DIY Art {how to transfer text to canvas}

Last week, I was walking around a home decor store and I was appalled at the prices on some of the canvas art pieces. Many of these pieces simply had some writing on a piece of canvas and they were north of $30!

Appalled, I tell you! That is way too much! Especially when it’s not the color or quote that I would prefer!

So I did what I always do… I DIY’ed it! It was surprisingly so much easier than I thought it would be! And I love that this can be customized to any project or room or quote. The possibilities are endless, people. Really endless.

Got a cute Dr. Seuss quote for a kid’s room?
Want an inspirational message for your office?
Like to add a “Bon Apetit” to your kitchen?
You can do it all with this method. And once you try it once, you will want to do it again and again. And again. At least that was my personal experience. I have about 3 more canvases I’d love to decorate. And I can’t wait to get started. The satisfaction of seeing the finished project come together is so amazing!

DIY Art {how to transfer text to canvas}

Here’s a sneak peek at the final product!

Isn’t it cool?! I’m really so happy with how it turned out! Here are the steps to achieve this look!

Here’s what you’ll need: (aff links)
canvas
pencil
pair of scissors
paint
print-out of the text you like

1. Print out the text you’d like to use on your canvas. Print the text normally (not reversed, not mirror-image, etc.) *TIP: Use a text with thicker letters so it will be easier to paint later on.

2. On the back of the paper, trace the outline of the text with a pencil. Alternatively, you could turn the pencil sideways and shade in the whole back of the letters.

3. Now, cut out the individual words and tape them down onto the canvas. Using the pencil, trace the outline of the letters. Make sure the paper stays still during this time.


4. Repeat for all words. Once done, remove all the paper and feel free to darken/fill in the outlines of the words.

5. Paint the interiors of the letters. Use a thicker brush for larger areas and use a smaller, fine brush for smaller areas. Once fully dry, use an eraser to remove any leftover pencil marks.

I will be hanging this quote on the hallway gallery wall that I’ve been working on. I just have to finish my DIY Picture Ledge first. Busy times, here at Casa EngineerMommy!

Hope you like this simple project. This really came out beautifully. Like I said, I cannot wait to try this project for another room with another quote. Feel free to ask questions or leave comments below!

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