DIY Inexpensive Wallpaper Art with Canvases

May 15, 2009

I know! Finally, a post that's NOT about the kitchen island! Many of you have commented on my "art" above our master bedroom fireplace:

I wanted large art, but didn't want to spend a lot of money for a huge piece. This was a VERY easy and cheap project. I didn't take pictures back when I did it, but it's so easy I can show you after the fact:
This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience. 
See my policies and disclosure page for more information.

You'll need canvases in whatever size you want. Then, a staple gun, paint and a metallic glaze if you like the look of it. And of course, paintable wallpaper:

This project would take half the time if you just used regular wall paper you love, but I wanted something with texture and I already had it. :) Can't beat that folks. I got my textured, paintable wallpaper at Lowe's for around $12.

You'll want to follow the directions for getting the wallpaper prepped. I was afraid of doing this but it was SOOO easy. I rolled up the paper and soaked in the bathtub for a few minutes. Then I folded it like they told me to...cause I do what I'm told. (Lying.)

I just laid the paper on a towel, face down. Put the canvas on it, and stapled the wallpaper around it like I was upholstering a seat or wrapping a gift:

I did this while it was wet, and made sure I pulled it very tight. When I was done, I trimmed it all down, then flipped it over and smoothed out any air bubbles.

You'll want to let it completely dry before painting it. Also, I kept an eye on them and smoothed out an air bubbles that came up. (There weren't many, I'm just a freak about it.) Then, when they were all dry, I painted them all out with black paint using a sponge roller. I did three coats I believe.

Now the fun part -- this takes longer than the rest of it and take some major patience. But it made these, in my opinion. I took a small paint brush and used my metallic glaze to highlight the raised, textured parts of the wallpaper:

Then I added a kitty to the top:

That's it! I added some wire to hang them:

Without dry time, this took a couple hours, total.
They turned out exactly how I wanted! And with a coupon, I think I got the canvases for around $20 total.

You could also use fabric, wrapping paper, anything! Have a fantastic weekend!

See more of our home here. To shop items in our home, click here! Never miss a post by signing up to get posts via email
Email subscription form header
Your email:*
Please enter all required fields Click to hide
Correct invalid entries Click to hide

Comments

  1. I've tried this with fabric and loved the look. I'm excited to try it out with wallpaper at some point too, because I love the texture it has! You are so amazingly talented!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love the way it turned out. I've done this with fabric too, but the textured wall paper is an even better idea....esp. the metallic glaze highlighting the details! Great job!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I might have to do that with this toile wrapping paper I'm addicted to right now! :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. That is fabulous! Love it.

    BTW - I heard that if you put a single square of toilet paper on a football field, a cat would find it and lay down on it....

    ReplyDelete
  5. That is really genius. I love that!! And will try it for sure. Added to my long list! Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  6. LOVE IT! I will defiantly be trying that!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I LOVE the kitty part, it SO makes the whole project. He kinda matches too.
    Looks very easy to do. My son is looking to buy his first place and I need cheap ideas to help him decorate.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Wow, they look fabulous and really do have a wonderful texture. I just love them. Very clever and so easy to do. I also want to thank you for the gracious comments you always leave on my posts, I so appreciate them. I just did an inspirational post that I hope you will take the time to read. Such a blessing to our family. Thanks, Hugs Marty

    ReplyDelete
  9. That is remarkable! Gorgeous.

    ReplyDelete
  10. LOVE IT! And I think that the kitty just totally added to it.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I love to wall paper everything! O.K. maybe not "everything", but I have used this same kind of textured wallpaper (bought at Lowes~I even get an extra 10% for being military) and I have never used it as "wall paper"! I have used it to cover books in my living room, a redo on a piece in my bathroom, gift wrap paper (so pretty!) and now getting ready to use it as a back behind a shelf I built for the wall.All of these projects from one roll...and I still have more! :) Thanks for sharing your wall art~it is beautiful!! Oh, I love the cat as well...and I agree...why do they always have to come lay on whatever your working on? lol

    Hugs to you,
    ~Victoria~

    ReplyDelete
  12. Great, great, great idea! It looks wonderful. I'll have to try this one myself with leftover wallpaper I have hanging out in my basement.

    ReplyDelete
  13. What an amazing, creative project!

    ReplyDelete
  14. This is such a great idea! I hope you don't mind but I'm going to post a link to your blog on mine - I just love this idea, I want to remember it & share it!

    I want to head to Home Depot (we don't have Lowes) tonight!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. I love those!!!!! I'm so freakin' inspired :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. I can't believe you painted all those metallic details in only a couple of hours. You so totally rock!

    ReplyDelete
  17. It's people like you that make me glad I have the internet...now if only I would get off my butt and do this...

    ReplyDelete
  18. I love this - you're so lucky to have a great master bedroom!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Thank you! That's exactly the type of thing I was looking for to add art in my bedroom without the expense. I knew I wasn't crazy! It can be done!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Just wondering where you found the canvas for cheap?
    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Looks great. You are just a plethera of wonderful ideas. Have a great weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I really like the canvas/wallpaper art. Very nice!

    ReplyDelete
  23. The kitty really makes the project, don't you think? ;) Sooooo cool!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Rock on, that's on my decor list...I love the web, I love crafty people like you that inspire non crafty people like me. :) Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  25. this is absolutely FANTASTIC...just beautiful..

    ReplyDelete
  26. Love the project and the coordinating kitty!

    ReplyDelete
  27. I love these! I also love your fireplace in your master bedroom, how pretty! I have also seen this done with scrapbook paper and mod podge. :) I am definitely thinking of trying this in my dining room.

    ReplyDelete
  28. It looks awesome! What a creative idea!

    ReplyDelete
  29. That is awesome and I love how the kitty matches!

    ReplyDelete
  30. "BTW - I heard that if you put a single square of toilet paper on a football field, a cat would find it and lay down on it...."

    That comment is cracking me up! It's so true!

    ReplyDelete
  31. They are so cool!

    The way you painted them with the metallic accents they appear to be made of metal.

    ~Gorgeous result! :)

    ReplyDelete
  32. Chestnut lays on "everything" too.

    I mean anything I happen to be doing that I don't want him laying on.

    It's like they know....:)

    ReplyDelete
  33. That is great! I will have to think on this one!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Ugh! You're a damn genious! Genious, I tell you!

    ReplyDelete
  35. I just jumped over from Rue's Blog. I just wanted to say Hi and nice blog!

    Carolyn

    ReplyDelete
  36. Love the way they turned out! This is a really good idea for art and I see canvases at the thrift store all the time (they usually have awful painting on them but who cares when you can cover them up).
    They look great!

    Manuela

    ReplyDelete
  37. What a great and simple way to make art. Love it.

    ReplyDelete
  38. LOVE IT!!!!! I have seen that wallpaper at Lowe’s, and it comes in several different patterns. This was an amazing, inexpensive project, and it looks great!!
    I just love your ideas!!! Nicole

    ReplyDelete
  39. I almost forgot, my two cats do the very same thing!!!

    ReplyDelete
  40. I want to do something like that for a headboard. just as easy too i think. beauiful, cheap, and easy....:)

    ReplyDelete
  41. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS IDEA FOR CANVASES, I HOPE YOU DONT MIND THAT I MENTIONED YOU ON MY BLOG UNDER MY MASS PRODUCED ART POST. IM HOPING ONE DAY TO MAKE THIS KIND OF ART.
    HUGS
    JANET

    ReplyDelete
  42. LOVE THIS!!! I've done it with fabric, but never thought about the textured wallpaper. Brilliant, as always!

    ReplyDelete
  43. Freaking fantastic as always! You got my brain all working like crazy right now!

    ReplyDelete
  44. These did turn out so cool...
    Oh...and our cat would do the same thing, I'm sure!! Have a great weekend. Take care ~Natalie

    ReplyDelete
  45. Another cute, cheap idea is to buy some of those faux tin ceiling tiles and paint them the same way!

    ReplyDelete
  46. The idea is great! I'll definitely have to try it.

    ReplyDelete
  47. you got me with the kitty. I thought, what is that? some new kind of varnish or something?

    Ha ha, I should know, I have one of those kitties too!

    ReplyDelete
  48. So cool! I don't know why I'm so afraid of wallpaper! That is such a thrifty project you thrifty decor chick you!

    ReplyDelete
  49. Sarah, These speak to me. I love them. I am going to try making these. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  50. That is a really neat idea, I never thought of using wallpaper like that. I love your fireplace, it is so pretty.

    ReplyDelete
  51. I love this, and I love your blog! I will certainly be back for more ideas~I NEED THEM! (((((HUGS))))) sandi

    ReplyDelete
  52. These would have cost a fortune if you had bought them all pre-made in a furniture or decor store... Great idea!

    Di
    The Blue Ridge Gal

    ReplyDelete
  53. Oh that is WAY cool, I love it! I'll be linking.

    ReplyDelete
  54. What an AWESOME project! You rock!

    Sheila

    ReplyDelete
  55. Wow! what a great idea!! I will have to try this when we move to a larger house with larger walls :)

    Just found your blog and so far am loving it!!

    ReplyDelete
  56. this is such a fab idea. i love it with the texture, it makes me think it would cover up the air bubbles too!

    ReplyDelete
  57. Way too cool! I love it! Thank you so much for showing us that. I have lots of wall space and something like that would be the most cost effective way of filling it.

    ReplyDelete
  58. What a stylish use of wallpaper! I remember Nate Berkus saying how untrendy wallpaper is at the mo... but I bet he would approve of your idea!

    ReplyDelete
  59. I love this! It looks great and seems easy ~ I especially love that! Thanks for giving a tutorial ~ this is something that I will absolutely try!

    ReplyDelete
  60. Wow, they are so beautiful! Great idea!

    ReplyDelete
  61. Awesome idea! I've been wanting to hang some canvasses covered with fabric in our guest bedroom/my office. I just haven't found the perfect fabric yet on sale.

    Thanks for sharing, I had never even though of doing that with wallpaper. My goodness, your cat is too precious! Pics like that make me miss having a cat!

    ReplyDelete
  62. Hi Sarah, I love your blog! You are so creative. Thank you for sharing your talent. I've been contemplating on making your wallpaper art and just curious what size canvas did you use? Thank you so much.

    ReplyDelete
  63. I featured this today on my blog Scribbles and Swirls. Please take a look and would love for you to follow me as well :)
    http://tamiscribblesandswirls.blogspot.com/2011/11/joy-on-wallpaper-art.html
    Thanks for the inspiration!
    ~Tami

    ReplyDelete
  64. Just found your blog today! This project is TO DIE FOR!!!! We are getting a new house this summer and I definitely want to do this for the dining room wall! Thanks for sharing! Stop by my blog and visit! www.heritagehomemaker.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  65. I shared this on my facebook page, I think it's such a cool idea! Thank you!

    See it here:http://www.facebook.com/WallMuralFairy/posts/426301007421240

    ReplyDelete
  66. I am so doing this! So pretty, Do you think you could use a bigger canvas and match up the wallpaper? My wall paper is 20 inches, but I need bigger panels. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete

If you have a specific question I will do my best to answer you back here!

You can find our paint colors and links to items at the "Our Home" tab at the top of my site.

THANKS so much for reading!