Sunday, January 9, 2011

MAKE A WALL CANVAS MADE FROM FABRIC FOR $10!

I created 3 canvases out of fabric I bought from a local fabric store.  The type of fabric I chose happened to have a "painted look" so it looks more like a painted canvas but you can do this with any design of fabric!


TOOLS/SUPPLIES
  • fabric - size depends on what size canvas you want.  You need just enough fabric to wrap around to the other side of the stretcher bars and staple
  • stretcher bars - size depends on what size canvas.  These can be found at a local art/craft supply store.  I bought (12) 14" boards to make (3) 14" square canvases.
  • staple gun
  • scissors
  • picture hanger (any hardware store will sell this...Ace, Home Depot, etc.)


DIRECTIONS

1. Put together your stretcher boards to make your frame.  They insert into each other.  Then put one staple over each corner where the 2 pieces meet.




2. Lay out the frame on top of your material (right side facing down)

3. Trace around the frame on top of the fabric, leaving about 2-3 inches of excess material around each side (this should be enough to wrap around to the other side).  Cut your fabric.



4. With your fabric right side down and your frame on top of your cut fabric, pull one side of the fabric around and on top of one side of the frame.  Staple the fabric on the frame along that side.



5. Take the next side of fabric and pull it on top of your frame.  Staple it to the frame.  You should now have an "L" shape of fabric stapled on the frame.



6. Continue to go around the frame to the next side and staple the fabric on the frame.  You should be pulling the fabric tight around the frame to make it stretch over the boards.

7. Pull the last side around tightly and staple.  

8. Attach a picture hanger to the top side of your picture so it is easier to mount on the wall.



And you're finished!




Before shot


After shot




TIPS

-For the corners, try to fold the fabric like you fold a bed corner.  Fold one side down and the other side on top of it so it makes a clean folded corner


-You can use a already stretched canvas, which you can also buy at a craft store, but they are more expensive than the canvas wood stretchers I used.

-Also, I didn't do this to mine, but you can paint a thin layer of clear medium gloss (such as Modge Podge) over the canvas to tighten it up around the frame.


TOTAL COST OF PROJECT
  • (12) 14" stretcher bars: $15
  • fabric: $12
  • picture hangers: $3
*This created 3 canvases


    I hope you found this useful! :)