I love incorporating my own pictures, quotes, inside jokes, favorite song lyrics, and favorite colors into my own homemade art prints. It just adds a level of personalization that I like and enjoy infusing throughout our home.
So, working with our good friends at Canon USA, today I thought I’d show you three super easy (and quick!) ways to make your own art prints. You ready???
Before we jump into these three methods, a quick word about printing. Anything worth printing is worth printing well. Well, everything outside of tax documents. Ha! For this reason I love using our Canon PIXMA iP8720 to print large scale art prints or photography I plan to display or save in our albums. It’s great with color as well as getting true black (and white) prints.
OK, now let’s talk making our own prints.
1. Use Photoshop actions to enhance pictures.
I mainly use actions to edit photos (brighten, add a little more contrast, maybe adjust the colors slightly, etc.). But one thing I love about some of the A Beautiful Mess action packs is they come with a few actions that lean more on the artistic side. These have effects that are more extreme and probably not something you’d use for everyday editing, but they are perfect for taking a nice photo and making it feel a little more like an art print. I used Blue Color Dip Dye (from the Complete Collection) and Double Rainbow (from the Fresh Collection) to enhance the photos you see above. I had decided ahead of time that I wanted to keep the color palette for my entire display in the blue, yellow, black, and white arena. So these worked well.
2. Use fonts to add a graphic element to your collection.
This is just as straightforward as you might think. You can use favorite fonts (typing phrases, song lyrics, punctuation, etc.) in whatever color you like to add a graphic element to your entire collection. I usually do this in Photoshop so I can easily make any size print I want.This is a great tip for when you have a gallery wall or small collection going but you feel like it’s just missing one or two pieces. It can fill out the entire look of the wall without breaking the bank. These are also a great way to create a pretty “place holder” in case you plan to spring for a more expensive art piece later.
3. Use an app to add words or doodles to your photos.
If you’re thinking, “Emma, all these tips have to do with Photoshop and I’m just not interested/I don’t have that program,” good news—this last one is even easier. You can use apps to add words, text, doodles or other art elements to your photos. I created the two images you see above using our A Beautiful Mess app. (Love these new hand painted looking words!) But of course, you can use any app that allows you to add elements like this. Whatever you prefer.
There you have it—three super easy ways to make your own art prints. I dare you to decorate some bare walls in your space this week! xo. Emma
Credits // Author and Photography: Emma Chapman. Photos edited with A Beautiful Mess actions.
46 Comments
I’m obsessed with the ABM actions! I use them on almost all my blog photos and can throughly vouch that they are stellar for bringing my photos from “okay” to “totally gorgeous.” Decorating your house with your own art is such a great way to make your little nest more personal and homey 🙂
Cat
http://oddlylovely.com
i really need to invest in a printer for my photos.
Great ideas,thank you for sharing 🙂
Valentina from http://fashionwithvalentina.blogspot.com
I love your photo wall collage. I definitely need to step up my art & decor game. I like the ease of using an app to do all the hard work. It makes it so easy to use your handwriting (especially because mine isn’t so cute).
:] // http://www.itscarmen.com ▲ ▲
I like all your artwork and find inspiring to look at our own photos as good enough to become a big focus on our walls, something I started to realize after following your blog !
I have three suggestions 🙂
New ideas of how to display kindergarten annual photos – digitalizing the original one maybe for touch ups – I happen to have an old and battered black and white poster of myself in uniform.
Suggestions for displaying old collection of postcards that are not pristine anymore and don’t look worth paying for a nice frame with glass and all that (or are they), but still would like to make them look more expensive than just using a tape on the wall because they are so original.
And how to hang on the wall a piece of a 50’s nice floral fabric, so it doesn’t look shabby and honour its sentimental value.
Those art prints are amazing and they look so lovely in the wall! Thanks for the idea! Have a nice day,
Vera
http://theflashwindow.weebly.com/
Oooh I will need to get on that ABM action game – these printsall look great!
maggie
http://www.unboundprocess.com
I love printing my own wall art prints..its fun!
xo
Hems
agoldentulip.blogspot.com
Love this post, your home looks beautiful!
So neat! That printer looks like it prints photos really well! Thanks for sharing!
Annie
The MAMA Gazette
This looks so pretty together. I really want to try abd do this 🙂
Sarah | http://sarahanne14.blogspot.com
i love this!
xx nikki
http://www.dream-in-neon.com
Great Ideas! Love the collection!
I am definitely going to do this, would be great to have some of my own photos up! x
http://nicole-emily-heath.blogspot.com.au/
Love this! http://www.hannamarielei.com
um, the chair in the last pic. that’s what i’m stoked about.
thanks for the read.
I am definitely trying this! and the Actions are amazing, I would love to experiment with these 🙂
My Blog – FloralConstellation
My Etsy Shop
Love that best is yet to come picture and this whole project too.
Love
Janika
http://crazysketchbook.blogspot.com/
you guys always have the best DIY’s!! <3
http://itshalo.blogspot.com
I love the tips and of course, the beautiful wall. May i ask how you hang the frame in the wall? I always wonder what to use, nails or adhesive. Thanks!
These pictures are great and they really pull the room together. I might have to do this with my sister in her new home
Love this!
It reminds me, was there ever an update about whether or not the ABM Android app was going to be able to be updated or if a new one would come out since there were problems updating it?
I really want to purchase the android app, and I have been waiting to hear if a work around to the problem was found. Thanks!
Hi ,
It’s Riya and I love your DIY’s so much they are honestly the best things ever. But I dont always have the things your mention in your blogs and DIY’S I would love it if you could probably do some diy’s with somethings found at home .
Thx , Riya∞
Plus hope you could check out my website!! THANKS♥
just wanted to say that I’m watching your livestream and EMMA, YOUR DANCING IS GREAT NEVER STOP DANCING. That is all 🙂
Great post! Definitely going to try this soon 🙂
Great ideas! I always love personalised art prints
http://www.navellina.blogspot.com
This is so great! What kind of paper did you use?
so cute! They look so great on your wall. I love the idea of adding text over the photos. Perfect!
Looks really cool 🙂
http://inspiremeland.com
I like these!
I just created my own wall art on my new blog.
http://www.oneblackrobin.com
This looks amazing! Really love you guys! Thanks for sharing 😀
https://sheauwdeaux.wordpress.com
Just last night I was using the A Beautiful Mess app to add phrases, pictures and words on some of my favorite pictures. I can’t wait to print them up and add them to a scrapbook!!
Love this! you guys are so creative. Thanks for always sharing!
Megs
http://www.the-whiterabbit.com
Adorable. I can’t wait to make my own prints for my walls. Must get our own place first. Following along from Blog Lovin’. Have a fantastic Friday.
Really cool idea! I’ve always wanted to do my own prints
http://www.thefernwehwolf.com
Love these ideas! So easy and affordable. Thank you!
Circus & Bloom
♥♥♥
Love these ideas! So easy and affordable. Thank you!
Circus & Bloom
♥♥♥
I really want a canon printer!! ahhh! One day
I keep saying I’m going to make my own prints.. It’s time for less thinking more doing!
(Also my names Emma, so I got a bit thrown off at your remark about photoshop because I thought it was directed to me.. Then I realised it was your name! Makes more sense haha)
emmaandout.blogspot.co.uk
Fabulous! Love the idea of combining images with text.
Inma x | sunshineandglow.blogspot.com
I love these ideas! I’m also a huge fan on the ABM actions as well as the app! Great tips <3
xo elyse
i’m late to the party but where is that gold ampersand from?!!! thanks!
I love the ABM app and I saw that the app was updated for Apple but the new packets to buy are not released on Android. I hope they are coming soon! 🙂
I wish I have at least one big clean wall to make this at my home. Maybe someday 🙂
Hi!
I would like to ask a question about your Canon printer that you keep mentioning;-)
I have a (well recommended) Canon Pixma printer and I experience great frustration about running out of ink all the time – even despite the fact that I try to print a lot of things at work to save ink. Also often when one of the 6 colors in running low I can’t get to print in other colors – the printer simply won’t work if one color is getting low.
I have a feeling I keep spending money at ink – and getting frustrated.
Wjat is your experience? I know you are working together with Canon and happy about your printer, but I suppose you get ink sponsored. But please try to answer as if you we just normal pint-people;-)
Thanks for at WONDERFUL blog;-)
Kind regards!
Hey, I have one similar blog Diy art prints at home check it out:https://hookemweldingservice.weebly.com/blog/january-22nd-2019