DIY Instagram L.O.V.E. Art ~ DIY Tutorial for a Homemade Gift Idea

on Mar 24, 2013, Updated Nov 20, 2013

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Are you an Instagram junkie like I am? I was jealous for a long time of the awesome Instagram pictures my friends show on Facebook. When I finally got an iPhone a while back, the very first app I got was Instagram. I happily started instagramming away and have amassed quite the collection of pictures there. Some of my most favorite pics are on Instagram.

But what the heck good are all those cute pictures if they are stuck on a phone or on facebook? I’ve been on the prowl for the perfect way to showcase some of my favorite shots for a while. And I finally figured out what to do with them! But then I had to figure out how to print the dang things. Because really, how do you get pictures off your phone?? Welllll…..I was really exited when I learned that the Walgreens mobile app allows me to print 4×4 Instagram pictures! I print a lot of pictures at Walgreens, but I had never used their app to do so until last week. Normally, I just upload from my computer but that’s pretty tough to do with Instagram pictures that are stuck on my phone. I was glad to find out that printing pictures from my phone is actually pretty easy. I just downloaded the Walgreens Mobile App and then chose the photo icon from the menu. From there, I connected to my Instagram account and quickly found all of my photos by clicking on My Photos. Then I selected the pictures I wanted to order, and finally clicked Submit to upload my pictures.

Here’s where it gets a little tricky, though. The app will ask if you want to upload more photos. If you choose NO, you will not be able to change your mind later. If you click YES and then don’t check out, your upload will not be saved. At least, I didn’t find a way to save a cart. I also wasn’t able to verify which pictures were in my cart. So choose wisely. Once you’re certain you’ll get the pictures you want, check out. Walgreens will send you a verification email, and then another email when your photos are ready for pick-up – which usually takes about an hour. After I got to #HappyHealthy Walgreens to pick up my pictures, I browsed around their photo frames area. I’m such a frame junkie…I was surprised that they had some cute frames there! And they were pretty reasonably priced. Using the Walgreens Balance Rewards program, I was able to get two cute 5×7 frames for $5.99. Not bad! You can see more photos of my Walgreens trip at my Google + album. {Add me to your circles, while you’re over there and I will add you to mine!} 😉

I also decided to see what their facebook cards looked like and ordered this picture, too. I put it in one of the frames I got at Walgreens and gave it to my daughter. She loves it! The facebook cards are pretty cute too.

A while back I signed up for Walgreens photo emails and last week they emailed me a code for $10 off a $25 order. I really like saving money so I recommend signing up for those emails. 🙂

Connect with Walgreens at their website or on facebook to stay abreast of their photo deals and download the app for your own smart phone.

But I digress… If you’d like to make your own DIY Instagram L.O.V.E. Art – here’s what you need:

4 – 16×20″ frames
1 yard burlap {if you like the burlap look}
33 Instagram photos {4×4″}
33 Card stock squares, I used black. {4 1/4 x 4 1/4″}
Blingy buttons {and other bling if you so desire}
Acid free photo tape
Spray adhesive
Cutting mat
Rotary cutter {mine was MIA so we used my hub’s box cutter}

Now grab a glass of wine and get to work. This takes a while.

First, cut the card stock down to 4 1/4 x 4 1/4″ squares. {Or, draft your husband to do it for you.} Heehee. Adhere the Instagram pictures to the card stock, taking care to center them. Adhere the burlap to your picture mat. I used the back of my frame as the mat so I didn’t have to buy more supplies. {Or, draft your husband to do this for you, too.} I have the most awesome husband ever. I am the creative genius, but he actually gets things done. I’m a lucky gal. Trim the burlap so the mat will fit in your frame. Then arrange your pictures and when you’re happy with their placement, adhere them to the burlap.

To make the button heart, I cut out a heart from the black card stock and then glued at least 50,000 buttons with my hot glue gun {which I haven’t done in years}. I should have drafted my husband to do that part, too… 😉 {Love ya, honey.} I learned my hot glue gun is complete and total crap and that I need to buy myself a new one. Good thing a craft store just opened up down the road from me. I headed out there for the grand opening ceremonies two days in a row and got gift cards for being among the first 100 people through the door!! SCORE! I was really lucky to get free bling for this project! So I think a new hot glue gun is in my future.

Once you’re happy with everything, clean, hang, and admire! L.O.V.E.