So remember this thread:
http://forums.theknot.com/discussion/1045986/my-paintings-always-become-my-enemies-pip/p1Thanks for all the ideas! I finally JUST finished the painting (barely in time for it to dry so I can wrap it (?) and get it to the FIL's house for Christmas! So suspenseful!)
HaileyDancingbear I used the technique you told me about and I really love the results! Thanks so much!
Here's some photos from before you guys helped me, and after (the finished product). The colors look a little off because the before photo was taken at night with artificial light and the finished ones were taken this morning in natural daylight, but I'm really excited with how it ended up. You guys are really the greatest!