Canvas art - a quick & easy DIY

I had a harebrained idea at midnight last night, or I guess this morning, to get a project checked off my list. So, I gathered a few supplies, sat down at the kitchen table and got to work.

A while ago I mentioned that I was going to make my own canvas prints. While you really can print on canvas right through your home printer, I was working with actual photographs. I was determined to get the look of canvas prints without the high price tag.

Quality gallery wrapped canvas can be expensive. An 11 x 14 with an inch gallery wrap averages about $60.00. You can find discounts here and there but once you start figuring in the thickness of the wrap or custom edge colors, it can increase the price. The work is beautifully done but I would need 5 and honestly, that's $300.00 which is needed elsewhere. Thanks to my beautiful friend, Alysa, she saved me a ton of dough! I followed her instructions and this is how it went.

Paint the sides of the canvas if you wish, even going over on the top sides of the canvas. Let dry. I just used leftover paint from the boys' room.

Using a paintbrush, brush Mod Podge over the entire canvas area.

I brushed it on after this

Place picture on the canvas and glue down. I smoothed it out with my hands, making sure there were no air bubbles. Just make sure your hands are clean - no oil on the picture. You may also want to use gloves for handling photographs.

Turn over and trim excess with an exacto-knife. My pictures were 11 x 16 but the canvas was 11 x 14 so I had a little to trim. You can also trim beforehand if you wanted.


Now, take the Mod Podge and paint the entire surface of the photograph. Don't worry, just keep spreading the glue and remember Mod Podge is magic! I used a sponge paintbrush but next time I think I'll use a better quality brush, something more sturdy. I just gave it one coat.

While one is drying, you can go on to the other. I became slightly impatient since it was now 1 AM so I took the hair dryer and sped up the drying time. If you do this, don't get too close to the picture. I just gave it a quick once-over and it was already looking good.



I just left it on the table overnight to finish drying and in the morning I had "canvas like" prints for a fraction of the price! They have slight brush marks that you can see up close which I don't mind because of the texture it gives. I really enjoyed the way these turned out.

Showing the edge

Lined up for impact

Total spent:

2 pk canvas $7.99

11 x 16 prints, $6.99 each (used a 30% coupon)

Mod Podge $2.69

paint brush $1.00

Total: $27.19 for 2, including tax

If you need help taking a high resolution photo for this project, let me know and I'd be happy to take one for you!

Linking to Just a Girl

Between naps on the porch
Serenity Now