**Canvas (I used a 12 x 12 size. I bought a package of 7 on sale for $12 at Michael's.)
**Mod Podge (or your homemade version of Mod Podge)
**Foam Applicators
**Acrylic Paint in your choice of color (I used Martha Stewart Crafts Multi-Surface Satin Acrylic Craft Paint in Beetle Black.)
**Scissors or Paper Trimmer
Step 1: Using a foam applicator, apply a coat of acrylic paint around the border (about 2-3" in) and on all sides and let dry. You want to apply a thick enough border around the edges so that the picture you center on your canvas covers any white space.
Step 2: Cut/trim your photo down to the size you want it to be.
Step 3: Add a thin coat of Mod Podge using an applicator brush. Make sure you add enough so that when you lay your photo down, there is enough glue at the edges. It's okay if you put a wider layer of Mod Podge than your picture.
Step 4: Gently place your photo in the center of your canvas. Starting at the center, gently press your hand down in the center and push out towards the edge slowly easing the photo down onto the glue and easing the air bubbles out. Continue this process all around the photo. The edges may want to sort of curl up, just continue running your finger around the outside edges (drawing a square as you go) to allow the glue to get tacky enough to hold the edges down. (I had to keep "drawing" the square with my finger several times until I felt the picture was properly adhered to the canvas.)
Step 5: Allow to completely dry.
Step 6: Add your first coat of Mod Podge using an applicator brush to your newly placed photo on the canvas. Make sure to cover the entire canvas.
Step 7: Allow your first coat to completely dry.
Step 8: Add a second coat of Mod Podge, making sure to cover the entire canvas.
Step 8: Allow your second coat to completely dry.
Step 9: OPTIONAL: If you feel you need to add a third coat of Mod Podge, go ahead and add it. Make sure to allow to completely dry.
Once your canvas has finished drying, prep it for hanging or displaying. You could add a ribbon hanger to your canvas or just add picture hanging hardware. Or you could display your art on a plate holder easel. Lots of possibilities!
Notes:
When I had my pictures printed at Staples, they first started printing them on the card stock. However, due to technical difficulties with their Commercial printer (it kept eating the paper), they changed my paper to a photo-type paper. When I placed the photo-type paper on the mod podge, the moisture from the glue caused the paper to begin to curl up. It didn't want to lay right and also began to ripple/wave. The cardstock paper by far was the most superior paper. It stayed down like I was hoping it would and had almost no ripple/wave to it. So, I highly recommend the cardstock paper for this particular project.
I made a collage of 10 canvas photos for my in-laws for Christmas. Hopefully I can get them hung on their wall for them soon and I will update this post to showcase their new handmade art. :)
UPDATE:
Here is the collage of 10 canvas photos now hanging on the wall. :)
Happy Crafting!
