Subway Art Canvas

A good friend (and my AMAZING hair stylist, as well) and I were chatting back and forth about a saying she really liked. We discussed whether or not it would be too much to put on the wall in vinyl lettering. Too much? NEVER!  But, we never did iron out the details.

I, hee hee hee, decided to surprise her! I gave her this yesterday:

I started out with a plain white 12" wide by 24" tall canvas purchased from Hobby Lobby.

I painted it Basalt from Ace Hardware.

Once dry, I gave it a light sanding with fine grit sandpaper.

Wiped it clean, then spray painted it Italian Olive by Krylon.

In the meantime:

I had created the subway art from an "inspiration" but changed it to include the whole saying, added custom size font and fine tuned it to fit the area I needed. I cut the design on white vinyl. I weeded the excess vinyl and covered it in application tape.

Italian Olive...dry. I centered the lettering on the canvas and used painters tape to secure the lettering to the canvas creating a "hinge," This allows you to fold your entire vinyl piece on the hinge so you can remove the backing paper. Off with the backing paper! Smooth down the application tape gently with you hand and rub it with a squeegee or a credit card, making sure the vinyl sticks to the canvas like so:

Stuck!

Here's a hint: use a warm damp rag, wipe over the application tape (looks like over sized masking tape). The damp application tape will release the vinyl easily. Work slowly pulling the application tape back from one corner to the other at a diagonal.

There it is. With the vinyl lettering. BUT...I was going for a more industrial, edgy, not quite grunge look. So, of course I couldn't stop! I added a little water to Sherwin Williams' Divine White and wiped it over the lettering with a cloth. I let it sit but not long enough to dry entirely. Then I picked the lettering off, one at a time. I used black Distress Ink on the edges to define an outline for the piece.

Here is the finished canvas again:

She loved it to bits!

Linked to the following parties:

Homemade Projects @ Tip Junkie:

http://www.tipjunkie.com/homemade-projects-add-yours-5/

Tutorial Tuesday @ Hope Studios:

http://www.hopestudios.blogspot.com/

Tuesday Glam Party @ Giggles, Glitz & Glam

http://www.gigglesglitzandglam.blogspot.com/

Anything Goes Party #9 @ Type A Decorating:

http://www.typeadecorating.blogspot.com/

Blue Cricket Design Show & Tell @ Blue Cricket Design:

http://www.bluecricketdesign.net/

Transformation Thursday @ The Shabby Chic Cottage:

http://www.theshabbychiccottage.net/

Hookin' Up @ House of Hepworths

http://www.houseofhepworths.com/

SNS @ Funky Junk Interiors:

http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/

Sundae Scoop Link Up @ I <3 Naptime:

http://iheartnaptime.blogspot.com/2011/03/sundae-scoop-link-up_26.html

DIY Project Parade @ The DIY Show Off:

http://thediyshowoff.blogspot.com/2011/03/diy-project-parade_27.html

Mad Skills Party @ Mad in Crafts

http://madincrafts.blogspot.com/2011/03/mad-skills-link-party-46.html

Creative Juice Thursday #16 @ Momnivore's Dilemma:

http://www.momnivores-dilemma.com/2011/03/creative-juice-thursday-16-features-and.html

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Have a great day!

 Carri