Altered Photo Wall Hanging Tutorial

I learned the altered photo technique from artist Karen Michel a few years ago. I have loved and used this technique so many times and included altered photos in wall hangings and handmade books and used cut up altered photos as backgrounds for collages or soldered pendants.

Professionally printed photo (ink jet or laser printed images will not work for this project
Sandpaper (fine or medium grit)
Craft paint - your choice of color
Paint brush
Cardboard that is slightly larger than your photo
Scraps of scrapbook paper, left over bits of paper from other projects, painted papers, fabric scraps,
glue stick
scissors
Staz On ink
Rubber Stamps
Drill with 7/64" drill bit
Eyelets
Jewelry wire

Optional:

Water soluble oil pastels
Rub On words

Project time: 2-3 sittings of 60 minutes

Level: Beginner collage skill


Step 1
Choose the photo you want to alter. It must be a photo that was printed by a professional machine and not an ink jet printer. Choose a photo that has some elements that you want to leave unaltered.




Step 2
First fill a small basin with warm to hot water. Place the photo in the water face down for about a minute.














Step 3
Take the photo out of the water and pat it dry. Don't rub the surface.






Step 4
Immediately, while the photo is damp take a small piece of a sheet of sandpaper to scratch the surface of the photo. Start at the edges and work inwards. Anything you want to leave as normal don't scratch.












Step 5
When you have scratched off all your want you will be left with lot of bits of the emulsion on the surface, they are kind of sticky so it is not easy to wipe them off, so simply dip the photo into the water basin again and the bits will come off. Pat the photo dry again, you are ready to add some color to the photo.










Step 6
Add paint and oil pastels to the photo. I don't put too heavy paint on my photos, rather leaving some of the scratchy surface showing through. I like to blend the paint and pastels with my finger.












Step 7
Then it is time to add some rubber stamps to the photo. I generally use Staz On ink so that it doesn't wipe off.





Step 8
Add collage elements, such as words, torn paper backgrounds, scrapbook paper, punched out shapes (in this case a star).














Step 9
Now it is time to start making the wall hanging. Glue this art piece onto a piece of cardboard. Trim the cardboard close around the art.





Step 10
Measure and mark two equal points on either side of the wall hanging. Use a drill to make the holes where marks are.














Step 11
Put some glue into each of the holes followed by eyelets. The eyelets give the piece a finished look. (Idea: If you don't have any eyelets handy, color the rough edges of the holes with a permanent marker!)












Step 12
Cut a piece of jewelry wire aprox. 8 inches long.






Step 13
To make the wall hanging handle: Put the wire through one hole and twist the end back on itself to secure the wire. Put the other end in the other hole and twist it in the same way.













Step 14
To finish off add some more collage elements, or words if necessary. In this case I felt that the piece needed something else, so I added some Rub On texts, it helped the piece visually and in concept.

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