I am so excited to share this easy and beautiful tutorial for to make your own DIY Canvas Photos from inexpensive craft supplies!! I finally set aside the time and put a picture of the girls on canvas for Graham for Father’s Day. It was such a quick and easy project and I think the results are super cool.
The supply list is short:
canvas
photograph (same size as canvas)
MATTE mod podge
scrapbook paper
acrylic paint
First, cut strips of scrapbook paper to fit each side of the canvas. It’s easiest if the strips are just slightly shorter and narrower than the sides. Apply mod podge liberally and glue strips on each side Glue the photograph to the top of the canvas. You can lay your project on wax paper so that it doesn’t stick to your work space while drying. Allow to dry completely.
Then, apply a coat of mod podge over the entire surface, the edges and the picture. Allow to dry completely again. It will look milky at first, but will dry clear. I used photos printed at Costco; they held up well and the ink didn’t smudge or anything wonky like that.
Okay, so after it’s all dry, use a sponge or cloth to dab on acrylic paint to cover any spaces between side paper strips and the photograph. I also liked the look of smudging up the corners. The paint adds a little texture that I like, too.
I only got a quick snapshot of Graham’s picture before we wrapped it up and now it resides at his office.
I made a couple more canvas pictures for Addie’s room with my favorite pictures from her birthday. I usually prefer black and white photos, but I did these in color because I love how the coloring coordinates perfectly in her bedroom. Rather than the black acrylic paint, I mixed a metallic bronze, medium brown, and metallic black and dabbed that around the edges and corners. It took me a couple tries to get the right color combination, but since the mod podge was well dried, I was able to rub off the unwanted paint with a damp sponge – foolproof! You gotta love that.
This is one of those immediate gratification projects. Each step literally takes less than a minute, and the mod podge dries fairly quickly (e.g., less than 30 minutes). You can have your canvas photo project done and on display in no time at all!
I like it, I think I’m going to go for a big ‘ol picture next.
PLEASE ALSO READ: CANVAS PHOTOS DIY REVISITED
Comments & Reviews
Anonymous says
I HAD A QUESTION. DO YOU PUT THE MOD PODGE OVER THE PHOTO ONCE YOU LAY IT DOWN?
Anonymous says
Are these pictures printed on regular printer paper or on photo paper?
Sherry says
This is wonderful! I also used glossy photos by mistake, and it worked just find. I also found that if I painted the modpodge on in vertical strokes and let it dry, and them did it again in horizontal strokes, it had more of the look of canvas!
Laura says
The first link in this post, as well as the suggested post to read {Canvas Photo DIY Revisited} are broken. I get an Error 404 message. Do you have new links?
Rama Gomez says
I tried this but when I put the Mod Podge on top of the picture and let it dry I saw smear marks and lines from when I painted the Podge on. Any ideas how to not let that happen? I’m making these for Christmas pictures this year so I wanna get this right. Thanks for the idea and can you email me your answer? ragomez1022@gmail.com
Thank you!!
Michelle says
I just tried this and my picture bubbled up! How do you keep it from doing that?! 🙁
Bianca says
This is awesome, and I have to try that!!
Love from Denmark
Abdul Latif says
its a very stunning collection of gifts and great pictures i realy like it Thanks for sheering these and i lov all pics.
Melanie says
I love it! Going to do it tomorrow!
HaileyB says
I’m using printed photo’s from Walmart on a gloss paper. Can I use gloss modge podge or will it look milky?
hailey_32@hotmail.com
Anonymous says
Love this idea!! What a money saver!
I wanted to ask where you have found the vintage “A as in Azalea” picture? It’s so pretty, would love it for my daughter’s room.
Thanks in advance,
Sara
skywriter2 says
This comment has been removed by the author.
stacy morrison says
Great post, useful tips posted here for instant gratification, this is a unique consent you have describe here, any person can learn this easily because there is also photo tutorial for easy learning. canvas prints
Melissa S says
I love this tutorial and plan on trying it very soon! I did apply the idea of the scrapbook edging to another one of my projects and mentioned this tutorial in my post. Would love if you had a moment and could stop by!
http://wildflowerswonders.blogspot.com/2012/06/when-two-tutorials-become-one.html
Lena Leinwand says
So cute!