Together is Our Favorite Place to Be Canvas

This post could actually be titled – How Not to Paint on Canvas. I’m going to tell you everything I did wrong and how I would do it differently next time. I have to say that I’m surprised after everything I did wrong that I actually don’t mind how it turned out. I don’t hate it! In fact, it’s growing on me. Maybe it’s all the blood, sweat and tears I put into this Favorite Place Canvas (only partially kidding).

Our Favorite Place to Be Canvas

Supplies needed:

canvas or wood
personal cutting machine or letter stickers
vinyl
tattered angels glimmer mist

I won’t use canvas for this type of project again, next time I will use wood. I had the canvas on hand so that’s what I used. I also had plenty of scrap wood so I don’t know why I didn’t use that instead. Don’t get me wrong, I love canvas and can’t wait to use it for another painting project.

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Okay, so you know me. I was trying to save money and not take a trip to the craft store so I used shelf liner I had on hand to make the letters. It’s a lot cheaper than vinyl but doesn’t stick to canvas very well. I think it would stick fine on wood though. To be better prepared, I bought more vinyl to have around for next time. Can you tell I don’t like making last minute trips to the craft store?

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I have to say that my Cricut cut the shelf liner very nicely though. If you don’t have a cutting machine any sticky letters will work fine. I placed the laminate on the canvas using a ruler to space the lines. You don’t need to measure between the letters. Just eyeball it.

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The letters weren’t sticking very well so I used a bone folder and rubbed each letter into place. I thought they were rubbed down really good. Um, not so much.

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I saw this Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist at Michaels and had been wanting to try it. The color is Kiwi. I was going for a uneven kind of old worn look so it was perfect for that. I actually love the look it gave the canvas.

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The problem was the letters weren’t stuck down very well, remember? So after the paint dried I started taking the letters off and there was wet paint under all the letters. I hurried and dabbed the wet paint off with a paper towel under each letter. That’s why the letters are blotchy and not white. I was going for solid white, but I have to admit this doesn’t look too bad.

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At this point I should have been happy with it and just left it alone. It didn’t look too bad but there was an area where the paint was a little darker than the rest and I wanted to even it out. Why didn’t I just leave it alone? I used a tiny bit of acetone on a damp cloth and tried to lightly wipe some of it off. Disaster! I spent the next hour using different brushes and methods to blend everything back in. Learn from me, leave your projects alone and enjoy their little imperfections.

Together is our Favorite Place to Be canvas

After I did my best blending it, I let it dry then sanded it a bit to make it look like everything was intentional. I really kind of like it now and the glimmer mist gives it a little shimmer. If nothing else I love the sentiment the most and I think it looks pretty great on my mantel. So, the moral of this craft project is – sometimes you have to spend a little money to get what you want or some mistakes turn out just fine.

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{ 6 comments… add one }
  • ashlee August 24, 2012, 1:30 am

    I LOVE it! I made the same mistake when I used too wet of a paint on a t-shirt with a stencil, the fabric (canvas) soaks up the paint! The only thing that leaves crisp lines is a thick paste/paint! But I really like the way it bled into the letters, sometimes accidents make great projects!

  • Amy August 24, 2012, 7:12 am

    I agree with Ashlee- I think it was a happy accident. Having the color bleed a little into the letters makes it softer and I actually love the look. And I agree, the sentiment is wonderful. 🙂
    xoxo
    p.s. when can we do lunch?

  • Gwen @ Gwenny Penny August 24, 2012, 10:48 am

    It’s beautiful, Leanne, and I love that shade of green. Have to agree with Ashlee and Amy… I think the way that the paint bled looks fantastic. Great project 🙂

  • Jonie @ Just Between Friends August 26, 2012, 8:16 am

    I’m sorry it was such a pain, but it did turn out really looking great! I love the color and the way it looks on your mantel.

  • Angien24 August 28, 2012, 7:26 am

    I really like the softness to the letters, instead of a stark white contrast. I think it lends to the sentiment of the quote. I also like that you said it’s growing on you. That happens to me, I need some time to get beyond what I was hoping for and look at it for what I was given. (that’s also true in a lot of things in life, not just crafts.) ;D
    Angie

  • Michelle April 20, 2013, 9:02 am

    What a beautiful job you did on this! I am going to Michaels today to get the supplies. Thank you!

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