Welcome to Frugal with a Flourish!

Enjoy your time here! Don't miss a post by getting email updates any time there is something new. You can also get updates through Google Friend Connect or follow me on Facebook or Twitter to get the latest info and see all the things that inspire me!

[ | Posted in | | ]

I am back today with another nursery related post – but this is one that you can use anywhere in your home.  I know if you are like me that you love all those adorable graphic prints that you have seen for sale or out on Pinterest.  In fact, I wanted to do some for the nursery gallery wall and I did – for about $10 or less a print! (If you want to see the full nursery reveal post and all the projects make sure to hop over.)

DSC08418

Now I am going to show you how you can do the same without having a fancy graphics program!  All you need is your imagination and Picnik.  What is Picnik?  Picnik is a fantastic online photo editing tool that is free!  Yup – free!  There are some pretty awesome premium features that they offer that you have to have a subscription to use – but the amount of editing that they let you do for free is great.  (Note: This is not a sponsored post – I just love the program!)

So today – I am going to show you how to make the graphic letter print and the cute little owl print shown in the gallery wall above.  Both of them use the same concept but have a slightly different starting point.  The letter print is made entirely in Picnik while the owl print requires a base graphic upload.  Either way you are going to see how completely easy this is!  You are only limited by your imagination!

To make something from scratch

1.  Create a “blank” picture to upload in Paint.  Paint is a free drawing program that is included with all PCs – and I am sure there is something similar in Macs too!  Once you make a new file – you need to modify the size by going to the main menu and then clicking on Properties.  Under properties – size the blank file to the size that you want.  Here I made mine 11 x 14.

Fullscreen capture 7102011 24746 PM.bmp 

2.  Upload your Blank file into Picnik – rotate to the direction of your Print.  I have put a black border around the picture so you can see the outline of the picture.

Fullscreen capture 7102011 25223 PM.bmp

3. Go to Create.  (You can add the border here if you want to be able to see your workspace better.)  Then you can use all the fonts and graphics available to add in elements.  For this print, I just added letters using the Garamond font and made them all different colors. 

Fullscreen capture 7102011 25719 PM.bmp

Once you have a set of colors that you like – you should write down the hex code (or six digit id) that is located next to the color so that you end up using the same color for each letter.  You can find it up at the top of the Text Properties box on the right hand side of the screen.  Here – the green color is 36CA00. 

 Fullscreen capture 7102011 25719 PM.bmp

4. Save your “print” and then arrange to have it printed.  I sent mine off through Snapfish since you can’t get a 11x14 or larger done at the local drug store.  (No endorsement of Snapfish here – but that is just what I used!  An 11x14 print will run you $6.99.)  Then all you need is a frame and a mat.  The frame was one that we had and the mat was $3.99 at Hobby Lobby.

DSC08378

To Make Something Using a Graphic you already have

1.  Add your graphic into Print and the upload into Picnik.  You can either insert or just copy and paste.   For the Owl Print – I just used a clip art owl that was included with my Microsoft Office suite. 

Fullscreen capture 7102011 32521 PM.bmp

2.  Add additional text and graphics as needed.  I loved this little saying and it went so well with our book wall

Fullscreen capture 7102011 32905 PM.bmp

3.  Save and Print.  For this one I just printed as a 5x7 at my local drug store and added to a frame and mat I already had.  Total cost – $3.99. 

DSC08380

So that is how easy it is!  Now I wanna know what you think?  Love this idea?  Think you might create some custom pieces for yourself now?  Lemme know!!

Linking this up to

Metamorphosis Monday with Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch
Tip Me Tuesday with Laurie @ Tip Junkie
Tutorials and Tips Tuesday with Beth @ Home Stories A to Z
Get Your Craft On with Kim @ Today’s Creative Blog

23 frugal friends said ...

Jane of All Trades said... @ July 10, 2011 at 10:26 PM

Great ideas and tutorial! I love Picnik as well. I'm thinking of ideas right now. Gonna have to get on this soon. Thanks!

Daphne Hope said... @ July 10, 2011 at 10:26 PM

Love the idea! Thanks for the "how to." I can't wait to create something for my son's nursery!

Allison Shops said... @ July 11, 2011 at 8:14 AM

We also used graphics in DD2's new nursery. Dropping by from Met Monday. I hope you'll come see the nursery I helped DD2 create.

Allison
Atticmag

Katrina said... @ July 11, 2011 at 10:08 AM

Those are absolutely adorable! Thanks for sharing the "how-to" for this - I might just give it a try :)

Unknown said... @ July 11, 2011 at 10:49 AM

Thanks for sharing! They turned out great!

Unknown said... @ July 11, 2011 at 9:35 PM

Super cute! I might even try printing them on photo paper at home instead of snapfish. I tend to be impatient and will want it then so I can frame it and hang it.

Rebecca E. Parsons/Cre8Tiva said... @ July 12, 2011 at 7:25 AM

i am going to share this on my blog!!!

Amanda said... @ July 12, 2011 at 3:01 PM

These look great! Thanks for sharing this.

Anonymous said... @ July 13, 2011 at 2:35 AM

first timer here...how do you get blank paint page uploaded to picnik?

Unknown said... @ July 13, 2011 at 7:00 PM

Thank you for sharing this!

Maureen said... @ July 14, 2011 at 2:20 PM

This is great!
Found you via Today's Creative Blog! :)

http://www.releasemecreate.blogspot.com

nicolette {momnivores dilemma} said... @ July 14, 2011 at 2:27 PM

I love picnik. It's the poor crafter's photoshop. I could play on it all day. I usually use photos and cover them up with a rectangle sticker, but using Paint is a great idea! Going to pin your tutorial for future reference!


If you have a moment today, please share this with my readers @Creative Juice Thursday Hope to see you there!

Anonymous said... @ July 16, 2011 at 8:14 PM

Love the reader print! Do you have it for sale anywhere? :)

Anonymous said... @ March 19, 2012 at 2:04 PM

hi
can you tell me where you got the small animal print frames and can u email me the abc sheet as i cannot do it as picnik is closing.
thanks
coolmom07@gmail.com

Anonymous said... @ July 26, 2012 at 2:11 PM

where did you get that giraffe thing? it is really cute.

Unknown said... @ September 20, 2012 at 5:28 AM

Love this alot, i am making my son the alphabat frame and the owl one as well. Thing is i've searched for Picnik but it no longer exisit, so i was told to go into this website called 'Creative Kit'......so yes am trying
Thanks for sharing your great ideas....

Anonymous said... @ May 3, 2013 at 8:08 AM

Do you know if this can be done in the Google + version since picnik no longer exists?

Anonymous said... @ November 1, 2015 at 8:58 PM

I was able to do something similar to this using www.picmonkey.com as a gift for my brother and his wife for their adoption finalization. Fingers crossed they love it!

Unknown said... @ September 3, 2018 at 5:21 AM

Wonderful article! I think you should add Tonomatograph in this list. It’s a new and good platform.It’s also easy to use and you find here a lot of customizable

graphics for Pinterest. https://www.tonomatograph.com

Ragava said... @ October 3, 2018 at 11:33 PM

Wonderful article! I think you should add Tonomatograph in this list. It’s a new and good platform. It’s also easy to use and you find here a lot of customizable graphics for Pinterest. https://www.tonomatograph.com

giri said... @ November 5, 2018 at 11:23 PM

Snappa's drag-and-drop editor, it’s quick and easy to create your own graphics for blog posts, social media profiles and ads. The tool provides access to more than half a million free stock photos, 70,000+ vectors and shapes, and 200+ fonts. It's free to download up to 5 files per month, or $10 a month for unlimited downloads.

byodbuzz03 said... @ November 14, 2018 at 2:41 AM

Snappa's drag-and-drop editor, it’s quick and easy to create your own graphics for blog posts, social media profiles and ads. The tool provides access to more than half a million free stock photos, 70,000+ vectors and shapes, and 200+ fonts. It's free to download up to 5 files per month, or $10 a month for unlimited downloads.

The Pie Matrix said... @ November 21, 2023 at 5:05 AM

Explore the wonders of the universe from the comfort of your own home with our state-of-the-art online telescope. With just a few clicks, you can embark on a celestial journey and witness the beauty of distant galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters.

Our Online Telescope offers a unique opportunity for both amateur and professional astronomers to delve into the mysteries of the cosmos without the need for expensive equipment or travel.

Post a Comment

Your comments mean the world to me - so please leave one! It makes my day! I read and try to respond to each one!
Didn't get a response? Check out my tips here to link your email and blog back to your profile.



Related Posts with Thumbnails