There are a number of diy wall canvas project instructions available via the Web, most made popular by Pinterest, so I might as well add to the list. I wanted the canvas look without the cost, and quite frankly some of the mess. Some of my projects have not turned out well using the various instructions so I wanted to developed an easier method that would give me the canvas look without most of the mess and failed attempts. Enter a versatile paper called canvas paper or canvas pad paper. It is a textured paper that is coated or primed for use with oils, acrylics and other media.
And I was able to create this:
and a closeup shows you how nice the texture is:
You will need:
Fredrix 3501 Canvas Pads, 12 by 16-Inch
Aleene's Crystal Clear Tacky Spray
Winsor & Newton Artists' Canvas 8 in. x 16 in. each
Krylon 1311 Matte Finish Spray for ArtistsYou will also need access to a printer. I used our HP Desktop 2710 Photosmart inkjet printer, so nothing expensive or complicated is needed.
These are just the sizes and products that I used. None of the items are expensive and with the exception of the artist canvas,(not the paper canvas), you can use the products for multiple projects. My canvas pad paper has 10 sheets and I now have 8 left for other projects ( yes, do the math, I made an error printing the first copy!) If you check at your local art supply/craft store you will likely find something similar. Various sizes of artist canvas and canvas pad paper are available, so you are limited only to the size paper you printer will accept. Obviously, the canvas pad paper is thicker than normal paper, but not too thick for most printers.
First, choose your design and make whatever adjustments you need to the image you will be printing. Resize, boost color, remove color, whatever you need to do. Do make the image slightly larger, you want your canvas paper to wrap over the edges just a very small amount. I added about 1/8 inch on all sides. Print out your design on plain paper and check to see if you need to make any adjustments. If you don't have paper the size of your design, simply cut and tape pieces together to get the size you need. Don't skip this step, it could possibly save you from making a mistake.
Cut your canvas paper to the correct dimensions then place the paper in your copier's feed tray and print. Allow this to dry; I let it dry overnight. Overkill, but like I said I've had too many failures before.
Spray the canvas paper with several coats of the fixative. This will keep the ink from smearing when you adhere it to the canvas and the finished product clean. Allow this to drive according the instructions on the can.
Spray the artist canvas,(not the canvas paper), including the sides, with the spray adhesive and carefully lay the paper onto the canvas, smooth, and then press down the edges over the sides.
Allow to dry overnight. Then make more!
My total cost was the price of the canvas plus a little under $1. How to make it cheaper? Glad you asked. The canvas pad paper could be glued onto any surface you can hang or display, wood, foam core board, canvas panels, anything that you can glue to could be used, so look around and see what you have and use that and your cost could be under $2. That's $2 for less mess; well worth it in my book.
