a baby shower with personalized photos of the baby's family.

Have fun!

Update: Check out these photo blocks that Darci did where she really dressed them up for Mother's Day.

52 comments:

  1. I love it... do you think it would work alright if I don't have a laser printer. Oh and what type of paper did you use to print the pictures.
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  2. Those are really cool, Michele! And maybe even something I might do on one of these snowy days. Great seeing you and the girls today!!
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  3. I love this!!! What a great gift idea!! I will definitely put this on my to-do list!!
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  4. These are awesome!!
    And it reminds me that I didn't check out your tattoo today. Ever since you posted photos, I've been wanting another.
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  5. Those are so cute!! Did you print on to photo paper or regular paper? It was fun hanging out with you all yesterday! Natey had a blast and I'm glad Annika (spelling? I stink) rivels his energy level!
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  6. I just showed my MIL this - I was going to make them...but who am I kidding...I don't have the time. SOOOOO....you will be getting an order from me pretty soon :) I just have to figure out what pictures I want to use!! Oh...and what I want it to say!!

    (she also LOVED the Modge Podge face painting pictures!!)
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  7. I love love these... I might try to make some 'memory' blocks for each child ... Thanks for sharing! I love them!
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  8. Love these! I'm bookmarking this in case I ever feel remotely crafty!
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  9. I have started to follow your blog. Thank you so much for the inspiration. I am not a stay at home mom,so I'm looking for craft projects to do with my little kids. I love crafting and I would love to start doing so with my kids. This project is very do-able. Much thanks to you.
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  11. Love this tutorial! I posted the last comment and my little one bumped me causing me to post it before I fixed tons of typos. Hard to type with kids on lap. :) Lol.

    I found your blog from Stumble upon. I will def be back. This is way cute on little blocks!
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  12. Those are amazing! I can't wait to order!!! You will have them for a while on your etsy shop? Gotta wait for payday ;)
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  13. this is such a fabulous idea. thanks so much for sharing!!
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  14. These are fantastic! I'm bookmarking for a possible Mother's Day gift. Thanks for sharing!
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  15. These are fabulous. Thank you for sharing the tutorial, I LOVE the way these came out ;)
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  16. Hi! I totally featured your blocks on my blog and put a link to your etsy page. I love these and love the idea and I just had to get my friends to buy some because I know as soon as my paycheck comes I will. Good luck to ya girlie! By the way, you look great to have 3 girls!
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  17. Hi I was wondering on this project if it matters if you use an ink jet or do you think that the ink would smear when you glue it on? Just wondering if it matters? do you just use regular printer paper?
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  18. I did not use an inkjet as that ink is water based and I am pretty sure it would smear. I use only a laser and I put them on 28# paper. (Not glossy either) I am sure 24# would be ok too, but I would not go down to 20#, that would just be too thin.

    Hope that helps.
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  19. Hello! I featured your blocks on my blog and put a link to yours.
    What a great gift idea!!
    Thanks for sharing
    Hugs from Brazil
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  20. O my Gosh, they look great! Thanks for sharing, WILL TRY!
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  21. What a great idea!!! thanks for sharing. We will make those for our moms at church! (great Mother's day gift!!)
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  22. This is such a creative gift! Any person would appreciate this. I'll be sure to be making these soon.
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  23. This is such a great idea! I started a blog this week and it's one of the first posts. I made sure to add links to your site!

    I plan on making some next week as soon as I find somewhere to print laser pictures! Thanks so much for sharing!
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  24. So you age it by sanding down while photos are already glued on? the whole photo or just the edges?
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  25. These are SO cute, and so SIMPLE! Thanks for sharing this easy tutorial! I can't wait to try this myself!!
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  26. That is such a cute project! I love it! Thanks for sharing your steps....is there no end to the awesomeness of Mod Podge??
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  27. This is adorable! I love blocks and these are so special.
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  28. I'm not sure I understand correctly: do I apply another layer of mod podge on top of the photo (or scrapbook paper) after it has been added?
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  29. Thanks so much for this step-by-step. I wanted to do something similar but a little larger for photos to hang on the wall, so I adapted it to work for me. Thanks again.
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  30. Great tutorial! Thank you for sharing!
    A fellow Etsian
    Please visit my Etsy shop, oMordah©
    for awesome gifts and accessories.
    http://www.etsy.com/shop/omordah
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  31. Thanks SO much for this amazing tutorial! These blocks are too great not to share! I featured you on my blog:
    http://fancygratitude.blogspot.com/2011/07/wooden-name-blocks.html
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  32. OK, these are absolutely adorable. My kids are grown but I could still see a set with their photos and a holiday theme. Thinking I'll make them each a set for Christmas!
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  33. I LOVE these! What a wonderful & clever idea! Thank you so much for sharing!!! (oh and you're somewhat of a neighbor I am on Cape Cod!)
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  34. I love this idea. How do you get all the photos on one page to print.
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  35. How awesome! LOVE LOVE LOVE this! I have a bunch of old jenga blocks I have been hanging onto! Maybe I will do this! ;)
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  36. Awesome! Could you give me some insight on what color of paint for the edges?
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  37. This is so adorable and such a good way to use all of those random shots you seem to accumulate when you wear the hats of both mom and family photographer lol. Thanks for sharing! :)
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  38. What a neet idea for the holidays...
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  39. How do I print 1.22 inch pictures like you did for these blocks?
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  40. I absolutely love these, but it's too bad that the blocks have a minimum order of 25$ .... that's a whole lot of blocks.
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  41. Amazing! Great idea for a Christmas gift!
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  42. How do you shrink the photos that small without them losing their resolution?
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  43. When you say time consuming, how long do you estimate these might take? I want to make three sets for different family members, but I want to know if that is practical, or how many blocks I will have time to make for each person??
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  44. I loved this idea so much, I made two sets for my kids (28 and 21) for Christmas. I used three different sizes of blocks (now who's the over-achiever?) and gajillions of tiny photos, scrapbook paper pieces, and rub on letters. I also used a glass block for each set with quotes on them. They turned out awesome but were quite time consuming.......however.....very much worth it! Thanks for the great idea!
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  45. Wow! This is so gorgeous! I've been keeping blocks on hand just looking for the right project! YOU WIN! thank you so much for your step by step instructions!
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