Hello and welcome to the 2015 Holiday Gift Guide.
If you haven’t noticed, I’ve not been around the interwebs lately. I’ve been ill but am getting back on track slowly. But rather than go into that, because boring…how about we focus on something good! With just over a month until Christmas day, let’s start this week off with a big ol’ POP!!
Are you ready?
This giveaway is amazing (hint: it has something to do with printing photos on canvas) and I know you’ll want to enter as many times as you can, come back often and share, share, share! Entering multiple times increases your chances of winning this PERFECT gift for that someone special in your life.
But first I wanted to tell you about why I am running this contest. I want it to inspire you to unleash your creativity. I want you to connect with your inner artist. Yes, you have one! We’re all artists I’m told; we’ve just lost our way. And as with anything, we’ve got to struggle before we discover what we need to know.
Turning photos into art
I enjoy photography and art and love the idea of displaying beautifully composed photos I’ve taken, along with whimsical paintings I create (in my head) but translating that into an actual piece I am proud of just hasn’t happened. It’s not for lack of trying, I’m just stuck.
I got myself a sweet Canon EOS Rebel T31 and lighting set up to use at home, thinking that it would help me get excited but without a dedicated space in our apartment it doesn’t get used much. And because I like to share my photos with ya’ll on social media it’s just more convenient to use my Samsung Note 3. It takes great photos in perfect light but in low light it’s horrendous.
When I do use my digital camera outside I sometimes get lucky but for the most part I struggle with lighting, angles and composition etc., like other amateur photographers. And unless I get them printed they get lost in the black hole that is my computer’s photo gallery. And don’t get me started on all the paints and brushes and sketch books I have.
So I was excited when canvaspop contacted me to say they enjoyed the photos on this site enough to offer to print one for me. But the pressure! I have tens of thousands of photos on my computer and most of them aren’t worthy and of good enough quality to blow up and put on the wall. For the digital space they are ok but who wants a huge cr*p photo on their wall staring back at them forever?
I took the photo below one day this past summer when my little family went on a walk together. It was a gorgeous, sunny day in our neighbourhood and although we live in the city we are blessed with pockets of green everywhere which makes living in the city bearable.
My son spied these grasses swaying gently in the breeze and I was drawn to the silky texture and the vibrant shades of green. He insisted it was wheat as he picked a few. I doubt that’s true but who am I to say that wheat doesn’t grow beside an empty parking lot in our fair city?
Printing Photos on Canvas
I have to say I was still nervous about getting this photo printed. I’m not sure why but I think the recovering perfectionist in me isn’t quite in remission. As in, anything creative I attempt rarely gets finished because well, it’s never good enough I suppose. Sigh…I really thought I had let that go.
Putting this project in the hands of professionals then, just may be the thing I need to get inspired. All I needed to do was send in a few choice photos to the good people at canvaspop. They suggested I used the photo above as it was the clearest and suited the size I asked for.
My first original piece of artwork
Ten days or so after I placed my order my first original piece of artwork arrived. I don’t know a lot about canvas quality however I knew the moment I opened the box that this was really, really good. Its matte texture and bright white colour really bring the colours to life and I am told they will NEVER FADE. Guaranteed. FOREVER. Nice!
I also love that the print is ready to hang, including gallery-strength piano wire and protective rubber bumpers. They’ve even include the nail.
The only thing I would change about my canvaspop canvas print is the size as I’d hoped 16″ x 24″ would fill this space better. It looks better in person although in this photo the rhino dominates. And then there’s the skeleton in the window. Did you see that? LOL!
I have another spot that’ll be perfect for my new creation so I’ll probably move it. I may just order another canvas print, maybe framed this time!
Which reminds me…
If you’d like to order your own canvas print or fully framed print you can, of course. Just go on over to the canvaspop website and when you decide to order use MOMPARADIGM35 for a special discount just for Mom Paradigm readers.
This code expires on December 31 2015 so don’t delay! Order your canvas print today.
[Tweet “Turn your photos into art! Get 35% off @canvaspop when you use this special code. #printing #inspiration”]
And if that isn’t enough..
I’m giving a 16″ x 24″ canvas print, valued at $117.00 away to one lucky reader!
GIVEAWAY
Please note that you must complete the entire entry form to qualify for this giveaway. This giveaway is open to Canadian residents only and ends on Monday December 7th at midnight.
The world is your canvas.
Visit the canvaspop website and follow them on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram.
Disclaimer: I was given a canvas print to sample but opinions are mine alone.
Valerie Mallette says
I have a picture of my garden in mind that I’d love to print.
Betty H Spry says
It would be a touch decision, but I am sure that I can make it if I win
lisa neutel says
i have a beautfil photo i took while at the cottage up north this summer ..beautiful lic of sunset over the lake
Krista M says
I have some old ancestry photos of my great and great-great grandparents that I would love to print on canvas. They deserve to be displayed in a special way!
Erin W says
I have a great pic of my husband and daughter, I’d love it on canvas!
piroska says
Oh, I absolutely do. A gorgeous one of my little granddaughter. :o)
Jess says
I would love to take a family picture we took last Christmas and turn it into a canvas! 🙂
Elena says
I have some really nice ones of my kids together that I’d get done.
Monique L.S. says
I have a picture of my daughter from last summer. She is playing in the sprinkler, and looks so happy. In one of the pictures, she has a funny expression, and the way the water is falling, it looks like a bunch of little bubbles. It is quite neat.
Jeannie Lam says
I have a photo of my kids with their grandparents I would love to print.
Corrie B. says
I’d like to get a photo of my Grandad printed on canvas. I have a wall of photos and he is missing.
Crystal Marie Porter says
I would like to print a caricature of my husband and I
SueSueper says
I do have a special photo I would like printed. It would be the last one taken of my mom and dad.
kristen visser says
I have a photo of my husband, two girls and myself from a photo shoot we did in the spring 🙂 we hardly have any photos of us together so it is really special
Nicole B says
I have some pictures of the kids running in the fall leaves. I would love to get that done.
andrea amy says
I have several pictures that I would love to get enlarged and on canvas. It would be hard which one I would choose!
Marsalie says
I have picture of our family in the Maritimes that I would love to put on canvas.
Lee-Anne Ekland says
sounds intriguing. If you share them over on canvaspop’s facebook page you could win it!
Lee-Anne Ekland says
That would be a lovely photo to cherish. It would look so good on canvas I think.
Lee-Anne Ekland says
Oh wow! I’d love to see that one! You can go on over to canvaspop’s facebook page and show them that photo. You just might win it! They are giving away a ton of stuff over there!
Lee-Anne Ekland says
Lovely idea and it would make a great Christmas gift 🙂
Jennifer P. says
I have a beautiful photo of my kids on the beach at sunset that we would love to print on canvas.
Lee-Anne Ekland says
Oh do it! What a great memory to put on canvas. And you could put some lettering on it too, like the date or special words someone said 🙂
Lee-Anne Ekland says
OOH nice. I bet that would look amazing! You’d have to order a nice big size. There’s great deals happening at canvaspop.com right now!
Lee-Anne Ekland says
Thanks for entering Sarah. All the best on your vacation!!
Journeys of The Zoo says
Love the pop of colour on your wall and the shot is lovely too!
I would like to print out a picture of The Kids waiting for their first day of school. Thanks for the chance.
Please don’t count my entries though because I didn’t complete all the entries.
Besos, Sarah
Journeys of The Zoo
Lauren says
I would use the picture of my kids at the Grand Canyon.
Lisa M says
I have many … but I’d love to have a photo of my hubby and me at my daughters wedding
Sunshine H says
I have a few that I would love to do, it would be hard to choose which one to use.
Angela Mitchell says
I have a photo with my daughter and my mom when we were on vacation on Maui with the beach and palm trees in the background.
ginette4 says
My daughter was just married this September..I would love to have the family pic that was taken that day and mounted on canvas
ksceviour says
I`d like to print a pic of my son when he was a baby!!
Jenn Gill says
I have lots of photos I love but I would probably take a new one of my girls to print.
velma sheppard says
I have a beautiful picture of one of the baby kangaroos I rescued that would look great on canvas.
jjohnson46 says
I have a photo of all my mom’s grandchildren that would be perfect for this!
dawn rader says
I have a wonderful picture of my dad not long before he passed away…I would love to get it done
Maryanne E says
I have some great pictures of signs from route 66 I’d love to get printed large!
Lee-Anne Ekland says
Ooh nice! Check out the discount code and get it ready for Christmas 🙂 MOMPARADIGM35 gets you 35% off!
Lee-Anne Ekland says
Awww. That would be such a nice treat to keep forever! Check out the site for a sweet discount just for Mom Paradigm readers.
Lee-Anne Ekland says
Ooo. That sounds lovely! You should definitely do it! Use MOMPARADIGM35 to get a sweet 35% off.
Lee-Anne Ekland says
Oh my gosh. That sounds so sweet 🙂 Did you see the discount code you can use to get 35% off. Do it! 😉
Silvia D says
yes, I have many i would love to have on canvas, One is a picture of my daughter when she was about 3,she is looking down and her long ringlets around her face..i just love this photo!
Cheryl says
I would love to win, I’d print a photo of my kids or the 4 of us
Suzanne G says
I do have a picture in mind and it is of our yard when all the flower beds were in bloom.