Use a stretched canvas to make a unique piece of framed DIY wall decor, with this Christmas reverse canvas tutorial. Make a custom piece of Christmas wall decor in no time.
Give this new craft trend a try, and make a reverse canvas to go with your Christmas crafts & decor.
What is a reverse canvas?
Have you seen the latest reverse canvas crafting trend? It’s probably my favorite new craft to make.
The concept is simple: de-construct a stretched canvas (from the craft or art supply store) and re-use its own wooden frame to make a custom piece of wall decor.
You basically remove the fabric from a stretched canvas frame, and re-attach it to the back. Then the wood canvas frame serves as a “picture frame” of sorts!
If you liked this Christmas reverse canvas project, don’t miss this DIY winter reverse canvas window project!
Prepping Your Reverse Canvas
I use my trusty PenBlade to cut the canvas off the back of the frame. Then trim the canvas down to size so there is no overhang around the wooden frame. Then re-attach the fabric canvas piece to the back of the wooden frame using hot glue.
How to make a Christmas Reverse Canvas – 2 ways
Just watch this video tutorial (made with my crafting helper) to see how it’s done:
Reverse Canvas with a Ribbon Christmas Tree
For my first reverse canvas, I just layered assorted holiday ribbon and a couple of faux evergreen pipe cleaners. Just be sure to cut the ends of your ribbon at a 45-degree angle, or else your tree will look a bit funny.
Use a twig or piece of wood (from the craft wood section at the craft store) for a tree stump.
Reverse Canvas with Heat Transfer Vinyl
It’s really easy to use craft vinyl on canvas. You just need to use iron-on (or heat transfer) vinyl to make it stick to the canvas. Just attach with your iron or EasyPress according to the vinyl directions.
Written Step-by-Step Tutorial: Christmas Canvas Craft
Christmas Reverse Canvas - 2 Ways
Use a stretched canvas to make a unique piece of framed DIY wall decor, with this Christmas reverse canvas tutorial. Make a custom piece of Christmas wall decor in no time.
Materials
- canvas
- penblade or razor blade
- pen
- scissors
- chalk paint (or wood stain)
- paint brush
- hot glue gun and hot glue
- OPTION 1:
- heat transfer vinyl, cut into a holiday design
- easy press or iron
- OPTION 2:
- twig or small birch slice
- holiday ribbon
- evergreen pipe cleaners
Instructions
Use a penblade or razor blade to remove the canvas fabric from the wooden frame. Carefully work around the staples. If you want a smooth back to the project, remove the staples as well. This can be a bit tricky, so it's really a matter of personal preference.
Use a pen to trace the wooden frame onto the canvas fabric. Cut *inside* the traced line. Make sure that the canvas is cut just a bit smaller than the outside edge of the wooden frame.
Stain or paint the wooden frames. Here's your chance to let your creativity shine. You can stain the wood in a tone that compliments your home decor. On this project, I went with a "dry brush chalk paint" technique. Gently dip the end of a flat-edge paint brush into the paint, only picking up a tiny bit of paint. Dab on a paper towel or scrap of paper. Use light, quick strokes back-and-forth along the edge of each frame. By using a dry brush with a little bit of paint, some of the wood will show through for a distressed look. Start with less paint, and layer until the desired coverage is achieved.
DECORATING OPTION 1 - HEAT TRANSFER VINYL
Set the painted frame aside.
Select a Christmas pattern in a size just a bit smaller than the inside of the frame. Use your Silhouette or Cricut to cut it out (mirrored, of course!) onto heat transfer vinyl (HTV). Position the HTV onto the trimmed canvas - either side works, it's just a matter of personal preference. Apply the HTV according to the instructions and peel away the backing.
Apply hot glue to the back of the wooden frame - be sure to get a fair amount in each corner and the center of each frame side. Set the canvas in place on the frame back and press to secure.
DECORATING OPTION 2 - RIBBON CHRISTMAS TREE
Allow the painted frame to dry.
Apply hot glue to the back of the wooden frame - be sure to get a fair amount in each corner and the center of each frame side. Set the canvas in place on the frame back and press to secure.
Hot glue a twig into place to serve at the tree trunk.
Cut a variety of Christmas ribbon at 45-degree angles - at a variety of lengths. Hot glue the ribbons into place in a triangle or tree shape.
How to Hang Your Reverse Canvas:
Hot glue a pop tab to the back of canvas. The pop tab can hang
on a nail on your wall. I find this to be the easiest way to quickly
hang my DIY wall decor projects.
More Reverse Canvas Projects:
- Grab some dollar store supplies and make these two cute Dollar Tree Fall Reverse Canvas crafts to decorate this autumn.
- Grab 4 small canvases and a string of mini lights to make this winter window scene to decorate your home when the days are short.
A great idea. Thanks for a great idea for gifts. Love your blog. Happy Thanksgiving! Mary
where do you buy the Christmas tree transfer? this is all new to me and would love to learn how to do it. i watched your video and it looks easy but i am not familiar with the vinyl transfer.
Hi Paula, I made the transfer using my Cricut machine and Cricut design space. You could easily stencil a design, though! Happy crafting 🙂
Video was very dark but got the point. Thank you foe the tutorial. Nice job.
Hi Lisa – So sorry the video was dark! I just got a new camera for filming video (instead of filling up my iPhone storage with videos, LOL) and there’s definitely a learning curve :/