A blank canvas is often used as a metaphor for new opportunities. A plain white art canvas also provides unlimited opportunity for creativity and expression. While an artist may use paints and brushes to bring life to a blank canvas, the paper crafter can also take advantage of this art staple to create unique home decor products
How to Create a Decorative Canvas
Art canvases are available in a wide range of shapes and sizes. For the beginner, a 6" x 6" canvas is a good size to work with, because it is large enough to include a photo if desired, but small enough that only a few embellishments are needed.
Beyond the basic canvas, nearly any crafting material and medium can be used for decoration. The creation process can be generally grouped into three steps:
- Prepare the Canvas - The art canvas can be prepared in several ways The canvas can be painted with nearly any type of paint. A large piece of craft paper can be adhered to the surface of the canvas, or smaller pieces of paper can be used in a collage fashion to provide a background pattern. Decoupage medium works well to adhere paper to the canvas. Textured mediums can also be used to create a rough or patterned finish to the canvas. Even fabric can make an eye-catching background for a canvas.
- Create the Canvas Focal Point - Depending on the design, the canvas can feature a photograph, a word, a drawing, or an eye-catching item. Adhere the item to the canvas using an adhesive that is appropriate for the item material. Decoupage medium works well for paper, cardstock, and chipboard, while craft glue works well for other items. For heavy items, create a hole in the canvas and anchor the item through to the back surface of the canvas. For photographs, remember that photos printed on ink-jet printers can smudge if a water-based medium is applied to the surface. Use only lab-created photos, or attach the photo to the canvas using dry adhesives or photo corners.
- Embellish the Canvas - Once the canvas has been prepared and the focal point has been added, the canvas can be decorated with nearly any type of embellishments, including buttons, jewels, fabrics, ribbon, chipboard shapes, flowers, and so on. Remember to use an appropriate adhesive for each type of item so that all of the embellishments remain firmly in place over time.
Once complete, add a simple hanger to the back of the canvas to hang it on the wall, stand it up on a shelf, or display it on an easel.
Susan Kristoff - Susan Kristoff is mechanical engineer by trade, but has a diverse set of professional and personal interests. The glue that binds all of ...
Join the Conversation