giving your photos 'character'

here is a fun technique that doesn't take much effort or time to change the feel of your photos.

supplies:
sanding paper {i used my emery board}
solid block or something with a sharper corner {i used an acrylic stamp block}
photo
adhesive {optional}

1. gather a photo and something solid that has a good corner with some thickness {i'm using a smaller acrylic stamping block}.



2. line up your photo so there is a 'over hang' to the block and this will vary depending on your photos image and how you want the finished product to look.



3. *optional...you could add a bit of adhesive to keep your photo more in place as it will tend to move while sanding. i used repositional adhesive here.



4. begin sanding the edge of your photo lightly so you can get the feel for how much it will remove from the edge of your photo. remember, the imperfections are what make the design more 'artsy' and fun! you can do this all the way around your photo {you will have to reposition your "block" under your photo a time or two so if you are trying to make a perfect look it may take some time to line things up as you go}.



5. this is the finished look! it gives great deminsion to your photos and in this case, it made over lapping my photos on a layout more eye catching as they didn't blend together {see layout below}.







go ahead, give it a try {i even used this technique on my paper too}!

Great technique...I usually sand without a sreaight line to go by!

Wow, that was a great tip, to use an acrylic block! I usually just sandpaper my pictures by free hand. This made for a great frame!

Helen wrote:Wow, that was a great tip, to use an acrylic block! I usually just sandpaper my pictures by free hand. This made for a great frame!

yes, the 'frame' look is really what i was going for or remember photos that people carried in their wallets and after a few years they take on that straight worn edge (atleast my father has some, lol). i love the look. i've always just sanded freehand and inked the edges but this is a bit different.

Great idea!!

Yeah, I LOVE the idea of framing the photo with a sanded edge! Cool technique, thanks:)

Awesome technique - thanks for sharing!