Mod Podge Family Subway Art

I've always wanted to try Mod Podge...it just seems so cool when I see all of you crafties out there creating with it. And for this first go-round, it did not disappoint!

I've been trying to think of a meaningful gift for my mother-in-law for mother's day. She adores crafty items. But, finding something for her at a normal shop is sometimes hard. So, I decided to make something. I'm really into creating subway art lately. It seemed like a great solution!

I decided to use all of our names to create the art...my husband & his two brothers, all three wives and all of the grandkids.

I realized we had some leftover fence slats in our garage. They were 5 inches wide. I had my husband cut them down to 17 inches in length. I created a document in Photoshop Elements that was 5x17. I purposefully chose this size to make printing super inexpensive. I kept each name in its own layer to manipulate and rotate how I wanted. Each "generation" had its own font (and wives had their own, too). And my in-laws are in the center, in red.
I doubled the document on an 11x17 and then uploaded my PDF to Staples. And I had an extra half of my print to play with if I messed the first one up!
This is also very economical. I am planning to make a bunch of them for the graduates we know in school colors and such!

Here's my print out, fence slat and materials.
Ready to MOD. Or PODGE. Or get my craft on.

Layer one of Mod Podge.
After applying the print, I did three layers on top and then sealed it with varnish.

Annnnd....DONE.
Can you see the slight chevron pattern on it, too? That just kind or makes me smile. ; )

Partying here: Making Monday Marvelous, CraftOManiac, Dittle Dattle, Between Naps on the Porch, Just Something I Whipped Up, Sumo's Sweet Stuff, The DIY Showoff, Take A Look Tuesday, Tip Me Tuesday, Homemaker in Heels, Not Just A Housewife, Savvy Southern Style, Eisy Morgan, Elle Belle Creative, Whassup Wednesday, Somewhat Simple, At the Picket Fence, Fingerprints on the Fridge, Sugar & Dots, Sisters of the Wild, Wild West, House of Hepworth