I Like Big Prints + I Cannot Lie

I hope all of you have had as gorgeous of a Sunday as we've had here in the SouthEast! It's been a major mood booster, in addition to the fact that we got a BRAND NEW VACUUM! We went and jumped off the deep end...You know I feel just like a kid again. {If you can name that song, you win bonus points}.  No, but truly, this new vacuum has me all giggly and it has definitely gotten all the heart eyes {Dyson cordless for the record}! That's not why I'm posting, I'm just THAT excited about it. Y'all know I love a good clean, so this little intro should come as no surprise to you.

Now onto the real reason for this post! 

Since posting the guest room/office makeover , I've gotten several questions about the enlarged print over the desk. I have shared before about all of our oversized B+W prints. I am sliiiiightly obsessed. The process is really SO easy and extraordinarily affordable! I'll show you examples of the prints in our home, then I'll explain how you can get them for yourself for SUPER cheap in one afternoon!!

These next few hang in our master bedroom {one of each side of the bed + the window on the gallery wall}. I plan to modge podge {which just autocorrected to "dodge lodge"-ha!} these to the canvas that they are currently glued to {only on the corners}. I didn't want to do anything permanent until I had them hanging for a few days to be sure I liked their location, which I have decided that I do. I'm very noncommittal and my husband has kindly requested that I not add anymore nail holes to our already holy walls. :)

The print of my husband + Em came out a lot darker than the one of me + her, which kind of bugs me, but it's okay. I'll deal...eventually.

 I got two old window frames for $10 each from a friend who lives out of state. Her neighbor sells them + she snagged me two. All I can say is, it's a good thing her neighbor is not my neighbor because all the windows would be officially sold, more than likely. I love these things! The one below hangs in our master bedroom as well. The other, which will be seen if you continue reading, hangs in our living room.

{Close up of the one above}

 This next one is actually just stapled to an actual 18 x 24" canvas {that I happened to find at Goodwill for $1}. You would never know it is just a thin piece of paper attached to the canvas via staples on the back. HA, trickery at it's finest. {This was a photo from our newborn shoot-so LONG ago! *cue crocodile tears* }

 The glare on these next couple was completely unavoidable thanks to the light that shines from the front door. I tried to eliminate it best I could, but I could not for the life of me get a decent picture, so, I'm sorry about the reflections and the graininess. Hopefully, you get the idea. {And yes, that's our model baby at her first birthday shoot. We've been told she resembles the Gerber baby, and no, she's not actually a model, we just call her that because to us she's the most beautiful girl in the world.}

Okay, so now you want to know how I got these huge portraits each for $5 or less {not including frames} in just five easy steps? 

O N E, determine the size you would like for your prints. If you plan to adhere them to canvas, you will want to add an inch or two to account for the sides. Also, the prints will be printed with a small white border around the edges. Also, be sure to measure them based on whether you are going to want them printed landscape or portrait.

T W O, contact the nearest Office Max/Depot {or Staples} store + ask to speak to the print services department. Tell them you would like to send in some pictures with dimensions via e-mail to be printed as engineer {or architectural} size prints. Ask them for the e-mail address in which to send your pictures. Then, thank them kindly. *You can also ask approximately how much the total cost will be, but normally in my experience {depending on the size} they're ~ $2-4 per print* I have never printed larger than 24 x 36", so if you need larger, you'll want to ask how large they can print them.

T H R E E, determine which pictures you want to use, then write an e-mail similar to this one. {Yes, this is part of a real e-mail that I sent to print services. I deleted personal information for privacy}.

{Included in the email was the following: the size of the prints desired: 18x24 for example, the phone number at which I could be reached, and the time + day that I would be picking them up}. 

**IF THEY ARE PROFESSIONAL PICTURES, BE SURE TO ATTACH THE PRINT RELEASE or they will NOT print your pictures**

F O U R, pick up your prints + inspect them to be sure they were printed correctly {portrait vs. landscape, etc}. Be sure to be specific about all of the dimensions + print style in your email {see step 2}

F I V E, frame or attach to canvas {or wood}. If you need tutorials on how to do that, there are lots on Pinterest that are better than what I could provide. Hang said frame or canvas, then step back and admire your insanely cheap oversized prints! :)

For the record, I have never paid more than $7 total at any time and that was for TWO 24 x 36" prints. The larger the prints the higher the cost, but really, it's still SO cheap compared to what you'll pay if you go through a photo printing company. They will ONLY print these in B+W, so if you want color, you're out of luck as far as I know. B + W is so classic though, so you can't go wrong! If you use this and it works out, please come back and let me know or post a picture to Instagram + tag me {littlethriftychic}. 

Thanks for reading! Now, go get to it! XO!