The first thing I did was figure out which photos I wanted to use and what sizes I wanted them to be.
The wood that I used was just salvaged bits I’ve had saved. I cut them to the sized I wanted.
I started out by painting a nice dark brown, I used Asphaltum from the Americana line.
After the brown coat dried, I added a coat of antique white.
After the white dried, I painted Asphaltum brown over the top again, but didn’t use a whole lot of precision. In fact, I left the middles alone knowing the pictures would cover them up anyway.
When the paint was dry, I used my sander to distress the brown layer, showing some of the antique white beneath it.
As you can see I sanded all the edges as well, being sure to remove the paint in the corners. Don’t forget the sides too! Make sure you dust off the boards well after sanding.
Now is a good time to add picture hangers to the back of the wood plaques.
I wanted to keep the rustic feel, so I tore the edges all the way around the photographs. Now you paint on an even layer of Mod Podge onto the back of the photo. Place the photo on to the plaque. While holding the photo in place with one hand, firmly but gently rub your other hand across the photo to be sure there are no air bubbles. Let this dry for about 20 minutes first – THEN add a coat of Mod Podge over the top of the entire surface. Use even strokes and it’s best to paint with the wood grain.