How-to: canvas photo prints

Earlier this week I mentioned that I was planning a post about how to make your own canvas prints. So I've put it all together. 

Supplies 

Canvas printer paper

stretcher bars or unfinished frames

Staple gun

Staples

Image sized for printing

Image: This is one of my favorite photos of JR. We had gone hiking in Tuscon, Arizona in early spring. I think it was February or March. We had had a large snowfall in the mountains that year and the run off was high. Usually, this river (yes, I know it looks like a creek but it is a river) is dry. It is only during the run off season that it has water.

Resize: You will want to print the image to fit the whole paper size. I had 8.5 X 11 canvas paper. 

 

Paper: You can buy several sizes of paper. I found mine at Michael's but when I went to there the other day they didn't have it. After a quick check online I found that this paper can be picked up at Amazon. Not only does Amazon carry it in a larger size but they have it in rolls. So if you have access to a roll/plotter printer you can do much larger sizes.

Print your image: This probably doesn't need an explanation. You know how to use your own printer but here's what mine looked like printed out. I'm not sure you can see it but is has that canvas grain texture going.

 
Unfinished frames or stretcher bars: I couldn't find stretcher bars small enough at my Michaels craft store and I didn't want to drive to the art supply store. What I did find was these small unfinished frames. With some careful measuring I figured out that the 8.5 x 11 paper was going to wrap around them just perfectly. Best of all they only cost $1 each. 

Stapler: You will want to use a heavy duty stapler but it doesn't have to be a construction one. Let's say more than your desk stapler but less than a pneumatic nailer. In my case the stapler was easy to find. It was the staples that were hard. You would think that they would be found with the stapler but I guess in our house you would be wrong. Thank heavens the stapler had some staples in it already.

 

Now, to put it together: Place on the printed canvas. Making sure that the focus of the image is positioned the way you want it. 

Fold up the middle of the canvas on one end; staple. Fold up the middle of the canvas on the opposite side; pull as tight as you can; staple. Continue until all four sides are pulled tight and stapled.

Now, tackle the corners. Pull and fold until you get as even a fold as possible. Don't freak if it's not perfect. Really, no one will see it.

Finish folding and stapling all four corners before you pull and staple the rest of the canvas. 

Turn the photo up one it's sides the press against a hard surface. You are trying to crease the canvas over the frame. 

Then you are done.

See? That wasn't so hard. I plan to make three more of my family including the dogs to hang in my new office. 

Love,
M