DIY Repurposed Canvas Art
How to repurpose a canvas to make expensive looking art with a poster and spray adhesive.
I feel like a vast majority of my thrift/repurpose posts should start with something like…
“On today’s episode of Lauren Never Throws Anything Away”…
Monica Gellar had a closet, y’all. I won’t even get into what kind of hot mess I have over here.
My 2020 resolution is to purge my crazy home-office-turned-storage-room, but until then, I pulled this little number out of it: Tropical palm art on a framed canvas.
It was cute when I got it from Target a couple of summers ago. But it didn’t take long for me to realize it wasn’t my style. So here I was stuck with a canvas I really didn’t love.
Then, in desperation for some art on our back porch, ingenuity struck. And I whipped it together for this month’s Trash to Treasure Tuesday.
We decided to jazz up this sad looking spot on our back porch while we were at it. That box held a mini fridge when we first moved into this house, and a TV used to hang above it.
It has just sat here looking rather wanting for a couple of years now. But we devised a plan for a quick, inexpensive facelift in about an hour for under $40.
First, prepare yourself for the shortest tutorial ever. You ready? Don’t blink.
How to Repurposed an Old Canvas for New Art
(Some affiliate links are provided below. Full disclosure here.)
Supplies Used:
- Old framed canvas
- Poster/large print
- Spray adhesive
- White paint
- Craft brush
- Scissors
The Steps:
1. Paint the outside edges of the canvas with white paint, if the existing image on the canvas is visible on the sides. Let dry.
2. Roll out your poster on top of the canvas to check the size and how it will line up. Trim any excess, if needed.
3. Start on one end of the canvas and spray the adhesive on the edge. Line up and press the poster onto the sprayed canvas.
4. Slowly roll out your poster onto the canvas, spraying a little at a time to adhere the poster all the way to the other edge.
Done! Ridiculously easy.
And now we have pricey looking art for cheap!
Remember that sad empty mini-fridge box on our back porch before?
We just added a stained piece of wood with corbels for a “mantel”, painted the inside of the box black with leftover paint from our master bedroom refresh, and we decorated her up.
Lookie at that magic!
This little facelift cost all of $37 to make. Boom! One day, we hope to turn this into a real outdoor fireplace, but I’m all about this cheap faux solution until that day comes.
And our repurposed canvas art is the cherry on top.
You can see the rest of the Trash to Treasure Tuesday crew’s thrifty makeovers below too:
Clockwise from top left:
Prodigal Pieces | Artsy Chicks Rule | Confessions of a Serial DIYer | Girl in the Garage
Want more thrifty makeover ideas? See all of my past T2T projects here.
Genius!
This is amazing! I have to try this in my house somewhere!
Paige
http://thehappyflammily.com
Lauren! It’s inspiring how you transformed that little area with these very simple projects! The creative mind at work!
Beatiful and very warm welcoming
That is the cutest!!!! What a great idea!
Awww Wow! You are sooo talented!
When ever I see canvas pieces at yard sales I get them. You never know when you found a piece you can cover with them or give them to your grandkids to paint over. I love the vintage poster.
you’re exactly right! A great way to save money and get the littles involved in art too. Thank you!
Wow! I have to hand it to you. That is a very clever idea. So original and adorable.
I rarely comment on blog posts, but WOW!!! Quick, easy, thrifty, just perfect!
WOWZER!!!
I love this so much!
Love, love love this!!! So very clever!
The fireplace make over/re do/decorate is very beautiful!!
Wow!! This whole makeover-of-the-box-on-the-porch is so clever and beautiful!
Thank you for project idea too! I have a couple old canvas that I never threw away, I knew one day I’d find something to do w them! 😊
Absolute genius!
I can see your projects, but I can’t get
the links to show the other ladies projects.
2 weeks in a row! Just wanted to let you know.
Thanks
Linda in Seattle
Oh no, thanks for letting me know! I’ll take a look to see what’s wrong.
luv your site but I can’t get any pics. I get all your comments, but I can’t see the pretty things u do over. What could it possibly be? I get the rest of the group pictures. Hmmm?
I do love that you took an piece that you no longer cared for and transformed it, but I really love how SO friggin cute that whole area is now with the mantel and “fireplace’!! You are so clever, girl! XOXO
I’d say you rocked it, Lauren. 🙌🏻😃
WOW!!! What a transformation, so creative! It doesn’t even look like the same space, I love it!!