Paint your own Lyrics

I love this project.  Even if you aren’t comfortable painting landscapes or still lifes on canvas you can still do this one.  And it isn’t holiday specific, adjust your colors and lyrics and it can be used year round.

Get a canvas, paint (background color and text color), a sponge applicator, a medium tipped paint brush and if you choose, some liquid glitter and a frame.

Paint the background your solid color, in my case red.  I used two different reds and a little metallic gold for the canvas pictured but a solid background will do the trick.  Once dry, give it another coat especially if you’re using red, if not thick enough red tends to look a little pink.

When your background is done start on your lettering.  I free handed mine using different scripts for a little more interest but you can try a variety of things:

tape your lines out so your script stays straight…(use painters tape and divide the length in inches of the canvas by the number of lines of text you want. Tape out equal spaces)

use stencils to apply your wording if you don’t feel comfortable free hand painting.

use a local print shop and have them print out your text to the size of your canvas on a clear material then apply to painted background.

When background and wording is done go ahead and apply your glitter if you choose.  I applied my glitter to look like icicles and snow accumulated at the bottom of the frame.  Then added a bit to the corners of the frame for a little umph.

I bought a black canvas frame (open backed with a ridge to accommodate a canvas) I painted it with four coats of metallic gold paint and inserted the canvas ready to clip it in with framing clips but the canvas was too deep for the frame.  I originally wasn’t going to frame this piece so I bought a gallery canvas…deeper than standard canvas without any staples showing on the sides.  SO I fished some extra blanket biding in my supply cabinet and used it and a staple gun to attach the canvas to the frame.  I stapled one edge of binding to the wood of the frame then stretched it across the canvas stretchers (wood frame of a canvas) and stapled it there as well.  Once the canvas and frame were firmly together I used another piece of binding and stapled it across the back to hang to entire kit and caboodle.  Here’s how: