Appliqued Canvases March 12, 2014 – Posted in: Decorating, Sewing, Tutorials

This is a pretty fun post and tutorial today! I had the pleasure of participating in the Living With Punks Home Sewn series!

I brainstormed a long time trying to come up with the perfect project. I need curtains and throw pillows, but I was certain I could be more creative than that! What I really wanted around here is more stuff on the walls. After nearly 2 years of living in this house, our walls are still mostly bare. But now my kitchen is adorably complete!

If I can get my hands on it, I can applique it! I just love these details and appliqued canvases are my new obsession.

These canvases are really easy to make! Start by painting the background whatever color suits your fancy.

Using an xacto knife or blade, run the sharp edge along the canvas, making a cut just above the staples.

Pull the excess canvas off the edges.

To make it easier to replace the canvas, mark the back of the frame and the canvas in some way in the same place. That way you know you’ll be putting it back on the frame correctly, and if you’re doing more than one at a time you can keep them separated.

Separate the canvas from the frame.

To get your image, follow the steps in my applique tutorial. For this project, though, instead of using Heat n Bond, I used freezer paper. Ironing just isn’t a good idea.

Peel the paper off the back of your pieces and using a regular ol’ school glue stick, cover the back of bottom pieces and stick them to the canvas. The great thing about glue is that you can pull it up and reposition the pieces if you need to. You’ll want to move quickly, though, because the glue dries fast!

Applique your images, working your way up to the top layers.

I did glue my bows on since they don’t have to be sewn on.

I used a neutral thread in my bobbin to keep things blending on the back side of the canvas.

If these are going in your house, this is a perfect time to get the frames hung properly!

Find the frame that goes with your canvas. Match your letters so you know you’re going to reattach it properly.

Fold in the corners to get everything laying smooth.

Starting at one side, pull the canvas to the line you created when cutting the canvas off. Start in the middle of the side and staple to both ends. It helps to put pressure on the top of the staple gun to keep the staples from popping up.

Lastly, restaple the corners to keep everything neatly in place.

It was hard to photograph these on the wall I’ve actually got them hanging on. I love the new brightness in this dark corner of the room. Such perfection!

Did you make it this far?! Wonderful! Now check out this AMAZING giveaway going on over at Living with Punks! Oh how I’d like to win that machine! Don’t forget to enter, it could be you!