DIY Mother's Day Magnets

Budgets.  They ruin the holidays.  All holidays.  Even Mother's Day....but do they have to?? No, they do not.  You can be a "DIY" queen like myself and learn to love the budget!

I always start these projects the same way; I play out a movie in my head where the butler opens the door for the "Moms" (after the valet has parked the Bentley we bought them, of course) and they come in to find a menagerie of upscale gifts, crafted just for them, using only the highest quality materials.  Then I check my account and get excited about what I can do with a whopping ten bucks!  With any luck, I can get glue and paper scraps all over the place and look like an even more unkempt, female version of Einstein by the time my husband gets home! P.S., I'm always lucky, so my husband has lots to look forward to.    

I would love to say I totally nailed  this project, but they didn't turn out as "shiny" as I thought they would.  They turned out even more awesome than "shiny" would have made them.  They turned out lacking symmetry, but making up for it with toddler slobber and  my burnt skin cell remains on them (hot glue gets me every time!).  Thus, they turned out "loved" and I would give nothing less to the two wonderful people who made our son and daughter possible.  Mom, of course. (Momma, technically, with my southern slang!).

Supplies:

1. Foam paper with adhesive backing ($1 at DG)
2. Magnets with adhesive backing ($2.97 at Meijer, Walmart should be comparable)
3. Photoshop Template for Polaroids (free, under Photoshop Instructions)
4. Mod Podge.
5. Card stock or photo paper.  (I used card stock, but they would look better on photo quality paper)
6. Time.
7. Patience.
8. Toddler. (for testing purposes)

Instructions for Photoshop users:

1. Click here and download free template. (PSD Format, A4 Paper) Template credit: Haniz Eyecandy  Blog.
2. Fill in each Polaroid with preferred picture/text.  I looked up quotes and heart dingbat fonts (free at Dafont ) and put them on the bottom of each Polaroid  You will obviously have to resize each photo to fit. 
3. Print. 
4. Cut.
5.  Using an Exacto knife (or scissors) cut the foam paper to the size of each Polaroid.  Remove adhesive backing and place picture on the foam paper. 
6.  Paint over each Polaroid with mod podge  (I coated twice, but once would work).  Allow to dry. 
7. Using scissors, cut magnet to desired size.  Remove adhesive backing and place on each foam photo card.  
8. Give to mom with burnt finger bandaged in neon pink band-aid.  (Otherwise, how else will she know that the wound is the trade off for the lack of symmetry!?) :)

Instructions for Word users:

1. Select photos.
2. Resize to 1in. x 1in. 
3. Print.
4. Cut out with white remaining around picture to look like a Polaroid. 
5. Follow instructions #5-#9 of the instructions to Photoshop users.

Additionally, you can use superglue to glue the magnets onto the foam paper.  I used hot glue the first go round and my little quality control manager ripped them right off and handed them right back to me.  I think super glue would do the trick.  

For extra love, Henrik kissed each and every magnet and then cried when I took them away to package them for mailing.   Literally, they were mailed with kisses and tears!  

Happy Mother's Day from JW Picture Studio!

 

Read More

Frank + Karen - A Story Of Fate.

Okay, I'm forewarning you, get your hankies ready.... this story will tear at your heart strings.

Frank + Karen met 54 years ago in Charleston, SC.  Karen's father and brother were both in the service, her mother had recently fallen ill.  Karen feared that both her father and brother would be deployed simultaneously.  She was not yet 18; if something were to happen to her mother while they were away she was uncertain as to what would happen to her.

Frank was a navigator in the Air Force.  He and Karen had been dating for some time when he was also deployed. He had left her the keys to his car and apartment while he was away.  Frank was terribly smitten with Karen, he carried her picture in his pocket.  During his deployment he had a full size portrait painted from this very same picture.

Soon after Frank's deployment, Karen's worst fears came to fruition; her Mother passed away and she was to go live with a family in NYC.  Karen, a heartbroken 17 year old girl, was all alone mourning the loss of her mother.  She drove the car to Frank's place one last time; parked it in the garage, and left the keys on the counter.  Not as much as a note left to inform Frank of her whereabouts.  Just like that; in a heartbroken moment Karen had completely disappeared from Frank's life.  No ill intent, just a mourning young girl, not realizing the depth of Franks affection, trying to piece her life back together. 

Frank returned from his deployment with Karen's hand painted portrait, a ring, and the intent to propose.  He found his car parked neatly in the garage, keys on the counter, and his love no where to be found.  He searched for her for years to no avail...

Karen met the man that she would spend her life with; they married and had children.  Frank, after giving up on finding Karen, finally moved on.  When he brought the woman he would call his wife to his home for the first time, she wanted to know who the woman hanging above the fireplace was.  Frank told her the story and when they decided to start their life together the portrait was removed, never to be seen again. 

Fate stepped in between Frank and Karen, they moved on and lived their lives, fully, happily, and without regret.  As the years went on, children grew, age took its toll; Frank and Karen both, unfortunately, found themselves saying goodbye to their spouses far too soon.  

A lot has changed in the area of technology since Frank and Karen were youngsters.  Finding someone these days is as easy  as a quick search on Facebook and a stroke of decent luck.  This proved to be true for Frank, who despite 54 years of absence, still had a curiosity about what happened to Karen.  He quickly found her and didn't hesitate to contact her.  No romantic inclinations, just wanted to catch up and see how the world had treated her; Karen and Frank met up in Atlanta, GA.  Karen was amazed to find out how in love with her Frank had been, she honestly had no idea.  Her daughter Karissa recalls sitting at the table, awestruck, watching tears stream down her mothers face as Frank relayed the story to her. 

 Seconds in her presence, after years of her absence, Frank found himself smitten once again.  Frank and Karen were married at last, on July, 30th 2016.  I believe everything happens for a reason...I'm glad to see such a happy ending! 

Congrats to Frank and Karen!  I'm so glad you chose me to capture your day, I was honored to be witness to such a wonderful story!

Read More

Blunt + Harris Wedding

It's hard to decide what particular thing made this wedding so extraordinary.  Perhaps the laid back mood prior to the wedding, perhaps it was the glowing bride, at the end of the day I'm sure a number of things contributed to the wonderment of the day.  The one thing that certainly stood out is how well matched this couple is.  These two are incredible separately, together, they are a force. They have found the sweet balance between reality and fairy tale; after four years of marriage myself, I can tell you how important that is.  It was an honor to capture their wedding.

Part One - Getting Ready

 

Part Two - The Groom/Groomsmen

 Part Three - Bride/Bridesmaids

Part Four - The Ceremony

 

 Part Five - The Reception/Dancing

Part Six - The Details

Congrats Mr. + Mrs. Harris!  Here's to a beautiful future!

Read More