So it’s probably no big secret that I’m not into scrap booking, own a cricut machine or big on decorating my home with elaborate pieces of art. If I were, this blog would be filled with cutesy arts and crafts stuff. In fact, if you were to look around our previous home of eight years you’d probably would have asked yourself, “how long has she lived here?” Did she just move in?
And the answer would have be no, I lived there for 8 years thank you very much. I just don’t like a lot of crappity crap on the walls, piled up on tables and every cupboard stuffed shut.
And then there is the other part about how I don’t like buying “art” from Target, Pottery Barn or anywhere else that sells mass produced, anyone can have it because it was made in China, pieces soulless “art.”
So last winter when it was like 30 degrees outside and I was all cooped up with nothing to do, I made something really cool. Or at least I think it’s pretty cool anyway.
Note to self: Spray Adhesive can make you loopy if you don’t have proper ventilation. 
Putting your favorite quote on a canvas is super simple!
First, buy a canvas, and then paint it with whatever acrylic paint you want. Then, jot down your favorite quote and head on over to your local office supply store and have them print it out on whatever size paper you’d like to put on your canvas {I paid $2.19 for a 20×30 sheet}.
Next, grab an old pattern. If you don’t have one check your local thrift store. I paid $0.25 for mine.
Unfold the pattern pieces and lay them across your dry, painted canvas.
In a bowl, mix 1 part washable school glue to 3 parts water and stir until you have a nice consistency.
Brush watered down glue mixture on to your pattern, making sure to use enough glue to adhere the pattern to the canvas.
Wait for it to dry. 
Pour some black acrylic paint into a container and grab an old shopper card {I like to use them because they are nice and sturdy} and get a wee bit of black acrylic paint on the card.
Gently scrape the painted card onto the canvas with so much wild abandon that your kids will be like, watch out, mom’s on a craft binge again. Stay away.
There is no perfect way to do this. You can’t mess it up. There are no rules. Just go with it until your canvas has an aged, urban art type of appearance.
Let the whole thing dry overnight and then hang that baby on your wall.
Easy Peasy.
~Mavis
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Cindy says
Love it! I cringe every time I see soulless crap on walls.
Mavis Butterfield says
I’m glad I’m not the only one! 🙂
Tracy L. says
You’re not the only one. I have friends that constantly want to put something on my wall space. I like not having visual clutter!! AND, bonus, no nicknack STUFF to clean!
Lisa says
Oh, I have all kinds of crappity crap on my walls. We have actual original art created by actual artists, as well as photos-some artsy, some family (some artsy of family). A framed Edward Gorey Gashlycrumb Tinies poster (in my living room!). All kinds of stuff.
I’m suspicious of people with nothing on their walls. My neighbors are like that. I’m guessing it’s a no holes in the wall thing.
😛
Julie Ann says
I second the ‘soulless crap’ aversion.
I’d rather have blank, empty walls then to cover them with “Live. Love. Learn.” or whatever that phrase looks like.
Is it “Eat. Sleep. Breathe.”? Makes as much sense 😉
Hahaha! Great post! I like this project, but I may make my own canvas – those things are pricy! Wood + canvas and some staples. Cheap when purchased separately!
Lisa says
I did that (a much smaller one tho) with a recipe copied from my grandma’s cookbook notebook. I can’t really read her writing, but I love the look of it and it always reminds me of her.
The cookbook also has scribbling in it from a kid, my dad!, so what a treasure. I guess I should get my kids to scribble in my cookbooks now so my grandchildren will be pleased years down the line 🙂
Susan says
I love this! Would it be possible to see a picture of it hanging on your wall? I’d love to get a sense of the scale of the project :0)
Mavis Butterfield says
I believe it was a 30×50 canvas.
Mona says
Mavis- are you rubbing a candle on the canvas after it has been painted in the second photo? If not, what is the cylindrical object in your hand and what are you doing with it?
Mavis Butterfield says
No, that was a foam paint roller I ran across the paint to make sure it was all soaked in. 🙂
Ellen says
Loved your project…
Wondering why you didn’t apply the paint with the foam roller in the first place, instead of the credit card??
Sara says
I cringe when I hear when people call soulless crappetty crap what others love. People enjoy what they enjoy. In a world of hate and hurt I will take soulless crap as art even a gift of mass produced crap. Love more. I like your blog. I think I understand your statement, but it seemed a little critical. My comments may seem critical, but they are meant to bring awareness of terminology. I will look for future blogs to enjoy.
Stacy says
Wow. I just found your blog on Pinterest and I’m hooked. I just Love this canvas piece you did. Great job. One question. After you put the pattern on do you put glue on every piece of the pattern? All over the canvas? Thank you.
Mavis Butterfield says
I use a “glue wash” {glue and water} over the entire canvas, yes.