I’m always looking for new creative ways to display photos throughout my home and after seeing these wooden letter photo collages on Etsy I absolutely had to have one!! So I immediately made a wooden letter photo collage a top priority on my must-do project list!
Now that I’ve made one for our family Initial I’m going to make one for Riley’s 1st Birthday Party. I’m going to get a large wooden 1 and display photos of her throughout her first year.
These Wooden Letter Photo Collages look great sitting on a bookshelf or fireplace mantle, as well as hanging on your wall. I especially love the way it looks when displayed with other photos as part of a Gallery Style Photo Wall. Not to mention they make AWESOME gifts!!
Okay, let’s get started!!
Here is what you will need:
- Wood Letter
- Mod Podge
- Paint Brush
- Scissors
- X-acto Knife
- Pictures
Step 1: Start by printing your pictures, it’s better to have them printed professionally, as I’ve heard using inkjet ink can cause the images to turn green once the Mod Podge is applied.
The size you need the images printed will depend on the picture. For up-close pictures you are going to want them to be smaller than 4×6, so I went to Walgreen’s online photo center and created a 4×6 photo collage using 3 images. For pictures that are further back you can use 4×6 prints. I just printed a ton of pictures in a variety of sizes just to have a variety.
Step 2: Arrange your pictures on your wooden letter
Step 3: Apply Mod Podge to the place you are going to adhere your first image
Step 4: Apply Mod Podge onto the back of the image
Step 5: place the image onto the wooden letter
Step 6: Continue Mod Podging your pictures onto the letter
Step 7: Apply a coat of Mod Podge on your letter to keep all of the pictures in place while cutting off the excess paper
Step 8: Turn your letter over so you can see the excess paper
Step 9: using a x-acto knife cut off the excess paper
Step 10: Apply one last coat of mod podge over the entire letter to seal the edges in place
Let your Wooden Letter Photo Collage sit for 4-5 hours and then you’re free to do with it as you please!!
What do you think?
Until Next Time…..
I followed your directions and made my husbands initials for his birthday. I used about 50 pictures of him and my twins. Came out great! Thanks for posting this! The collage tip was fantastic!
Rachel, I’m sooooo glad you were able to make your husband a wooden collage for his birthday!!! I bought a large #1 that I”m going to Mod Podge Riley’s 1st Birthday Pictures on. I’m planning to do that for her 1st, 2nd and 3rd Birthday and then eventually use them as some sort of display 🙂 Thank you for the comment, I’m sooooo glad that my post was helpful!!! Xo
Hi!
I really love the idea of making a collage on a letter and was thinking about doing one for a friend. I was just wondering where you got the letter and how big it was.
Thanks,
Julie Griffin
I love this idea and tried it per a site I saw on pinterest (should have looked here first!). My only issue was my exacto knife didn’t do a great job of cutting the pictures, so the edges are a little frayed on my letter. I’m thinking of trying to do it again – any suggestions on how to get the edges trimmed nice and clean (what exacto knife did you use? I just picked on up at Walmart…maybe that’s my issue). I’m giving to my crafty sisters as gifts and since I’m not as crafty as them I want them to be as close to perfect as possible 😉 Thanks for your help!!
-Mandy
Hi Mandy, thank you so much for your comment!! If you look closely at the picture where I’m using my xacto knife you’ll see the edges of my pictures frayed a little as well, but after you apply the final coat of mod podge it should smooth it out!! I hope this helps!! Xo Jessica
Hi
Did you print the pictures on photo paper or regular paper?
Hi Zulema, I had them printed at Walgreens, so they were on photo paper. If you print them from your computer the ink will likely spread when you apply mod podge to it
Hi! Love this idea! We’re your photos glossy or matte? Do you think it’ll matter? I’m using just the normal standard mod podge but it says “matte” on the front so I’m not sure if I should be using matte photos as well?
Thank you in advance!
Hi Jade, Thank you so much for the comment! The type of pictures versus the type of mod podge doesn’t matter. The Mod Podge “matte” means that when you cover the entire letter it will have a matte look versus a “glossy” look. I hope that makes sense!!! Good Luck 🙂
Hi , where can I find a wooden letter ?
You can find them at any of the craft stores (Michaels, Hobby Lobby, A.C Moore), you can also get them at Walmart and now Target. I hope this helps 🙂
Where can I buy a mod podge?
Hi Florence, you can get mod podge at any of the craft stores (michaels, a.c moore, hobby lobby) as well as at walmart and target.
I absolutely love this idea and I am actually doing this for Christmas for my friends. I had a question, would applying the mod podge over the pictures give it a waxy finish or does it go away once it dries?
I did three letters last week. I used Powerpoint to create a picture collage in the approximate shape of each letter. After adjusting then so that the best parts of the pictures were in good positions Then I MPd each collage onto the letters and trimmed away the excess. I wish I could add a picture for you to see.
Hi Sheila, I absolutely LOVE your idea about the powerpoint collage. I’m going to send you an email so you can email me a picture of your letters!! Fabulous Idea!!! Thank you so much for sharing!! Xo Jessica
Just got your email. Post the three letters.
Sheila
I want to do this, but im curious, do you use photo paper or normal paper?
Hi Chelsea, I used photo paper, as I had my pictures printed at Walgreens, if you don’t have them printed professionally the mod podge will likely cause the images to fade.
What size letters did you use 8 inch or larger?
Hi Kim, I used a 12 inch letter, but you can use any size depending on the amount and size of pictures you’d like to include on your collage.
What kind of mod podge did u use ? I purchased the photo transfer mod podge and the instructions r different from yours ..? Thanks !
Hi Jada, I just used the regular mod podge (I can’t remember if it was Matte or Glossy). I haven’t used the photo transfer mod podge, so I can’t really say what is different about the instructions. If you’re using the photo transfer mod podge I’d follow those instructions (I def. dont want to steer you in the wrong direction since I”m not familiar with that type of mod podge). Sorry, I couldn’t be of more assistance!
Hi! I recently saw canvas letters in Michaels…would they work for this project? Thanks!
Hi Lisa, thank you for your comment. Yes, you can definitely use a canvas letter. The steps for using wood would also be applicable to canvas!! I know your photo letter will turn out great, no matter what kind of letter you choose to go with!! XO ~ Jessica
What size letter did you use and what size pictures did you print?
Hey Jess, I’m so sorry for the delay!! I can’t remember the exact size butI believe it’s 14 or 16 inches!! I actually purchased the 24″ wooden numbers and an using those to display my daughter’s photos for each year off her life. I’d say the bigger the letter the more pictures:-)
Hello! Do you think printing out the pictures on paper would work or is better to use photo paper?
Loved the wooden letter DIY idea
Jessica,
Love this idea? Did you use the regular classic mod podge as glue for the back of the photo and then on the top of the photo after they were adhered to the letter?
Hi! I’m going to make these as a graduation gift for my friends. Just wondering: did you make and print the collage and then cut each individual photo out of the collage to apply to the letter? (Instead of MP’ing the whole collage to the letter?) Thank you!
Hi there, i’m so sorry for the delay. Yes, that’s what I did. I wanted to have all sizes of pictures and that was the way that ended up being easiest for me.
Hi, I want to do this for my son’s graduation, can you overlap pictures? I’m thinking not if I want a smooth finish?
Thanks