Tutorial: Valentine’s Day Reverse Canvas

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I finally jumped on the internet bandwagon of ‘Reverse Canvases’. If you are out of the loop, the idea of a reverse canvas is to disassemble a stretched canvas, paint or stain the frame, add vinyl to the canvas, and staple it back together. This wasn’t my idea, but it is taking the internet craft world by storm so I thought I’d give it a try.

Reverse Canvas Tutorial

1. Disassemble a stretched canvas by removing the canvas from the back. I ripped the canvas off mine and pulled the staples out with a staple puller. There were a few stubborn staples, so I just left them. 
2. Next, you’ll have to decide whether or not you’d like to fill the wood joints in with putty. Some crafters seem to be leaving them open, but I think it looks unfinished. I filled mine with wood putty. After the wood putty was dry, I quickly sanded the joints down.
       
3. Paint your frame. I used acrylic paint.
    
4. While the paint is drying, cut and weed a design using heat transfer vinyl. 
5. Now, cut down the edges of the canvas you removed. Be sure to leave it large enough to cover the entire back of the frame.
    
6. I used my Cricut EasyPress to apply the heat transfer vinyl to the canvas. I used the ‘whiter’ of the two sides of the canvas. Honestly, you could use either side. 
7. Last, use a staple gun to reattach the canvas to the wooden frame. 

Project Cost and Selling Price

I had all the supplies on hand to make this. However, here is a sample cost breakdown:

• Canvases: You can pick up a set of stretched canvases for $16.55 for 10 at this link on Amazon. That makes each canvas $1.66.
• Paint: I pick up acrylic craft paint when the craft stores have sales – or buy a bundle at this link. You’ll use less an $0.25 in paint.
• Heat Transfer Vinyl: I used some scraps I had on hand of Siser Easyweed. You’ll use less than $1.00 in vinyl.
• Miscellaneous: Let’s figure $0.50 for wood putty, a scrap of sandpaper, and some staples.
• Time: I like to make $20 an hour. From start to finish – not including drying time – this project cost me about 20 minutes in time or $6.67 in time. I’d expect my labor time to go down the more of these I make.
  • Total Cost: $10.08 – including labor. I’ve seen similar canvases selling anywhere between $20 and $50 on Etsy.

You’ll also want to have a Silhouette or Cricut, scissors, wood putty, a spatula, sandpaper, and a staple gun on hand. But, you’ll likely have most of these supplies on hand.

Grab the design used in this tutorial at this link.

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