How to create a portrait of your home

I'm sure many of you have already tried the wonderful new app called Waterlogue.  If you haven't, you're in for a treat!  In just a few seconds, Waterlogue can create a beautiful watercolor from a photo.  

Want to see an example?  I used Waterlogue to create this:

from this photo:

I was so thrilled with the result that I had the "watercolor" printed in a large size and framed it!  If you've wondered how a Waterlogue picture would look printed out, here's your answer.

Isn't it lovely?  I've always wanted just the right piece of art for my foyer, and I think this fills the bill.

Here's how to make your own.  If you don't already have it, you'll need to buy Waterlogue from the App store.  At $2.99, I think it's a great deal!

1. Select a photo.  I chose a photo of my house that I had taken last summer.

2. Email the photo to yourself.

3. Open the email on your iPhone and save the photo.  (Note: You don't have to use a photo that you took with your iPhone camera to use the app; you just have to use a photo that you've saved on your iPhone.)

4. Open the Waterlogue app and select your photo.

5. Follow the Waterlogue prompts at the bottom of the screen (very easy to use!) to create a painting you like.  I used the "natural" option for this project.

6. Scroll further through the options and click on "No Border."  This will eliminate the curved edges.

7. Once you have the painting looking like you want it, click on the heart to save it.
"Services" will pop up on your screen.  Click on "Mail" and email the photo to yourself.  At the prompt, choose "Actual Size" to email the photo in its highest resolution.  (This takes a minute, but it's worth it.)

8. Open the email on your computer.  Download the attached photo and save to a flash drive.  (The file will be pretty large--probably more than 3 megabytes.)

9. Take the flash drive to a printer and have the photo printed in whatever size you choose.  I had mine printed in a 12"x16" size so that it would fit in a ready-made 16"x20" frame.  My local FedEx Kinko's office was able to print it while I waited for $2.00.

10. Frame as desired.  I had a custom mat and fillet cut for mine.

My foyer isn't grand or glorious, but I like for it to look nice.  Here's a photo of it taken from the front door.  As you can see, it leads to both the living room and the dining room.

And now I have the perfect piece of art to hang over the antique deacon's bench!



Please forgive the glare--the sun was out in full force when I took this photo.  Here's a glimpse of the artwork taken from the dining room--no glare from this angle!



Here's a framing tip: Even if you purchase a frame from a large retailer, look for a local frame shop to have your mat cut.  (If you're in my neck of the woods, check out Frame Warehouse.  They do great work for very reasonable prices, and the turnaround time can't be beat, plus their website features printable coupons for discounts on larger jobs.)

The wheels in my mind are really spinning now--I can't wait to create some more lovely watercolor paintings!

Have you tried Waterlogue?  Have you printed anything from it?  Please share!

I'm joining these fun parties:

Tutorials and Tips at Home Stories A to Z
Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life
Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style
Weekend Bloggy Reading at Serenity Now