Picture Canvases Made Easy

My brother and his new bride recently were married this past fall.  So, when Christmas time came around, I new that I wanted to give my new sister a gift that looked impressive and came from the heart.  I'd seen different types of diy picture canvas ideas floating around Pinterest so I decided to give it a try.  I had fun doing it and by the time I was done, even I was impressed by what I had accomplished.   It was a progression of images from the proposal, engagement photos, and the wedding....

***Just a thought, with Valentine's around the corner, this would be such a meaningful gift for someone special whether it be a significant other, parent, grandparent, etc...

My supplies:

Three 8 inch square canvases

Three 8x11 inch photos

Black spray paint

Elmer's spray adhesive

Mod Podge matte finish

Sponge brush

Old dish/container

Ribbon

Tacks

Spray paint the canvases.  Don't worry about the main canvas surface getting perfectly painted because a photo will go on top.  Focus on getting the edges and sides sprayed well.  Next, cut the photos down to 8" squares.  

Cover the canvas surface with the spray adhesive and the set photo on top.  Make sure the edges have extra glue sprayed on so that the edges of the photo will adhere well.  Let the photo set....as long as you like :)  I let mine set overnight since I didn't have a full day to complete the project in one sitting.  

I poured some Mod Podge into an old dish and grabbed my sponge brush.  I know the "sponge brush" has a more official sounding name but I just kind of like the sound of it and I'm sure you know what I'm referring to based on the pictures.  I dipped my brush in and then starting coating the canvas.  It went on very cloudy but dried clear.  

It's also important to be aware of how you are painting the Mod Podge on because once it dries you will be able to see the brush strokes on the canvas.  I used diagonal brush strokes on mine but I've seen waves and random strokes used on other projects that turned out great too.  Hopefully in the picture below you can see what I mean when you "see the brush strokes."  The Mod Podge starts to set decently quick so get a complete first layer on as fast and neatly as possible....similar to painting your nails...when the polish starts to dry and you brush over it, you can see the brush marks and it doesn't look quite as smooth.  

Let the canvas set until the Mod Podge layer has dried clear.  I applied a second coat to ensure the photo edges wouldn't peel off the canvas down the road. 

Almost done! I cut some black ribbon and tacked it onto the back of the canvas frame.  I think they would've been just as cute without the ribbon but it gives another option for hanging.  

I could tell it turned out really well when my mom asked me where I ordered them from.  I LOVED how they looked when all was said and done and will definitely be making a set of photos for myself.  I especially loved how these photos capture some of the most precious moments in their life.  I feel so strongly that it's important to remember where you've come from and what journey life has taken you on...these are a reminder for two amazing people in my life about how amazing their love story has taken shape.  

Preferred pharmacy

Do you have a preferred pharmacy?  Do you have one particular place that your doctor sends your prescriptions to so your trusty pharmacists can review them for problems or interactions? If not, please consider doing so...for your sake and my sanity. This is a story that happened to me this past week. Please follow the logic (rather, lack of logic) that the patient had. Just having one pharmacy could have solved this whole mess, saved an hour of my time, and could have saved him a lot of frustration...

It was around 6pm. A very nice, older man walked into the pharmacy. He asked, "Did the doctor send in four prescriptions for my wife this morning." After searching the computer, his wife had never been to our pharmacy and we had no prescriptions. Unhappy that the doctor didn't send the prescriptions in, he left disheartened.

A few minutes later I pick up the phone to hear him on the other line. "It turns out that my doctor sent the prescriptions to Kostco but the pharmacist won't call you to transfer the prescriptions. He said that you need to call him to get the prescriptions...and they close at 7pm."
"Ok, do you know Kostco's phone number so I can call them?"
"No I don't"
"But you were just talking to them, correct?"
"Yes, but I don't have their phone number. You need to call them before they close at 7pm."

After searching the directory for Kostco's phone number, I called and transferred over the two prescriptions the doctor had sent them. I billed the insurance plan on file. To my surprise I received a rejected insurance claim saying "refill too soon." Hmmm....if Kostco doesn't have this prescription filled anymore, then who does?

I called the insurance plan to find out that Write-Aid had filled the same medicine last night in a small West Virgina town 45 minutes away. I called Write-Aid and asked their pharmacist, "Do you have anything filled for Marsha Apple?"
"Why yes we do. I have four prescriptions ready. They asked us to transfer them from Jiant pharmacy in Virginia yesterday."
I said, "Wait, you have four prescriptions ready that you already had to transfer in? I just called Kostco and they only had two new prescriptions sent in today. That's funny because Mr. Apple told me he was originally expecting four too."
"All I know is that they called us yesterday to transfer them. And your pharmacy is in the same town in Virginia right."
"Yep. I just don't understand people sometimes...."
"Yeah, that's retail for you."

I called Mr. Apple back and asked him if he knew the same prescriptions were already filled at a Write-Aid in West Virginia. He angrily stated, "Of course I did. I told them that I didn't want them filled anymore though. Can you just transfer those over to your pharmacy now?"

After calling back Write-Aid to transfer the medications, I was speechless from this ring of phone calls. Mr. Apple could have just told me that Write-Aid had the prescriptions all along...all four of them.....Four pharmacies had to handle these prescriptions - Kostco, Write-Aid, Jiant, and my pharmacy. With so many places I can only imagine the confusion the doctor must have been in after talking to this patient trying to figure out where these prescriptions should go.

Please, please, please, go to one pharmacy. I don't care which pharmacy you go to but choose only one (or one chain).   At every office visit, make sure that same pharmacy is listed as the "pharmacy of preference." And always always always bring your most current prescription insurance card with you...it is not always the same as your medical card....


Continually amazed at what people do,
    Your Pharmacist

Stripping and Staining, Uncovering a Find

JANUARY'S LESSON

I don't normally make "New Year's Resolutions."  I agree with the thinking of a friend that if I wanted to make a change, it shouldn't take a holiday to make me think I can do it all of a sudden.  This is not said to discourage anyone, because if a fresh year gives you the encouragement you need to begin anew, then that's wonderful, truly!  Everyone is different when it comes to attaining the confidence they need when laying down old habits and starting new ones.  I did however somewhat decide on a "resolution" for the year.  Rather, it's something I've been wanting to do and a whole new calendar year will help me stay on track a little more....I want to learn something new every month.  I'm not talking about learning a new fact because that's too easy.  Rather, I want to figure out how to do something new.  So for January, I gave myself a head start and am using a project that I started in December and finally finished this month- stripping a mirror and breathing new life into it.

So we begin...

I often take a daily look at the free items on Craigslist in my local area.  One day I came across this huge mirror listed as "free, by curb."  What's even better was that it was listed in my town so I didn't have far to travel.  Well, I picked this thing up and it was hheeaaaavvvvyyyy (later found out it was 70 lbs).  Anywho, it had this old 70's shellaq (or what I think was shellaq) on it.  The old yellowish color clearly dated it, so if I wanted to use the mirror, I had to change it.  Thus, my challenge began.

I learned how to strip (the DIY way).  I went to Home Depot and asked for help.  I thought they were the "If you can do it, we can help" store but I was wrong, but they were still helpful though.  They're the "more saving, more doing" which was true in my case.  Since I had no idea what finish or coating was actually on the mirror, the worker recommended the spray-on stripper since it would take off anything. I bought my protective gloves and a scraper to get the old varnish off.  Note- I really don't know if it was shellaq, a clear coat or varnish...tried to look it up but still confused....Anyways, I asked if medical gloves would work to save a few dollars, but he just smiled, chuckled, and politely said, "You don't want to do that."  I did, but then I didn't at his advice :)

Okay, so at home I found a well ventilated area to shield me from the cold - my garage.  I laid newpaper down on the concrete followed by the mirror on top.  I dawned my gloves and a hoodie to stretch over my mouth/nose from the fumes and began spraying.  There was no need to worry about the stripper damaging the mirror so I didn't have to be nearly as careful.

I let the stripper set for 15 minutes, tested an area, but found it needed to be on a little longer.  Then I set to work with my scraper.  The old varnish scraped right off.  I took care not to gouge the wood though in the process.  It was therapeutic in a way, especially with my music blaring....no sick customers coughing on me, no insurance companies to deal with, no doctors to bug about refills.....it was nice.  So I scraped all the gunk off and gave it a good wipe down with the towel.  I had to repeat the process again just to make sure I removed all the varnish that was set on tight.  Next, I lightly washed the wood with water and a clean towel.

Now, was the fun part...re-staining!!!!  Re-transforming!!!  I have to say, I loved the look of the natural wood color that I almost wanted just a clear finish to retain it, but, it wouldn't match my dining table, so we had to scratch that.  With my chosen stain, I brushed it on in the direction of the grain and let it set 10-15 minutes.  The stain itself was a lot darker than how the wood looked after I rubbed it off with a towel.  I put two more coats of stain on and left it longer each time until I was satisfied with the color.  Note - figure out what wood you're working with before you pick an appropriate stain to enhance it.  I didn't do this but wish I had a little more so I could dress the wood in a color keeping with its original characteristics.

Once the staining was dry (I gave it a day), I washed it down with a wet washcloth and let it dry some more.  I noticed after the fact that some stain had dried on the mirror.   No worries though because I sprayed a little stripper on a paper towel, wiped it right off, and then cleaned it again with water.

At last it was ready for the final step - mounting it on the wall.  I used OOK wall anchors and fastened wire to the back of the mirror that could hold its weight.  Finally, the task was done...my dining room looked a little more dressed up.  

I definitely made mistakes along the way and the final piece had some imperfections, but I was proud of it.  I was proud because I found an item that someone thought was trash and gave it a new look...plus I learned something new in the process.