Make today count – altered canvas

Do you have an old piece of canvas or other artwork that you used to love but now the feelings have slightly changed and … as harsh as it may sound… you just don’t love it anymore. Rather than putting it in a bin and commencing the search of something new, why not re-use it? Up-cycling is so IN right now!

Sanna Lippert is here today to share with us how she altered her old (unloved) canvas into a completely new and, may we say,  absolutely beautiful piece of mixed-media art. All she needed was just some paint (yes, we are taking Tattered Angels here!), some random bits and bobs to build up textures and dimension and, of course!, a little piece of Architextures, which will add the WOW-factor to anything you make.

Let’s take a look…

‘I wanted to create a small canvas I could put into mail to a fellow crafter. It is a little thank you present I want to sent off to say a special thanks for thinking of me when life was rough. I hope it will make the recipient happy!
I started off by altering an older canvas piece I wasn’t that fond of anymore. By adding layers and layers of goodness on top, some stenciling, some paste and new colors, there is nothing left from the old piece anymore. Here are the steps that led to the finished piece. I must add that I added just a few more details after finishing the piece.’ – explains Sanna.

Sanna used the following materials:
Tattered Angels Decor & DIY paint – Tan
Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist – Boardwalk, Stone, Graphite
Tattered Angels Baseboard Mist – Gravel
Tattered Angels Glimmer Glaze – Java
7gypsies Architextures – Ink Pens
7gypsies – Dome Studs antique brass
Canvas Corp – Heirloom Collection – Brushes on Ivory
Canvas Corp – Corrugated Cardboard
Liquitex Acrylic Gesso
Prima – Art Stones, Gel Medium, clear stamp (#960964)
Tim Holtz idea-ology – Small talk
Old book pages, Skeleton leaf, Old alphabets
STAMPlorations stencil – Prisms
Elizabeth Craft Designs – Peony Pink Silk Microfine Glitter
Eco-dyed yarn
Inka Gold – Viva Decor Rose Quarz
Stamperia Crackle paste
Ranger – Glossy and Crackle Accents
Wood veneer heart
Palette knife, Paint brush, Heat tool, Scissors, Stencil

As mentioned previously, I started with an old canvas I didn´t like that much anymore. So my first step was to add some texture onto it. I chose to use old alpha stickers as my first layer. I randomly adhered them onto the canvas with gel medium and when they were relatively dry, I applied a layer of gesso on top.

I then applied a layer of “Afraid of the Dark” Glimmer Mist onto the surface, however it turned out darker than I wanted to, so I kept on adding layers. This time I added a piece of Canvas Corp corrugated cardboard and some Prima Art Stones as well as some stenciling with a crackle paste. Again, this needed quite a long drying time because I adhered the art stones with gel medium.

After the second layer was dry, I took the Decor & DIY paint in “Tan” and applied a layer all over the canvas with a paintbrush. Why this paint? Because I was certain it would cover up the dark spray ink tone with only one layer,since it is a great furniture paint. So there, I thought it would perfectly cover up here, too. And it did! Just needed some drying time again.

Now that my base was ready, I could move on to the fun part – adding color and stamping. I sprayed a layer of Baseboard Gravel tone onto the canvas and let it form splodges in the uneven areas. I let the spray ink air dry to make sure it would leave those nice colored areas here and there.

I really liked the first layer and how it looked, but I still wanted to add more contrast around the uneven areas of my canvas, so I sprayed more layers of Glimmer Mist. This time, I used Stone and Graphite tones. Again adding a relatively thick layer of spray ink and leaving that to dry on its own.

Next I wiped some Graphite Glimmer Mist tone with my fingers around the edges to create a little more contrast. It worked really well for shading too. I then treated all raised areas with white gesso to add more dimension to the piece. And finally added some Java Glimmer Glaze splatters around the raised areas for more interest.

For my next step, I took Inka Gold Rose Quarz tone and rubbed it randomly onto the surface for more interest and shine.

Then I took a piece of old book paper, misted with Graphite Glimmer Mist and rolled little paper rolls out of the page. I adhered them next to each other onto the highest point of my canvas with gel medium. That way they will not fall off later on. Next I adhered a skeleton leaf on top of the paper rolls, added a fussy cut Heirloom Collection Brushes on Ivory brush on top of the petal and accompanied that with an Arhitextures Ink Pen Trinket.

After that, I added some eco-dyed yarn around the upper part of the canvas and added some Tim Holtz word stickers on top. I ended up changing my words from “do more than exist” to “make today count”, just because I preferred that sentiment more than the other. I treated the stickers and the inked wood veneer heart with Crackle Accents to give them a more antique look.

I was still not quite happy with the surface, so I added another layer of Stone Glimmer MIst to the uneven areas. The ink gathered to the holes and made them darker.

I left the piece to dry and the next morning when I looked at it, I felt like adding some shine, so I poured some pink microfine glitter to random Glossy Accents treated areas for more interest. That needed to be completely dry before removing the loose glitter. I then added some darker tones around the edges and some white “lines” with a thin palette knife for additonal detail. And I changed the title at this point. That´s it.

I hope you enjoyed this little step-by-step tutorial and get inspired to alter an art piece or two that you are not that fond of anymore either. Have fun!!!

– Sanna –

You can see more of Sanna’s work on her blog and Instagram.

Happy crafting!!!

Sign up to Receive Inspiring Content, Exclusive Offers and More!

Your information will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party.