October 26, 2011

✥ Last Name Typography Art ✥

I have no less than 10 projects started right now!
Ten.Unfinished.Projects. {sigh}
I'm not sure where the project A.D.D. came from, but I wish it would go away! 
However, a few things are finally coming together.
I want to share with you guys the centerpiece art I made for my gallery wall. 
This is how it looked for probably months! Woops!
I needed something to fill the largest frame right in the center of my wall.
This pic was awhile back, since then some "art" projects have been slowly coming  together.
Here's my inspiration. These babies are all over Etsy. This is one of a {literally} 1016 of great examples!
This style is my fav. Love how the letters are from unusual items, love the water spouts! Like you just walked around the city with your camera!

I looked for online for ages trying to find a stash of letters to use. 
In the end I realized I would need to go a little more traditional and use letters from signs and buildings, you know if I didn't want to pay for the letters. {And I don't want to...so...}
I found a great tutorial from Stephanie @ Full of Great Ideas, she did a bunch of collages you guys should check out.

K, guys, this project is so easy!  You can just whip it up on Word.
As a side note, I am totally loving Microsoft Publisher. It's part of the Microsoft home office tools and also comes free with Word for Mac. You can do everything on there! Make business cards, blog headers, format a poster to create Subway Art- basically, whatever you want. Love. It.

Open a blank document and select the size you'd like the collage to to be.
Transfer the pic to your document by either:  dragging digital images onto a MSPublisher doc or save to computer and upload each one.
Then size them either by double clicking in the pic and selecting the sizes or dragging the corner of the pic to get the right size.
Then place them into a grid
For the full tutorial I'm going to direct you to Stephanie. You know how anal thorough I can be with my own tuts, but I didn't have a single question using hers, so you're good to go. 
I'm still and am always HAPPY to answer questions on the "how to-s"!!

The letters and numbers are from the nicest photographer ever. This dude, Leo Reynolds, who allows people to use his letters and numbers as long as it's only for personal use! So rad, right?! Thanks Leo!

It took me some time to decide on what which letters to use and what I may like the most vs what would look the best on an already busy wall.
I printed this guy up at Costco. Cost me $3.14. Not too shabby!
I am very happy with the end result. I think it both stands out in a complicated wall, while simultaneously not drawing too much attention from all the smaller pieces. 
Thanks for checking out my post!

Anyone want to make their own? 
I would love to see it!
Looking for places to link up your projects? Check out my Party page.
I'm also linked up here.
 

44 comments:

  1. Oh man I am so digging this!! Seriously, I am going in search of letters right now. Wow. Thanks for the tip!!!

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  2. Ahhhh, I'm dying! It's SO super cool! Great job!

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  3. Wow Becca thanks for the hints! Actually I had seen signs like that, there is a company called "Create Sticks and Stones" that makes signs like the one you show here with the water spouts, but they are quite expensive... So I tried to make one with out last name by myself, but understood it was hopeless to find those objects that looked like the letters I needed. Now with your hints I will try again!
    Thanks! I will let you know when our sign is finished!

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  4. Looks great! I love gallery walls and yours is perfect!

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  5. Um, yes, I have got to do this! Your gallery wall looks awesome! I love your home!

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  6. Becca - This is a gorgeous piece of personalized artwork...so creative and interesting to look at! Your entire wall of art is amazing! I love it! I took a quick look at some of your other projects and they are beautiful as well. You have great ideas and beautiful taste. I'm your newest follower!

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  7. The is a great project and I love how your wall looks and how you "hid" the thermostat in plain sight - inspired!

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  8. Very awesome! Thanks for this :)

    Sarah

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  9. I'm really lovin' your letters and numbers projects. Thanks for all the tips and tricks! Your gallery wall looks great!

    Thanks for sharing your ideas with Potpourri Friday!

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  10. What a great idea! One of my many future projects includes a gallery wall and I just love how you've infused yours with more than just photos, but personalized framed pieces as well. I'm inspired!

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  11. Ok, you make it sound so easy, but knowing me I would totally mess it up! I love the look of your name, it turned out so great. It's funny how projects work out---you either have too many you can't concentrate on one or none at all (like me right now...augh!)

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  12. I love your letter art! What a clever idea:)

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  13. The use of font /typography and numbers is classical in terms of design. Your pieces are very stylish and look fabulous. Lynda

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  14. I LOVE it! I've been trying to come up with something for a new baby girl in the family, and I think this is it!

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  15. What a great idea! I love the one you found with letters made from unusual objects!

    Thanks for linking to a Round Tuit!
    Hope you have a great week!
    Jill @ Creating my way to Success
    http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/

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  16. Love this style of letting looks awesome!

    Julianne

    www.sewfantastic.blogspot.com

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  17. I still love your gallery wall every time I see it! Gotta love ikea frames!

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  18. great idea!!!

    would love it if you could share this on my link party - Serenity Saturday at www.serenityyou.blogspot.com

    Natasha xxx

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  19. I love this and your whole photo gallery for that matter. I'm pinning your project! Thanks for sharing, visiting from YHL.

    Angela @ Our Family Journey
    http://guyerfamilyblog.com

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  20. I can totally relate to the crafting ADD! I love your letter art and I know I have told you before how much I love this wall! Thanks so much for linking up to The Creative Spark. Have a great week!
    Jenn :)

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  21. It's awesome! You did an amazing job! I would love for you to link up to “It’s a Party” going on right now!
    www.acreativeprincess.blogspot.com

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  22. Your wall came out great and I love your collage. And you framed your thermostat? What a great way to work an obstacle into your plan, wonderful. Will be your newest follower, Laura - Cottage and Broome

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  23. Love how everything is coming together!

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  24. Looks gorgeous on your beautiful wall. Thanks for the idea and links!
    Arrived via TCB. Cheers!

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  25. that's lovely!

    for people who are interested, there's an open source publishing software (similar to Microsoft Publisher, except free) called Scribus. You can find it at http://www.scribus.net/canvas/Scribus I haven't used it a ton, but the few projects I've used it for have been very easy

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  26. This came out great! And I love how you framed your thermostat, great way to blend it in. :)
    Karah @ thespacebetweenblog

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  27. this is really kewl, Would luv for my readers to see this awesome idea, will you please join our weekly party at
    http://www.passionatelyartistic.com/2011/11/thanksgiving-showcase-tutorial-with.html
    have a great crafting weekend!
    Maggie
    http://passionatelyartistic.com

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  28. Thanks for the inspiration! I created a collage using a collage frame, you can see it here

    http://limefreckle.blogspot.com/2011/11/letter-art.html

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  29. I am a big fan of letters and numbers...been collecting them and using them in decor for years. This came out fabulous. I am your newest follower and would it if you would follow me back and get in on a driftwood sailboat give-a-way. Sherron
    http://smallholdings.blogspot.com

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  30. Thank you for sharing this!! I have so been wanting to do the letter art, but I also don't want to pay for the letters.

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  31. Becca, I'm featuring your lovely work at the Thanksgiving Day Parade. Thanks so much for linking it up at my November party :) You're a Star in my eyes!!

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  32. Your gallery wall is stunning and I love your tips for creating a name wall hanging!!

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  33. Love the wall, have been putting off doing mine because it is such a big undertaking! Love the frame around the thermostat too.

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  34. Love this. I am putting together pieces for our own gallery wall and this would be a great addition. Ours may be huge though since I kept my maiden name. (saw you on Northern Cottage). And I have at least 10 projects going right now myself. :-)

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  35. I love this! I especially like how you did it in a collage like that. I have only seen them in separate picture frames for each letter. You have such a cute blog! I would love for you to share this letter art at my link party! http://thewinthropchronicles.blogspot.com/2012/03/share-it-link-party-2.html

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  36. This will be featured tomorrow at The Winthrop Chronicles!

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  37. This is AMAZING!!
    I'm loving what you did with your wall.
    I so want to put up pictures like that but I always end up bailing before putting them up thinking it will look overcrowded and not good after all.
    Thanks for sharing!
    Much Love,
    L

    allglorious-within.blogspot.com

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  38. This is awesome! I live at the beach and I'm taking letter pictures out of driftwood.

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  39. Thanks for coming and sharing this with us at The Sunday Round Up.
    Rose

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  40. This is wonderful! Yours is so pretty.
    Thanks for sharing at our Sunday Round Up! Can't wait to see what you have for us next weekend. Have a GREAT week!
    xoxo
    Heather

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  41. Another great project and source of inspiration! Thanks for the great tutorial!

    I have posted a link to your site on my tutorial page!
    http://threechicksoneegg.blogspot.ca/2012/05/last-name-artwork.html

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  42. Thanks for your inspiration. I made one for my bestie and she just looooooved it.

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/runningt/7270058212/in/photostream

    Tineka from New Zealand

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  43. I pinned the "First We Had Each Other, Then We Had You, Now We Have Everything" sign.home name signs

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Thoughts? Questions? Opinions? Let's talk about it!