Sunday, August 14, 2011

Family Beehive Art Knock off

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I grew up in Utah and as you may or may not know Utah is the Beehive state.  Throughout Utah you will can see beehive symbols in odd places, even the Utah Highway Patrol’s logo feature the beehive.  I like beehives, perhaps Utah rubbed off on me but there is just something so amazing about bees and their homes.206px-Utah_Highway_Patrol_patch(source)
On a recent trip to Deseret Books I saw this framed personal art.
Personalized_Family_Beehive_detail
Sadly, I couldn’t afford the $229 price tag, and then I remember a post at I Am Momma Hear Me Roar found HERE about getting cheap prints at Staples, by using the blueprint option, and thought and I can replicate this, for cheap.
I went to work and searched for a beehive image that I liked.
I didn’t want all the hoopla around it so I used my paint program and erased everything but the beehive.  I then went to The Graphic Fairy’s and found a bee image I liked (hind sight say’s I should have just used the bee’s in the original image, I think they kind of came out as looking like fly’s).
goldenbee2-graphicsfairyAfter I placed my bees where I liked them I went to Picnik and using tips from I Am Momma Hear Me Roar found HERE placed the final touches.  This was a gift for my brother so I but on his last name, the year he was married, and the little decoration underneath, the five bees represent my brother, his wife, and three sons.
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I went to the Staples website and placed my order, within 10 minutes they called me back telling me that my order was ready, it was so quick.  This is what it looked like when I picked it up.
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I took out my colored pencils and colored the beehive and bees yellow, and my vision was beginning to take place.
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I then took wet black tea bags and rubbed them all over the paper, to make the paper not so white.
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I had an old frame that the glass had broken out and had cardboard backing I originally planned on using a piece of extra white board that I had on hand but it wasn’t quite big enough.  Instead of buying a sheet of wood I decided to just use the cardboard, because I was trying to replicate a canvas look I wanted bubbles so I Mod Podged the paper directly onto the cardboard.
I still didn’t think that my paper was dark enough so I took some black acrylic paint and mixed it with my Mod Podge brushing it on top of the art work.  Once it dried I brushed on a few more layers of regular Mod Podge and framed it.
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I am so happy with how this project came out.  My biggest regret?  Leaving it on the floor to dry, my mom’s dog walked on it and ripped a piece of the paper, whoops.  One reason I don’t have dogs. 
A break down on the pricing:
Printing                              $3.17 (tax included)       
Colored Pencils                   FREE (already had)                
Tea Bags                           $2.00                                
Picture Frame                      FREE (already had)                 
Mod Podge                         FREE (already had)           
GRAND TOTAL                  $5.17
Original Image                   $229.00                               
SAVINGS OF                  $223.83 
I saved a huge amount and even managed to make my image larger, BONUS!  I am so excited to give this to my brother and his family.   I originally planned on doing it for a family Christmas gift but I really couldn’t wait to make it.  Happy Birthday big brother.
I am linking this post to
Making
and the parties found at the bottom of my page.

12 comments:

  1. Omigosh Athena! This looks amazing! Thank you so much for showing us the detailed tutorial. Didn't know Staples can print too. Happy Brag Monday!
    -Marie

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  2. Your knock-off rocks! I love this art piece! I am a new follower and would love for you to link up at my Savvy HomeMade blog party at http://www.homesavvyatoz.com/2011/08/14/blog-party-3/

    I look forward to blogging with you!

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  3. This is so cute! My sister was just saying she wanted to decorate in beehives and I would like to send her a gift. What font did you use for the Name Plate?

    Liz

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  4. Adorable! You can't beat the savings either. Thanks for the tips and the great links. I am your newest follower, so glad I found your blog through the tip junkie link party!

    Brie from darlingdoodles.blogspot.com

    hope you'll come check out my blog as well!

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  5. This is great - thanks for the tip about staples and printing. I am crazy about bees.

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  6. So smart. Looks amazing. :) Would love to have you link this up to my {wow me} wednesday link up party going on right now over on my blog. :) (New follower, cute blog!) :)

    Ginger
    gingersnapcrafts.blogspot.com

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  7. Thank you all for the wonderful comments. In response to Liz's comment (who has a no-reply email) I did all of the lettering on Picnik and the font I used was Dear Love. I used the free options on Picnik and want to show that even without the fancy programs such as photo shop that anything can be replicated digitally, might just take a little bit more work.

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  8. Great job - it turned out beautiful. I have a thing for bees, too, even though I don't live in Utah :)

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  9. Thank you so much for linking up at Savvy HomeMade Monday. I hope you will party again tomorrow!

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  10. You did awesome!! It looks great! Thank you so much for linking up to It's a Party! I can't wait to see what you come up with next!

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  11. Hi, I just found your amazing blog! I love this project and I was wondering if you could tell me where you got the little flourishes that surround the "Est 2000"? I have been trying to find something similar that I can put into something I am working on in PS elements, but have been totally unsuccessful. Any help you could offer would be greatly appreciated!

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