Tuesday, February 14, 2012

DIY Love Quote Canvas

It's not too late for a Valentine's Day project right?! 
You can make this in 5 minutes! (plus drying time)

I had found this awesome piece of work on Pinterest a couple days ago and I thought it was a DIY project but turns out it retails for about $300 (CDN)!! It's beautiful but that's just insane! Is it made from diamonds?! (We actually saw a piece of art today that had diamond shavings sprinkled on it!)

Source

I love everything about this (minus the price). I love all the negative space around the text and the different size of texts. It's so simple but lovely!
So off I went on a quest to hunt down supplies to make try to recreate it. It took about 3x longer finding and buying supplies than to actually make it! 

Here's my version:
Life: Designed

Supplies:

Life: Designed

1) A canvas- I used an 8 x 10 "Primed Wooden Cradle Board" from Michael's. It came already white so that made it easy! $8.50 with a 50% off coupon! Whoo hoo!

2) Red paint + small paint brush (I already had on hand but the craft paint is only about a dollar)

3) Foam letters (I had a heck of a time finding inexpensive small wooden letters. I would have ordered some from Amazon but I was not willing to wait 2 weeks! When I have something in mind, I am SUPER impatient and it needs to get done ASAP).
$2.25 from Michael's again with a coupon!

4) White matte spray paint (I already had this but it's about $6 from Home Depot)

While the paint on the red letters dried I figured out where I wanted the letters to go and lightly drew guidelines on the canvas.

I wasn't sure about the foam letters- would it look cheap? Will the spray paint stick? Luckily they turned out better than I expected and it's a very economical choice but next time, I think I'll invest in wooden letters. Close up, the foam has tiny bubbles that reveal they are foam and not wood. What I do love about them is that they are self adhesive. Major time saver!

Once the letters were adhered, I gave the whole thing a couple coats of matte white spray paint. Then I added the red "love" letters and voila!

Life: Designed

A $300 piece of art can be made for less than $20!


This project is SO easy and I love the way it looks with the raised letters.

I know the white art gets lost with all the white around it but that's just temporary! I can't wait to move into a place where I can paint my walls any colour I want!

Life: Designed
Life: Designed

As you can see, I'm not settled on the styling of this dresser. I'm going to be doing a dresser makeover in the near future and I have my eyes on this Anthropologie pull.

Life: Designed

Isn't it lovely? But that's for another time and another post!

I think the canvas art would look AMAZING as a huge canvas piece or even as a small itty bitty one. I'm definitely making this art piece again for myself, family, friends, basically anyone and everyone! Better start gathering some awesome quotes! =)

Happy Valentine's Day! Hope you enjoy the day with your loved ones!

19 comments:

  1. I always love these.... I have even bought everything to make one of these... why haven't I done it?! Maybe tonight! Thanks for the inspiration!!!
    Jaime from crafty scrappy happy
    ps I am your newest follower! :o)

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    1. Hi Jaime Lyn! Thanks for following. I love your blog! You should definitely make this! I can't wait to make another one! =)

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  2. So glad I found your lovely blog. I'm following you with the new Linky tool, straight from the Linky blog hop. I look forward to getting to know you better, Lori

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  3. So pretty! Just stopping over from tip junkie to say hi, but I'll stay a little to see more of your creative ideas. Have a great day - maks :-)

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  4. Just lovely! Would love for you to stop by and link up to the Tuesday To Do Party if you haven't already!
    Smiles!
    Jami
    www.blackberryvine.blogspot.com

    http://blackberryvine.blogspot.com/2012/02/tuesday-to-do-part-49-and-48-list.html

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  5. DIY are the best! You did a great job :) Cute blog!

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  6. This is so cute! Great idea. Thanks for linking up to Destination: Cutesy Monday! Have you checked out my Glitzbandz giveaway I'm having? I'd love for you to enter!

    XO! Kathryn
    http://www.destinationcraft.blogspot.com/2012/02/glitzbandz-giveaway.html

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  7. I too love that poster. I saved it to file for future thought, now you have given me the inspiration I need to do my own. thanks ever so much for sharing. I will follow on my way out because I am sure I will enjoy engaging and supporting your special place now I have found you. I hope you will find a little time to come visit me soon. Cheers SpecialK XoXo

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  8. Very cute and perfect for Valentine's Day decor. Thanks for sharing at our Link It Up Thursday party.

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  9. I love this! So pretty! I love projects that are simple but have great visual impact. Beautiful!

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  10. This is so pretty! And wow did you save a lot of money making it yourself!

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  11. Very cool. This can be used for so many different things. Like the window display of my flower shop.

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  12. Simply adorable!
    Love the quote! And the drawer pull is gorgeous by the way - when you are done with that dresser redo,, please share!! Thanks for linking - come back Thursday to link up again!
    Stacey of Embracing Change

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  13. Oh my goodness...looks so GREAT! Thanks for sharing at Overflowing with Creativity! I can't wait to see what you link up at my party tomorrow! I LOVE following you...you're so inspiring! Just a little reminder, my giveaway for 1000 free FULL color business cards ends at midnight!! Stop by and enter to wiN!

    XO, Aimee

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  14. Thanks for linking up this project at Dwell on Fridays Nancy!!! I agree - love the turquoise drawer pull!

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  15. I love this idea...the raised letters just make it.....and you do a great vignette. Nice to see you again, Lori

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  16. I love this site. Your ideas are really cute. I find it really interesting.

    Canvas Prints

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