Several years ago, we bought ourselves a few art prints on canvas that we never thought about framing because we loved them just like they were. As it turns out, that was a very good thing for us this year, because we decided to take a new adventure into Christmas decorations and Christmas up our walls a bit. I read a great idea somewhere about taking old Christmas photos, putting them on scrapbooking paper or gift wrap and replacing your everyday photos with these shots. You know, those shots of you screaming your head off as you sit on Santa’s lap or you with a bow on your head. Since we still don’t have any of our family photos up on the wall here yet (yeah, still on my to do list, though), we decided to just go big and cover the larger canvases we have on the wall.
You could also do this with a blank canvas…or just gift wrap your entire frame. It’s a great excuse to haunt stores after Christmas so you can pick up some cute gift wrapping paper. And if you’re really careful, you might even be able to use the paper again for wrapping presents next year, or the same frames.
We started with very simple canvases and laid out the paper and then the print. Because no one is going to see the back, you only need to fold the paper over the edges of the canvas and tape the gift wrap down.
Once you’ve got the first edge done, just fold the paper like you would fold the ends of a gift box (tuck one section in, then fold the edges) so you get nice clean, tight seams.
I taped everything to the stretching bars in the canvases versus the actual canvas itself. I don’t know if the tape would damage the canvas, but I didn’t want to take any chances.
Once we had the art covered with paper, I just grabbed some really thin organza ribbon and tied up the “package,” then rehung it.
From a distance, it looks even better since it blends nicely with our other decorations already.
For the other piece of art in our kitchen, we chose a printed gift wrap with all sorts of words for Merry Christmas on it. I think it turned our really well, even though we had to use two pieces of paper to cover it. But unless you’re right next to it, you can barely tell. For some reason, this one reminds me of something you’d see displayed in a department store.
We’re really pleased with the way they turned out, and I’m clearly going to need to start collecting discount Christmas ribbon and gift paper…plus learn how to tie one of those huge, fluffy bows.
What do you think? Now I’m starting to wonder what else I might be able to drape a bit of Christmas spirit over in our home. Do you every just change standard things up a little with the seasons?
Linked to Doberman’s by the Sea Bavarian Christmas Party and Homemaker Mondays.
I LOVE this idea.. specially the gift wrap with the MOOSE on it.. (please don’t correct me if its a reindeer.. 🙂 )
Very cool idea! I think I might do some of those with the pictures I have in the living room.
It’s definitely a moose 🙂 Glad you like the idea. It really is simple…took us about 30 minutes to do both of these…I think tying the bows was the longest part of the process 🙂
It gives the room a totally different feel when you have enormous presents on the wall 🙂
Aww, a cafe where I went to college used to do this to their usual wall pictures every Christmas. Now I wish I could go there! Sadly, it has since closed!
Hi, cute idea. Thanks for visiting me.
I love your idea as well. They say imitation is the greatest form of flattery. I would like to try a couple for my walls.
Thank you.
I do like this, I have seen a few people do this and I think it really adds a nice holiday touch. This year I took a few photo down and replaced it with some BIG BIG red stockings I picked up on sale last year. I like that touch as well 🙂
I have done this before. It is such an easy way to put a little Christmas in any room. Yours look great.
We used to use this idea in one of the restaurants where I worked. It looks great in your home.
I have yet to do anything Christmasy. Well, that’s not completely true, there’s an Advent wreath on our dining room table, but I can’t take credit for that. I need to get to work. 🙂
🙂 Well you still have a few weeks to get things going. Last year we waited until the last minute and had no real interest in Christmas. This year, due to a little local hobby market near us selling advent wreaths in the middle of NOVEMBER, we’re much more in the spirit. 🙂 I’m sure you’ll find it. And if not, oh well. There’s always next year 🙂
What a great idea! Just the inspiration needed. When do people tend to put Christmas decorations up where you are?
I was told by my hairdresser that one should not start decorating before Totensonntag (a Protestant holiday here in Germany to remember the dead) which is usually the last Sunday before Advent starts. That’s just an old tradition, much like many people in the US starting to decorate the weekend after Thanksgiving (which actually happens to coincide with that holiday). Some people in our neighborhood started decorating a few weeks ago…others have yet to do anything. But it seems that the ones that will do anything have already done it. And it’s unfortunately nothing like the big displays you find in the US…I miss those!