I just love this time of year! It’s the season of celebrations with Mother’s and Father’s Day, the end of another school year and graduations! I especially love graduations because it forces you to be reflective. Whether you are walking across the stage yourself or watching a loved one make this huge accomplishment, you pause to think about the hours of work, the stressful nights, the debates over books or politics, the moments of laughter, and the friends made.
I experienced 4 graduations: 8th grade, high school, college and graduate school. 8th grade didn’t feel like a big deal; my friends and I were moving on together to high school. I am also the youngest of 4, so all my siblings had already gone through college and I spent a LOT of time in that building at their games, choir concerts, etc. High school was exciting! I was ready to move on and experience a new adventure. College was the most emotional! I knew my friends would be dispersing across the entire country, and I really didn’t want to leave them all. Never again will you live so closely with so many friends. 6 years later I still miss them! Graduate school was the one where I felt most accomplished and proud of my work, even though the ceremony itself didn’t feel necessary. All very different occasions in very different moments of my life but all of them made me look back fondly.
If you know a graduate this year, consider making them this Mod Podge DIY Photo Letter! It is a fun way to display photographs at a Graduation Party, showing fond memories and good friends. This is especially perfect for high school graduates because it becomes fun dorm room decor when they go off to college. Think how much they would love being able to display their favorite pictures in a personalized manner. Plus, letters and monograms are very “in” right now for room decor!
MATERIALS
Paper Mache Letter
Mod Podge (I used Matte)
Photographs
Scissors
Sponges or paint brushes
Paint for sides if you choose
Pen
DIRECTIONS
Paint your letter your desired color before adding photos.
Decide which photographs you want to use for this letter. Remember that you will want photos that are farther away in scope. Most likely if they are cropped tightly on the people, it won’t fit on the letter.
Start working with one picture at a time. I would pick a photo, decide where I wanted it on the letter, use a pen to make rough marks on where to trim the photo, cut it down and then attack with mod podge. I prefer having my photo trimmed a little wide when I put it on the letter because I can always trim it after it is attached but I can’t make the photo grow back.
MOD PODGE: You will want a medium layer of mod podge on the letter before attaching the photo. Hold down for a minute after placement to make sure it adheres well.
After all your photos are attached, check your corners and edges. If a photo isn’t attached strongly, add a little more mod podge underneath and hold. Then, add a layer of mod podge on top of the entire letter to help seal everything together! It will go on white but will dry clear.
What were your graduations like?
krystalskitsch says
This might be cool at a wedding too. Nice idea, thanks!
Wendy @ ABCs and Garden Peas says
This is so cute! I might take this idea and use it to make a number for my son’s next birthday!
Dee says
How fun! This would be great for my girls to do in their rooms!
Rebekah says
That’s such an adorable DIY. would love to make one for each of my kiddos.
Jodie says
What a fun idea!
Liz Mays says
I love the idea. I think it would be fun to take the school letters and then collage photos of activities during the school years onto them. 🙂
MommaDJane says
This would be fun to make for our wedding reception. A collage of photos from our relationship/engagement and put them on the initial of our last name. I must try this project.
Cynthia L says
I really love this idea! I can see this photo letter being a great gift for many reasons.
Mama to 5 BLessings says
that is awesome. I am so going to make those for my girls starting with their newborn pics to where they are at now!
Cathy (Writer @ OurMiniFamily.com) says
This is super cute! I haven’t seen one done like this–I like that it’s in the shape of a letter 😀
~Cathy~
OurMiniFamily.com
Diana Rodriguez - Entre Compras y El Hogar says
Great Project.. This is a fantastic idea..
Perfect for grandma!
maria @ close to home says
what a personal and unique gift idea. I will have to remember this in 2 years for our next graduation. feel free to share this on our craft and recipe link up
Pam says
This is such a cute idea! Thanks for sharing this.
Sandra says
This is one craft I will do. Can’t wait to make this for my kids, well I can don’t want them to grow up, but you know what I mean. xo
Dria says
That is absolutely adorable I love it!! This would be such a cute gift to give someone just going off to college too!
Debbie Denny says
This is a fantastic idea, Nice way to save memories.
Amy Desrosiers says
I think this came out great! It does make a great gift idea too!
Ruth Zankich says
I just love modge podge. What great use!
Lois Alter Mark says
That is so cute! I love making decorations and gifts with photos!
Robin (Masshole Mommy) says
That came out so cute. I love it and it’s perfect for so many occasions, too 🙂