Fabric covered canvas project

I love this project because it's cheap, easy, and quick. All you need is a canvas, fabric, and a staple gun.  I first made these because I needed something fast and inexpensive to stage our condo when we put it up for sale. Most of our art was blown up canvases or photos of our wedding and engagement photos. Beautiful to us, but a big no-no when it comes to staging for the purpose of selling.

Luckily for me, I already had a few canvases that someone gave me so I didn't have to spend money on them. For you, try a thrift store or a craft store and buy some with coupons. You'll still be saving a lot of money.

Once you have your canvas, measure the dimensions. Make sure you buy enough fabric to cover the entire canvas and be able to staple it in the back.

As you can see, it doesn't have to be perfect. However, if you are going to place the canvas on a table like below, when you fold the corners, fold them on the sides. That way there won't be a slight bump on the bottom when you place it on a table or shelf.

Start at the top, stapling the corners and the middle. Then pull tightly (but not too tight or you might create lines) at the bottom and staple the bottom corners and the middle. Then do the sides (corners and middle). Once you have those staples in, staple the rest, about 2 inches in between staples. Hold the fabric tightly so it's not loose in the front.

As you can see, you can use the same fabric for more than one canvas. The first canvas is half the size of the second, and I positioned it vertically instead of horizontally. They tie in nicely-- similar enough to match, but different enough to be interesting. I paid about $15 for the fabric. Not bad for two pieces or art! The fabric actually looks like a painting.

Tip: For big canvases, use big prints. For smaller canvases, you can use smaller prints.

If you want to spice things up a bit, take some painters tape and create a chevron pattern on your canvas. Then paint the exposed fabric white and you will have white chevron stripes that create a modern twist on your design.

Decorating on a budget

So you're decorating with a limited budget. Bare, boring walls are staring back at you. Empty shelves and accent tables are collecting dust. Luckily for you, it only takes a few good pieces to make a room interesting. Instead of paying $100 for one piece of artwork from Homegoods (which is an awesome place), you can put in a little time and create enough for a room or two.

You'll need to do a little bit of shopping first, ordered by priority.

1. Thrift store. I tend to prefer Goodwill since they are usually a little bit cleaner and more organized. Then Salvation Army. Go often if you can, because there's a constant turnover in merchandise. Things to look for:
• Frames of all sizes. Don't be afraid of color because paint is your friend. Look instead for interesting shapes that match your style. 
• Clear glass vases. Again, look for an interesting shape and whatever size you need. You can paint these. 
• Other figurines. Anthony found two cheap ceramic owls for $1 each. They were whimsical and owls are popular in decor these days. We spray painted them glossy white for a cabinet.
• Hardcover books. Look under the paper covers and see if the color and style suits your style.
• Canvases. Doesn't matter how ugly the painting is, look for the appropriate size for your room. You'll cover the painting.
2. Joann. Sign up for their mailings or download their smartphone app. You really shouldn't buy anything at full price here. I always use a 40% or 50% off coupon if the items are regular price. They have sales often, so try to catch a 40-50% off sale for whatever item you need. Things to look for:
• Craft paint or spray paint. You can also buy spray paint at a hardware store. You might need paint for frames, vases, or figurines.
• Fabric. Once you get a cheap canvas from the thrift store, you can cover it with fabric. If you can't find a canvas, you can get a blank one here (but use the coupon).
• Scrapbooking paper. Either individual sheets or packs. I invested in several packs so I can get variety. I also scored at Walmart a few times. Next time you go, see if they have packs of scrapbooking paper on clearance. I bought a few packs for 80% off!
3. Dollar store. You can also find cheap glass vases here.
4. Homegoods. I wouldn't buy anything too expensive here, but they have very inexpensive smaller frames that are unique. They also have other decor items such as bookends.

So you have your materials. Now on to the projects!

1. Fabric covered canvas
2. Framed scrapbooking paper
3. Hardcover books
4. Spray painted figurines