Is There Anything Modge Podge Can't Do?

Let me start off by saying that I am DEFINITELY not a thrifty person. I have been known to buy nonessential items on a whim. But I HATE to spend money on anything I think I can make myself. Like the license plate maps that I was seeing everywhere! Hobby Lobby had a mounted print for $140. Later it went on sale for $70. And even though I have physical pain if I pass by a sale, I still thought I could beat that price. So I bought a print for less than $25 on the net and a canvas for less than $10 and I was ready to make a copy that will eventually hang in our family cabin.

Three challenges. First, the print was 36x26, and the canvas was 36x24. Some trimming and it fit pretty well. Across the bottom of the print was a stripe with the print's info. Once it was cut off, the print was a little smaller than the frame but I painted the edges black so you don't even notice.

Second problem, large sheets of paper are difficult to modge podge. The paper stretches and bubbles keep forming under the paper. Real headache. I worked and worked it, trying to get the air bubbles out from under the print but finally gave up. I figured I had ruined a perfectly good print but much to my surprise, after drying overnight, the paper had shrunk back and the bubbles were magically gone! Perfect! Now you may be wondering why I didn't just spray mount the print to the canvas and avoid all the drama. Well, the print had a VERY shinny surface and I wanted to use the modge podge to create a textured surface, which it did and solved the third problem. Ugly shinny finish. Now the surface looks more expenxive. And I love how it turned out. So for about half of the sale price I got a huge wall hanging that looks great! Diana