Gifts for friends abroad: Personal Artwork

Close friends don’t always live close to you.

Do you live abroad? Far away from most of your family and dear friends? I do.

And I’m always looking for suitable and original gifts for friends abroad, meaning back home in Germany. And it’s not always that easy. I blogged about good last minute presents for Christmas for friends and family abroad here and I created a board on Pinterest for more gifts for friends abroad here. Sometimes you don’t just want to order something from Amazon Germany, but give something special and unique.

It’s easy to create a special gift.

Last year I’ve painted some quotes on canvas for friends and had planned to make more gifts of this kind for my German friends who I miss often. This project has been on my to-do list for quite some time now, and last weekend I finally finished a whole bunch of paintings that I want to share with you.

It’s easy and everyone can do it.

Instructions

All you need is:

a canvas (I buy them in bulk with coupons from Michaels.),
acrylic paint,
good paintbrushes,
good handwriting or carbon paper
scrapbook paper,
paint marker, pencil or pen,
scissors and glue.

I usually look up a quote I like, or write one myself. It’s wise to write it on paper first or adjust fonts on the computer and print it in the size suitable for the size of the respective canvas. Then, you paint the background color or pattern (ombre looks really nice as well) and let it dry. Usually you need to paint two coats. Next, you transfer your saying with carbon paper onto the canvas and paint the letters either with a very fine brush or a paint marker (which is way easier to handle). I did the same for the state/country shapes. Printed them out, transferred them on scrapbook paper, cut them out (nail scissors come in very handy) and glued them onto the canvas. Mostly, while working on a piece, you will come up with ideas for embellishments. I did not plan to paint the waves/water on the one below to the left, but I like how it turned out.

Inspired to make your own gifts for friends abroad?

Hopefully this post can inspire you to create one or two gifts for friends abroad, too. I’m planning on giving some of these pieces to my friends and family, but if you’d like one, please leave a comment or send me a message. Yesterday, I set up an Etsy shop and I’m more than happy to sell you one or the other piece or even make a customized painting.