Personalized Photo Letters

Ready for something new? Well I've got another tutorial for lil' old...

Letter photos are all the craze! They're perfect for wedding gifts, baby showers, etc. But rather than using photos that other people take, why not make it a bit more personal? Find letters from a couple's Alma Mater, a friend's hometown or your favorite vacation spot. Be the artist yourself! You can do this!  Once you start looking for letters you will see them everywhere. So start a letter scavenger hunt and then read my tutorial on how to use Picnik to go from a snapshot to a piece of letter art!

Get instructions after the break....

So you have your snapshots and you are ready to begin? Alright, now go to Picnik.com. This site has been wonderful for quick and easy photo editing. Sadly, it will be closing on April 19th, but for now it is free to use for everyone. First upload your photos.

Then, crop your photo under the basic edit section as seen above. You can chose what size you would like to make your photo using the drop down menu on the left. 

Then, click on the "effects" section and scroll down to the Holga-ish effect. This will make your photo a black-and-white image and burn the edges of the photo. And.... that's it! Save the photo to your computer, order your edited photos, frame them to your liking and give a gift that will wow your friends! Remember to tell them that the photos were taken somewhere close to their hearts. They will cherish it forever. I promise!

Look at all the fun letters you can make from elements around you!

"C" from iron work, "R" from a drain, "T" from a light, "I" from a lamp post, "e" from outdoor artwork, "T" from a crosswalk, "S" from a curving path, "U" from iron work, "A" from an ornate window.  All photos taken at East Carolina University in Greenville, NC.