Decorating With Photos

Recent History: If you remember, I have these HUGE Ikea frames above my couch.  I didn't have anything in them, but hung them up anyway... for, like, a few months.  ::ahem::  Then Christmas came along and the empty frames just wouldn't do!  So I made these posters in Photoshop and got them printed 20x30 size at Costco.  (See full post & downloads HERE)

I LOVED them!  Such a fun way to spruce up the wall for the holidays.

But then, down came the Christmas decor and once again I found myself in a pickle.  What do I put in them NOW???   I had been thinking about doing some photos of my kids but I don't know.... 20x30s of their giant faces?  That might be a bit much.  So I was thinking out loud to some friends about how I wanted to do something where the focus was on a flower (or something) and my kids would be out of focus in the background (or something).   Or... something. I didn't really know what I wanted, to be honest with you.

Then, one of my brilliant friends said "Why not do it where they are signing I Love You with their hands ...each doing a different word?"

Wha????  I couldn't wait to try.

Here, my friends, is the end result:

(Sorry about the glare/reflections!  No matter what time of day I took these photos the result was the same.  I mean, I love the light in there but c'mon!)

 To say that I am in love with these would be an understatement.  I may have shed a single tear as I stepped back to look at them for the first time.

And yes, there are subtle Valentine's Day undertones here, but really, couldn't I have these up all the time?  Please say yes.

I love the huge impact these have on the room.  I love that the focus is on their hands so it's not just their huge faces looming over the person laying on the couch (although don't put it past me to take photos of just their eyes or something and put them up there in the future).  I love that my kids are now works of art!  I love that it's a sweet message.  I love that Brynn could not make the Justin Beiber heart with her hands to save her life so we had to go to Plan B (which I think turned out better anyway!).   I love that it took about 10 minutes after church on Sunday to take these photos.  I love when I find a reason to love that I only have three kids (curse you infertility issues!!).  I love the "Colorized" Photoshop action I got from Pioneer Woman (get the PSE versions HERE) which resulted in the perfect muted colors I was looking for.  I love the $8.99 price for 20x30 enlargements at Costco.  I love digital photography.

Most of all, I loved the looks on their faces when they walked in from school on Monday and saw themselves larger than life on the family room wall.  Can't beat that.

Now that I'm in a lovey mood I can't wait to get cracking on some Valentine's crafts! In the mean time, I hope this inspires you to think about using photos for even seasonal decor and holidays.  Why not, right?

Link parties I participate in: Tip Junkie, Someday Crafts, Tatertots & Jello, I Heart Naptime, Lolly Jane, Be Different Act Normal, Craftomaniac, Today's Creative Blog, Flamingo Toes, Skip To My Lou, Thrifty Decor Chick