The Holiday Home Tour starts tomorrow night, yikes! I am going to be staging and adding the finishing touches today. I needed a large piece to go above the bed in the master bedroom so I designed this festive painted canvas. At 39”w x 31”h it is sure to add punch to the space. With a roughed up wood look in the backround and the bright red paint, the white words really jump off the canvas.
To get that rustic wood look I started by painting the canvas with a thick coat of Modge Podge. While it is semi-wet I paint a layer of thick red paint. I use a wide bristled paint brush for this, not a foam one. The bristles in the brush kind of mix the Modge Podge and the paint together and form a strié look, like wood grain. In some areas the paint actually pulls apart and when I dry brush black paint over the dried canvas, these areas really stand out and give it that rustic feel. With a small paintbrush I lightly paint thin lines across the entire canvas to create the look of wooden boards.
I layed out the letters on the computer, printed them out and taped them all together to form one large template. I draw a thin black line under each letter, this helps to line up the pages.
I couldn’t find my dark pencil so I used a piece of charcoal from the bbq and rubbed it on the backside of the template. Sometimes you just have to be resourceful!
I flipped it over and traced over the letters so that the charcoal outline transfered to the canvas. 
Now for my favourite part! With a small paintbrush I fill in the letters with white paint lightly filling in some areas and heavier in others. I love it when the backround colour peeps through the lightly painted areas. For a tutorial on how to paint a weathered look on wood see last weeks Christmas Joy Painted Sign.
This large festive painted canvas is sure to look great in the master bedroom. I can’t wait to see how it looks in the Holiday Home and will post pictures when it is all done.
I love this transfer method! I works so well and I’m horrible at freehanding =) I’d love it if you stopped by my blog and shared this on my linky party! http://accidentallywonderful.blogspot.com/2012/11/now-co-hosting-inspiration-spotlight.html
I use this method a lot!
I found your site on technorati and read a few of your other posts. Keep up the good work. I just added your RSS feed to my Google News Reader. Looking forward to reading more from you down the road!
Thank you!
This is really WOW!! girl. I love it and thanks for sharing.
Thank you Stephanie!
I totally love that you grabbed a piece of coal to transfer the lettering!
This is beautiful and I’ve never seen the painting technique you did. I love it!! I’ll definitely be pinning this and trying it out. Love your blog!!
Hi Ellora, thank you for you all of your wonderful compliments!!!!
Good luck with the Home Tour! What you have so far looks amazing. Can’t wait to see the pictures of the finished home.
Thanks Kristina! I can’t wait to see the photos too!
Marisa, this is beautiful! I love the red, and the saying is perfect.
Thank you Johnnie for the nice compliments! You wouldn’t believe how this canvas brightens up the room! Check back to see photos from the hometour where it will be displayed!
Great project! It turned out so well! Thanks for sharing the how-to!!
Thanks Jennifer! The canvas was displayed at the Home Tour tonight, and people couldn’t believe that it was painted canvas. They thought it was wood!
Thanks for linking up to Inspiration Spotlight! I’m pinning this to my Inspiration Spotlight Favorites Board!
http://pinterest.com/bekapoe/inspiration-spotlight-favorites/
Thank you! I am so glad this project inspired you! Let me know if you try it out, I would love to see the photos.
THis is so pretty! Please come share at my link party!
http://www.shecookscraftsruns.net/2012/11/show-me-what-youve-made-up-link-party-5.html
Thank you Sara! I will definitely come by for a visit and link up!
Love the bright red & white lettering. So nice.
Thank you Theresa! The canvas literally brightens up the space. I will be posting photos soon of how it looks in the Home Tour house. You will have to come back and have a peek!
Marisa,
Hey Girl, Your house was fabulous last night!!! Nice to see all your DIYs and your theme running thru out.. It was just Super fun family Christmas, you nailed it!
It was a pleasure meeting you, and I hope we get a chance to cross paths in the future.
Enjoy your night..
Rhonda,
Coredecor Designs
Thank you Rhonda for the compliments! Your house was absolutely elegant and beautiful! I loved your cream framed chalkboard!
This is fantastic! I love the contrast of the white and red. So wintery and festive. My friend Jo-Anne Chow told me about your blog – I’m glad she did! You’re in my RSS feed now
Thanks Heather! I will have to pass a thank you to Jo Anne too! You will have to come back to see how the canvas looks in the Home Tour. I will post the photos next week when they are back from the photographer.
Love the Christmas canvas!
I am here from the Craft O Maniac Link party! Every time I scrolled down the page your gorgeous canvas caught my eye!
You will have to come back this week Nancy to see how gorgeous it looked in the Holiday Home Tour house! Thank you for the compliment!
Stunning! I absolutely love this!
Julie
Thank you Juli!
I am truly impressed! What a wonderful way to create that awesome rustic wood look! This will look terrific in your booth… Good luck to you! Hope you do well!
hugs x
Crystelle
Hi Crystelle, you will have to try this technique for yourself! It’s easy and looks great! Thank you for your compliments!
I LOVE this! SO pretty!
Thank you Jaime!!!
You did a great job with the canvas. I too like to paint on canvas. I like the wording and colors you chose. So festive.
Merry Christmas!
Thank you Cheryl! It always amazes me that you can take an inexpensive canvas and create something beautiful with a bit of paint!
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