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Dimensional Fall Leave Typography Artwork With #CanonPIXMA

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Canon PIXMA, but all opinions expressed are 100% my own.

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Fall leaves typography artwork with #CanonPIXMA

The other day I was in Pier 1, and I saw this cute and colorful typography artwork…

inspiration

I really liked the chalkboard-looking background and the colorful letters, but I wasn’t too crazy about the saying. I also thought that some dimensional letters would look nice. So I decided to make my own, with a sentiment that was a little more “me”.

I snapped a picture of my inspiration with my phone, and printed it out right there from the store using my Canon PIXMA MG7120 and the PIXMA Cloud App so that my inspiration pic would be waiting for me when I got back home.

I started off with a 12 x 12 black canvas (purchased at Hobby Lobby) and some wood letters. I laid everything out to be sure it would fit before moving on.

Fall leaves typography artwork - lay out lettering to be sure it will fit

I also needed something colorful for my letters, and since it’s still fall, I thought that using pictures of fall leaves would work perfectly! And lately, the leaves here in Central Texas have been really pretty. Just take a look at the big oak tree in my front yard! I snapped this picture two days ago.

Oak tree in my front yard with orange leaves in the fall

But since my mom is the photographer in the family, and she already had some beautiful photos, I had her send over some pictures that she had taken of trees in their neighborhood, and I chose my favorite one with the most color…

Colorful trees in fall in Texas

And I love the fact that it was taken right in the neighborhood where I grew up (and where my mom still lives).

I printed out several copies of the picture as large as I could make it to fit onto a sheet of 8.5 x 11 matte photo paper.

Fall leaves typography artwork - print out several pictures of fall leaves

I used my photo editing software to increase the brightness of the photo each time I printed it so that I would have more variation in color to choose from.

Fall leaves typography artwork - vary the brightness in the photographs

Next I brushed on some decoupage adhesive to the front of the letters…

Fall leaves typography artwork - apply decoupage adhesive to the front of the letters

…then glued the letters to the back of the printed photos, and cut them out with a craft knife. You can see that I put the letters in strategic spots to take advantage of the most colorful areas of the photos.

Fall leaves typography artwork - glue the letters and cut them out with a craft (X-acto) knife

I didn’t do a great job in cutting them out, and they looked pretty rough, so I cleaned them up with some 180-grit sandpaper. It did a great job at making the edges really smooth and removing any excess paper that I didn’t trim just perfectly.

Fall leaves typography artwork - sand the edges of the letters

I wanted my canvas to look like a chalkboard, just like the inspiration piece, so I used some white craft paint and a very wet craft brush and washed some white paint over the entire surface of the canvas. In some areas I had too much, so I just used paper towel to wipe off the excess.

Fall leaves typography artwork - whitewash the black canvas to look like a chalkboard

Once that was dry, I was ready to glue on my letters.

Fall leaves typography artwork

I love how colorful the letters are, and I especially love knowing that these are beautiful fall leaves from the neighborhood where I grew up.

Fall leaves typography artwork

I think this will look great in my office once I start working on the decorating in there.

Fall leaves typography artwork


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14 Comments

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  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Cheryl @ The Creative Me and My McG
    December 10, 2013 at 10:33 am

    Great project Kristi! Love how you used pictures from your neighborhood!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Sue
    December 10, 2013 at 12:40 pm

    Great use of neighborhood photos and the beautiful colors. I could see doing this for every season. Thanks for another great idea.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Genelle McDaniel
    December 10, 2013 at 1:09 pm

    So happy you came up with a project you could completely finish while you’re feeling a little hung up on some others.

    The artwork is beautiful.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Mary L.
    December 10, 2013 at 2:01 pm

    The “n” in patient is upside down I think……….?

    • Reply To This Comment ↓
      Michelle Wilson
      December 11, 2013 at 2:28 pm

      Wow, even after you said that, it took me 3 scrolls back to examine before I saw what you mean. What a good eye you have, Mary L. Kristi, I love this project. The background looks almost spatter painted. What the canvas a little nubby and that’s what made the rough texture? I’m not creative, but I’m a good copy-er. But you take it to a whole new level. Again, thanks for sharing!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Kathie
    December 10, 2013 at 2:21 pm

    Wow, Kristi! This is gorgeous, amazing and so creative!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Khadija
    December 10, 2013 at 3:05 pm

    That’s really cool. I think you should paint the edges of the letters to make them pop out.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Karen Jorgenson
    December 10, 2013 at 3:37 pm

    Fantastic Job Kristi! I never would have thought to use photos. Great idea.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Ginger
    December 10, 2013 at 4:43 pm

    So cute! And I love the personal touch of the neighborhood photos.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Nola
    December 10, 2013 at 9:38 pm

    Really like this look! You have sooooo many good ideas and I love seeing what you come up with next!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Nancy
    December 10, 2013 at 10:55 pm

    I really like the artwork you created using your printer, great job, Kristi!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    ERIKA
    December 11, 2013 at 12:06 am

    That’s a neat idea Kristi.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Bonnie
    December 11, 2013 at 8:09 pm

    this is great! Its so pretty and unique. I’m going to try my hand at this also.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Jessica Sala-Bonin
    December 12, 2013 at 5:32 pm

    Love this! Cool, cool project!