Have you tried making a “reverse canvas” craft yet? Grab 4 small canvases (from the dollar store or the craft store) and a string of mini lights to make this winter window scene to decorate your home when the days are short.
I am absolutely *obsessed* with the reverse canvas craft trend! Since I’ve only made one Christmas reverse canvas, It’s actually one of my craft goals for next year to make more. UPDATE: I just made two new FALL Reverse Canvases.
I decided to get a big start on my reverse canvas making, by putting 4 canvases together to make a window scene. I think this is a great project to decorate for winter. Since the picture lights up, it can help brighten those gloomy winter days!
I’m going to share TWO variations of this project. Since my project has lights and a battery pack on the back, I don’t think it’s practical to hang this on a wall. It’s better suited to propping on a shelf, mantel, or above a piano.
However, if you do want to hang this on a wall, I’m sharing an unlit variation that can more easily be hung up.
Supplies needed to make a Reverse Canvas Window:
- 4 small stretched canvasses – from the dollar store or craft store
- penblade or razor blade
- pen
- scissors
- Waverly antique wax – or other wood stain
- paint brush
- ruler
- Mod Podge
- wallpaper smoothing tool, or a credit card works too
- hot glue gun and hot glue
- OPTIONAL (for the lit version): 10 mini string lights, duck tape, and popsicle sticks
- OPTIONAL (for the unlit version): foam board, cut to size of your window craft and a soda pop tab for hanging
- Printed winter scene picture
Want to make this with larger frames (like 8×10)?
Watch this video to see how to make your own reverse canvas window project:
Here’s a written step-by-step tutorial for this project:
Reverse Canvas Window
Have you tried making a "reverse canvas" craft yet? Grab 4 small canvasses (from the dollar store or the craft store) and a string of mini lights to make this winter window scene to decorate your home.
Materials
- 4 small stretched canvasses - from the dollar store or craft store
- penblade or razor blade
- pen
- scissors
- Waverly antique wax - or other wood stain
- paint brush
- ruler
- Mod Podge
- wallpaper smoothing tool, or a credit card works too
- hot glue gun and hot glue
- OPTIONAL (for the lit version): 10 mini string lights, duck tape, and popsicle sticks
- OPTIONAL (for the unlit version): foam board, cut to size of your window craft and a soda pop tab for hanging
Instructions
- Watch the video tutorial before you begin, and let that be your visual guide for this craft.
- Use a penblade or razor blade to remove the canvas fabric from the wooden frames. 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 I opted to leave the staples in place.
- 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 the wooden frames. Brush a thin, even coat of the Waverly antique wax (or stain of your choosing) onto the front and side edge surfaces of the wood. Wipe away any excess.
- Print the winter scene picture (link to the file is in the blog post). Measure the inside of the frames. Cut the full image into four quarters that fit inside each frame.
- Apply each image quarter to a rectangle of canvas fabric. Apply a medium coat of Mod Podge onto the canvas fabric. Use a wallpaper smoothing tool or the edge of a credit card to smooth down the picture. Wipe away any excess Mod Podge from the canvas edges. Press down firmly, so that the paper takes on some of the canvas texture. Place the canvas under a heavy book to dry for about 30 minutes. Repeat with the remaining 3 pieces of canvas.
- Apply hot glue to the back of each 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.
- Assemble the 4 frames together. Hot glue the bottom left and bottom right sides together. Then hot glue the top left and top right sides together.
FINISHING THE CANVAS
OPTION 1 - Unlit Window to Hang on a Wall
Hot glue the top and bottom halves together. Hot glue a piece of foam board to the back of the window. Hot glue a pop tab to the back of the foam board. 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. Feel free to hang however you like.
OPTION - Lit Window that can Lean on a Shelf or Wall
Decide where you want each of the 10 lights to go on the picture. Keep in mind the distance between each light on the string.
Use a pen blade to score a small “x” into the canvas. Twist the penblade to create a small hole. Poke the light through the hole. Secure with a bit of hot glue and duck tape on the back of the canvas.
To secure the four frames together, hot glue popsicle sticks at a perpendicular angle over the seams between each frame.
Don’t forget to PIN this Winter Window Craft for Later:
More Reverse Canvas Projects:
- Grab some dollar store supplies and make these two cute Dollar Tree Fall Reverse Canvas crafts to decorate this autumn.
- Make a unique piece of framed DIY wall decor with this Christmas reverse canvas tutorial. Sharing TWO different ways to make this Christmas craft.
- This yarn tassel tree craft is the perfect Christmas craft and is made using Dollar Store supplies. They are so cute, you may want to make several to decorate all winter long!
- Trim your tree with these farmhouse-style reverse canvas Christmas ornaments. Fill them with free winter printables from my blog!
- Let’s make a Christmas craft filled with tons of farmhouse style. Use some basic unfinished wood supplies and paint to make this faux shiplap Christmas sign.
- Grab a pack of stretched canvases to make this DIY Faux Window Picture Frame Project using a FREE botanical printable.
- These carrot reverse canvas ideas are super cute and incredibly easy to make – PLUS they won’t break the bank. I have two tutorials waiting for you!