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Lit up canvas wall decor- Elmers look for less

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A few months ago I got to work with the wonderful people at Elmer’s and throw a craft party! We had a BLAST! Then last month they invited me to participate in a “look for less” challenge. I was so excited, I had a hard time narrowing down the “look” I wanted to create my own version of. But I finally found something (on Pinterest of course).


I fell in LOVE with these pieces by Valerie Boy (as seen on Apartment Therapy). My version… and Valerie-Boy’s.

Her’s is made of powdered metal cut and bent, mine is Canvas, paint and lights! Her’s cost an arm and a leg (and a first born) and mine was a grand total of $25!

I had a weird wall space I wanted to cover so I went with a long and narrow canvas that I picked using a 50% off coupon!  This is 24″ x 48″ that I got for $25 (the only thing I had to pay for!)!  The perfect size for my project.

Next I used the X-ACTO Designer Series Gripster Knife and cut flowers out of black cardstock that I had on hand (so I could see it through the paint), then using CraftBond Repositionable Glue Stick I stuck, (and removed and re-stuck until I like the placement) the flowers onto the canvas!  AWESOME, I am already in love!

Next I used some thick Acrylic paint all over the front, in 2 coats.  I used big strokes going for a thick chunky look.  But you could paint it on pretty smooth if you wanted.  I kind of wish I’d gone for 3 coats, but I wanted to peel off the flowers while it was still wet, and before they were stuck on for good.

Next, obviously, I peeled up the black paper.  There was something very satisfying about peeling it all up!

I let it dry overnight!  I was planning on using a fancy expensive light to light up the back, but then I laid eyes on my icicle lights (in a pile of throw away- no more icicle lights for me- what were we ever thinking?  So messy looking).  Anyway I used some nails to attach the lights (I nailed them half way in then bent them over the lights) in a criss-cross pattern to cover the whole back.

And they work!  Not QUITE the look I was going for, but the back is lit, and it’s MUCH cheaper than buying some fancy, heavy lights trying to get them to work.  (notice this is with a flash)

So my weird wall space, between two doors I have this narrow space with this HUGE, ugly electrical panel.  I haven’t found anything to cover it with so this was the perfect chance!  I love it there.  It’s off centered for 2 reasons, 1) to cover the panel and 2) to leave the light switch uncovered.  I don’t want it to fall off the wall as the kids try to turn on lights! (no flash but the middle of the day)

And all light up in the dark!  I love it!  Of course it’s hard to really capture lit up pieces with cameras!  SO come on by and check it out! (no flash at night)

I finished my project a few weeks ago BUT with all my computer issues I haven’t been able to post it, so I’m the LAST blogger whose participating to get my project up! Gah… my computer issues are a pain, but when they mess up something I’m doing for someone else it frustrates me to no end! Lucky for me Elmer’s not only has wonderful products, but they also have amazing people working there, they have been so patient with me

I was given free product to review and use for this project, but all opinions are my own

Ashlee Marie
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Comments

      • Trena alexei

        Hello Ashlee, I know it sould weird to ask. Could u mind to make this i would willing to pay u 50 dollar plus shipping to send here? Let me know

      • Lulin fu

        Hey Ashley guess I just left some comment in the wrong place .. But my question is the lights.. Do they need to be plugged in the socket all the time or how you managed it?

  2. Catrin

    Wow… Seriously. Thanks for sharing this. I might have to this, like right now.
    You got yourself a new follower…
    found oyu throught the Sew Can Do Linkie Party
    Greetings from Germany
    Catrin

    Reply

  7. Vim

    Wow, you made something look so easy to make! I think I’ll follow your steps and create one myself. I think this would even be a nice dining room accent.

    Reply

  10. Candace

    Probably a strange question, but..can you paint the canvas a darker color like a blue? I want something with color in my dinning room.
    Thanks for such simple instructions.

    Reply

    • Ashlee

      Yes of course! Any color with work, but the blank area where the vinyl flower was will be canvas color, so it won’t quite be the same effect.

      Reply

    • Ashlee

      It’s white! it’s hard to do indoor lighting well with a point and shoot, I should retake them with my new camera and see if I can’t get better images!

      Reply

  12. Angela

    This may be a silly question but what kind of canvas is it? Is it one that came on a frame already and was unpainted? You know how most come already prepaired for painters? I would love to create one of these but feel a bit lost on the materials… Thank you for sharing this idea! 🙂

    Reply

  13. Leslie

    I’d like it if it were more opaque. I was thinking that would happen if you gessoed it, but maybe gesso dries too fast, and you really should cover it with acrylic after, (otherwise it gets dirty easily, and is not cleanable) so you’d def have to wait til it dried. I read a Pinterest link to make your own chalkboard paint. That would probably be pretty opaque, but I don’t know how fast it dries. You have to add “unsanded grout” to acrylic paint.

    Reply

    • Ashlee

      I wanted it to be opaque, but it didn’t work out, I wanted lots of texture, and homemade chalkboard paint is pretty runny still (I’ve worked with it a lot). I should have just done another layer, and I’m actually switching out the christmas lights (that I had on hand) for 2 lights I’m going to attach at the top and bottom so it’s just a glow behind it, rather than the spots of light.

      Reply

  14. Grazielle

    Uauuuuuuuuu!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Um espetáculo, incrível,inspirador.Parabéns!!!!!
    A criatividade é algo q surpreende e me deixa admirada com a capacidade de pessoas como vc. ótimo.Amei,Adorei fiquei de boca aberta.Mais um vez Parabéns q esta capacidade de criar,de modificar cresça a cada dia.

    Reply

  15. jo

    Olá gostei muito, belo trabalho, irei tentar para colocar em um casamento agora em Dezembro, ainda não entendi como é feito os desenhos na tela, mais vou dar meus pulos por aqui no Brasil…. bye

    Reply

    • Ashlee

      ummmm more detailed than the step by step I already posted? i’m not sure what your looking for. is there a specific part your having a hard time with?

      Reply

  17. Rute Moraes Martins

    Muito lindo seu trabalho, uma novidade para mim!! estava mesmo querendo fazer algo novo para minha casa e talvez ganhar algum dinheiro com um trabalho tão diferente, gostaria que você me enviasse mais idéias que você criou. Sou Brasileira e não sei Inglês, espero que você entenda o meu pedido!! Parabéns !!!muito lindos e fáceis de realizar!! espero que compartilhe de mais idéias comigo!!

    Obrigada Rute M.Martins

    Reply

    • Ashlee

      Thank you so much! I’m so glad you like my project, as for sending you more ideas feel free to browse my blog, and subscribe to the emails to get updates every time I post!

      Reply

    • Ashlee

      no I’m sorry, you just buy a canvas, stick vinyl or stickers on it, paint over it, peel up the stickers and back light. It would be a pretty boring video!

      Reply

      • Lulin fu

        Yes, ummm actually it’s so simple an idea but it’s so beautiful .. I wanna try it for two weird boards the end of the staircase in my house.. Thank you so much for so much detail about your project.

  19. Caroline

    Hey Ashlee that is amazing! I’m hoping over this spring break i can make this to put in my dorm. I was wondering could I do this same project with a colored canvas? I wasn’t sure how that would effect the lighting of it. Thanks so much!

    Reply

    • Ashlee

      you totally could, this light doesn’t actually give off light, just a glow. so the glow would be a bit different! I think that would look AMAZING!

      Reply

    • Ashlee

      I have the board and batten and I just stapled the cord into the crack going down the wall to the first doorway and wrapped it into that room and plugged it in. Not ideal, but works in my space. If I didn’t have kids I would have done a bigger canvas and had it on the floor leaning against the wall so the plug would be completely hidden.

      Reply

  23. Stephanie Creamer

    I sooooo love this idea. So just to confirm if I buy colored flower stickers being that its the only ones I can find, then I just paint white acrylic paint over top of the stickers then peel the tickers off? I’m going to make one tomorrow so I just want to make sure I’m doing process correct. And I just use the acrylic paint over the stickers or do I paint the entire canvas? The canvas I’m purchasing is already white. Thank you in advance and once again amazing job and thank you for sharing!!

    Reply

    • Ashlee

      I used vinyl because I could cut out the shapes I wanted. As for stickers, it all depends on how sticky it is. If they don’t stick well enough you’ll have troubles. I put the stickers on first, then paint over them.

      Reply

  24. Melanie

    I’ve been looking for a tutorial for the same light fixture/artwork – THANK YOU!

    2 questions – you said you were going to get 2 lights vs. the string lights – did you ever find something that worked for you?

    # 2- do you have to worry about paint peeling up when you take off the stickers? What to do there?

    Reply

  25. Vika

    OMG this is amazing! I paint so I always have canvases at home. This will be perfect in my girls room. You are one talented lady!

    Reply

    • Ashlee

      Thanks! I wonder if cutting the outer edge of each petal to let more light through would work, or would it stretch the canvas badly?

      Reply

  27. Traci Becker

    hello – I love this idea and want to put one in my massage treatment rooms. I have two outlets to use and cover. Thinking about doing a 5 foot by 3 foot artpiece. My question is this: How did you figure out the on/off switch? The on/off switch in my room works the overhead florescent, I need a toggle switch. Do you have a toggle switch in any of these, and if so, how did you do that without it showing? Please let me know. Very interested!! Thank you.

    Reply

  28. Crystal McKee

    This is gorgeous… In a later comment you stated you were switching out the Christmas lights for 2 Lights for a glow?? What two lights?? I would like to purchase them?? You are amazing by the way! Thank you so much for sharing this!

    Crystal

    Reply

    • Ashlee

      I never ended up switching anything out. Then my baby drew all over it. So it needs a lot of fixing. I’ll add an update if I ever try something new

      Reply

  29. Jacquelynn

    Absolutely love it! I saw the other one & I’m so happy you came up with this easy tutorial! Thanks for the inspiration:)))

    Reply

  30. Vina

    I saw your version on Pinterest and I have already bought the canvas! I want to make it a light purple, a Lilac color. Do you think that would work? I love yours!

    Reply

    • Ashlee

      Totally! the flowers will show up more since there will be the canvas color that shows up more with the purple that it would with the white but I bet it will look amazing

      Reply

  31. erin

    Hi Ashlee, I’m new to pintrest and just saw your project. I’m curious about your thoughts on painting the canvas maybe a light silver color. Than putting on the flowers and painting over that with a light lilac or similar, than removing the flowers and putting a pin prick size hole in the middle of the flowers, than lighting the back. I wonder if that would allow to much of a glare with the holes? Thanks, I love your project

    Reply

    • Ashlee

      I’d be worried that the light wouldn’t show through that first layer of silver paint, but you could try it with some cotton fabric first to see

      Reply

  32. Grammy Holly

    Beautifully done! I am going to make one as a headboard for my bed, Thank you so much for sharing!!

    Reply

  33. Alana

    Hey there… seeing your beautiful piece, and reading thru earlier comments and ideas, has me swooning and thinking of all the possibilities for my home. I saw another Pinteresting idea… working from the backside of an empty frame, attach random twigs/branches across the bottom of frame, then run string lights up and down the frame. Cool eh?

    Thanks so much for sharing and providing an oh-so-simple step-by-step. I’m so excited to try this project! PS… I like the idea of cutting just a sliver of canvas on the upper and lower edge of random (not all) flowers. I’m sure you’ll agree a test on a smaller canvas is wise. ?

    Reply

  34. Anna

    I am wondering what makes the canvas so dark looking if you used white acylic paint
    I am wondering if I have the steps correct:
    1. Glue on flowers
    2. Paint two to three layers of acylic paint that is white. Then peel off the flowers.
    3. Attatch lights and then done.
    Am I correct?
    Thank you.

    Reply

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