State Canvas Art

This post was originally featured on She Wears Flowers. 

So I've seen a lot of state-loving on Pinterest lately and the bug has bitten me! I love my home state, North Carolina, and am sad I can't live there right now. I thought a North Carolina print would be perfect for my home, but you can make State Canvas Art with any state or country. This is what I created:



First let's start with the materials:


1 Stretched Canvas (I used 11 x 14)
Three different colors of acrylic paint (red paint is not pictured)
Paint Brush
Scissors
Cardstock and Printer (not pictured)


I started by giving my canvas 2 coats of blue acrylic paint (Folk Art 2555 Deep Ocean Blue):


I tried to make sure the paint was even, especially in the middle where the state would be seen. The first coat I went across my canvas. For the second I went up and down. 


 Then this happened....I couldn't have done this if I tried! My scissors just landed this way!


 Next I printed out a map of my state on cardstock. I measured it to make sure it would fit well on my canvas.



I took my scissors and got to cutting. I decided to skip trying to cut out the island chain on the coast of my state (The Outerbanks) and left them on there. I like the shape better.  At this point I started remembering my 4th grade state project, where I used salt dough to make the Ol' North State. Good times. Back to the project!



 I applied removable adhesive to the back of my cardstock and stuck it on my dry canvas (I let it dry overnight just to be sure). 


I used a contrasting paint color (Folk Art 2561 Steel Gray) and started in the middle and painted OUT from my state. I didn't want to try to push the paint against the edges and have the cardstock curl or the paint get underneath. 


I gave the canvas two coats but didn't wait until the second coat fully dried before removing the state.


 I wanted to make sure it would come up easily.  I used tweezers to pull the side up so I wouldn't hurt the paint. It looked AWESOME. So awesome I forgot to take a picture. But I decided to put the final touch, a little heart over my home town.




I cut out a stencil from cardstock of a heart and dabbed a bit of red paint in the heart. Voila! I love the results. This project was really easy, a little messy and pretty cheap.

What colors would you use?

20 comments :

Jaime Lyn at Crafty Scrappy Happy said...

I love this! It is so special/meaningful and I am just all about that! I am going to have to do some kind of a version of this for sure! Thank you for the great idea! :o) Jaime

Ashley said...

cute:) i love it

Tracy said...

this turned out perfectly, what a neat idea

Molly Hammond said...

i love this idea! would make a great gift. i love the little red heart.

-molly
threesisterz.blogspot.com

Laura said...

Pinning this for sure. I love NC too. We're in Raleigh.

Fox and Sparrows said...

I love this! I am bookmarking this and making one!

Alison Agnew said...

i've seen these on pinterest too and wondered how i could make one, so thanks for sharing the tips on fridays unfolded!

alison
stuff and nonsense

Tracy said...

Love it -- I love things that represent my state and home. :)
p.s. -- SO HAPPY your toe wasn't right there where those scissors landed. heeee heee!
Tracy
Craft Junkie Too

malia said...

would love for you to share this at a crafty soiree, linky party every thursday ( -:

Brittany Turco said...

I've been wanting make one of these! Thank you for the tutorial! It looks great!

The Freckled Optimist said...

This is awesome! I need to make one of these for the state of Maine, where I am originally from. I miss it so much! Thanks for the great idea and for the instructions on how to make it happen!

Jennifer said...

It looks great! I love the idea!

Jenn@TheCakeDish said...

I love this and want to make one, too! I'll probably use greens and blues and hang it in our playroom -- I'm an NC girl too!
I'm thinking this would fun to use for my kids and to mark all of the NC places we've visted...

Erin of HomeSavvyAtoZ.com said...

I love this idea and cannot wait to make one of my own! Thanks for the inspiration!

Jenna said...

I've been wanting to do this exact same thing... I'm an NC girl too! Great job.

2027

Jill said...

Very nice!

Thanks for linking to a Round Tuit!
Hope you have a great week!
Jill @ Creating my way to Success
http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/

Ashlee Marie said...

thanks for linking up to Topsy Turvy Tuesday's! I'm featuring this tonight. I love maps, states, and canvas, it's just lovely!

Brit said...

I think this is the cutest idea! Thank you for sharing it with us and the inspiration ;) Hope to see you again at our party!
Britney
www.jandmseyecandy.blogspot.com

Six Sisters said...

This turned out so darling! We love you girls and we love your blog! Thank you so much for linking up to our party. We would love to have you come back again tomorrow for Strut Your Stuff Saturday!
Camille @
SixSistersStuff.blogspot.com

SJ @ Homemaker On A Dime said...

The Creative Bloggers' Party & Hop became the coolest party on the block because of your participation. Thank you :)

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