Create Your Own Fun Wall Art

By Karen May-Free

When you decorate, you can run into the problem that art can be expensive or not “just right” for your space. When we moved into our apartment, I decided to create some art of my own to decorate our dining area that looked a little empty. Using the canvas stretching skills I learned in art class I created some one-of-a-kind artwork.

It’s super easy and fast. A small-to-medium piece shouldn’t take more than a half hour.

You’re going to need fabric, a staple gun and a frame.

You can use an existing wood frame, or go to the craft store and get canvas stretchers. Stretchers come in various lengths, and you pick two pair to make a frame with the measurements you desire. They join at the corners and a staple will help them stay together. If you’re going to use an existing picture frame, take the glass out first—you don’t want any mishaps with the staple gun while you’re working! You can always put it back in later.

For our apartment, I bought specific fabrics, but for my example this time I’ll be using a T-shirt that I no longer wear. I still like the design, so I’ll keep it alive as art for now.

Lay out your fabric right side down, and put the frame on the back. Make sure that the part of the design you want to be included in your piece is arranged accordingly. Trace a few inches outside the frame. Make sure you take the thickness of the frame into account and have enough fabric to wrap around the back of the frame.

Cut the fabric where you’ve traced and load your staple gun—it’s time to start attaching!

Pull the fabric up and over one side of the frame. Put one staple in the middle of the back of the frame. Repeat for the opposite side. Check that your fabric has not stretched oddly, and repeat for the other two sides. If you’re using a T-shirt, stretching may be an issue, but it can be done. You can pick up the frame and check the placement of the design now as well before you get further along.

Once you have your four placeholder staples, staple the fabric along one side of the frame; then the opposite side. Repeat for the other two sides.

Now it’s time to tackle the corners. These should be mostly flat so that the piece does not stick out from the wall when you hang it up. I pull the fabric up together to straighten it up; then use my finger to press the flap down starting at the corner. Staple it down with a few staples.

If you need to trim a little more fabric from the back, do so now, then turn your piece around and admire your work. You’ve got new art to hang up!

There are so many ways you can go with this—you can do big piece or lots of little frames to make a set. You can decorate your kid’s room with their favorite thing and can change it easily when they like something else. You can stretch and then embellish with paint or embroidery. You’re only limited by your imagination!

Karen is a blogger and crafter who has lived in Charlottesville for 6 years after transplanting from the Shenandoah Valley. While not working or attending classes at PVCC, she blogs about her life at Precision Indecision and about crafts at CraftyKix.