This fabric on canvas art uses fun, patterned fabric for the background. Just add a painted wood cut out to the front for instant wall decor.

Skills Required: None. Even if you’ve never crafted before, you can make this project. You’ll be applying fabric on canvas with decoupage medium, then painting a wood piece and placing it on top.

fabric on canvas art with mod podge

Hey there! As you may or may not know, I’ve been working on doing some fabric canvas art for my place – inexpensive but cute. I dug through my fabric scraps the other day and found some Denyse Schmidt County Fair fabric.

It turned out there was just enough to cover a 12″ x 16″ canvas, so the wheels started turning. I then looked through my surface bin, and found a wood bird cutout.

Don’t remember when or where I got this particular one, but I’ve seen similar at several craft stores, especially in the seasonal section.

Anyhoo, I completed this canvas project in less than an afternoon. It’s SO easy, even a beginning crafter can do it! Here’s how I made this art with fabric and Mod Podge.

Gather These Supplies

  • Canvas, 12″ x 16″
  • Mod Podge Gloss (because this is not a heavy wear item and will hang on the wall, you can use this to prepare your fabric too)
  • Scrap of fabric to cover canvas
  • Wood piece to put on the front
  • Acrylic Paint – You’ll obviously want to match your fabric. I used the following:
    • FolkArt Acrylic Paint – Coastal Blue
    • Apple Barrel Acrylic Paint – Wedgewood Green
  • Flat paintbrush
  • Craft glue
  • Staple gun or small nails and hammer

One more thing – if you don’t find a wood piece that you like, consider painting something on the front of the fabric using a freezer paper stencil technique. Or you can paint freehand on top of Mod Podge.

Get the printable how to card below:

fabric on canvas art with mod podge
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4.50 from 2 votes

Decoupage Fabric on Canvas

Learn how to attach fabric to canvas with Mod Podge! Add a wooden embellishment to make fun and unique fabric canvas art.
Prep Time30 minutes
Active Time2 hours 30 minutes
Dry Time2 hours
Total Time5 hours
Yield: 1 canvas
Cost: $12

Equipment

  • Flat paintbrush
  • Staple gun or small nails and hammer

Materials

Instructions

  • Using a brush, paint a light coat of Mod Podge onto your fabric. Allow to dry. This will allow you to cut the fabric like paper without frayed edges.
    Adding Mod Podge to fabric with a paintbrush
  • Paint your wood piece in the colors of your choice. Allow to dry.
    Painting a wood piece with light blue craft paint using a paintbrush
  • Seal the wood piece with Mod Podge and let dry.
    Painting a coat of Mod Podge over a painted wood shape
  • Time to attach the fabric to the canvas. I used a staple gun, starting on one edge and stretching the fabric across. My method was bottom, top, then sides. I finished at a corner.
    Using a staple gun to attach fabric to the back of a canvas
  • Tuck the corner, trim, and staple. I made "flower" like corners – tucking the two parts under on each side and then folding down. Repeat with the remaining corners.
    Fold the corners of the fabric over the canvas
  • Use your glue to glue your embellishment onto the canvas. Let dry for several hours before hanging.
    Adding craft glue to the back of a wood shape

Notes

Before I use fabric I like to wash and dry it (to remove any sizing). I don’t use fabric softener when I dry it.
If you don’t have a staple gun, you can use small finishing nails and a hammer to attach the fabric in the same manner I did above.

Now that you know how to cover a canvas with fabric, you need more DIY wall art ideas, right? Here are some other cool ideas:

Button Canvas ArtComic Wall ArtDecoupage Napkins on CanvasDIY Quote ArtDoily Wall ArtDress ArtEmbroidery Hoop Wall ArtImage to CanvasInstagram Mini CanvasesMagazine CollageMap Canvas ArtMonogram CanvasMount Pictures on CanvasPaint Chip ArtPaint Swatch ArtPhoto Booth CanvasPhoto Transfer to CanvasPhoto Wall CollagePlastic Animal CanvasesPoster on Canvas

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32 Comments

  1. I’m redoing my ‘bathroom’ (his and her sinks, mine is separate from bathroom) with polka dot material and mod podge.. I’ve done the scale, covered a box for my hair things, glasses case, about to cover a trashcan.. I just couldn’t figure out what to put on the wall… This works!!

  2. I love it!

    The wheels are turning in my head. I am almost sure I have a die cut file very similar to that. I could use 12×12 patterned paper and cardstock die cut. Even framed it would be cheap and awesome.

  3. Hi! This is a little bit off topic, but if you don’t mind me asking: where did you get your “posts” and “all comments” rss buttons? I love them! It looks like Feedburner, but I couldn’t find those on their website!

  4. SO cute, inexpensive, and fun, totally up my alley. Thanks for your comments on my craft stuff. It blows me away because you are A-MA-ZING, so totally made my day! Love your blog! OH, and I had no idea that if you mod podge the fabric it would cut that way, so awesome.

  5. Nice job! I love the look and its so easy to whip up. I have a project to share with you soon. Frugal canvas Mod Podgey goodness!

  6. What a neat project. I love the bird cutout. I, too, am always looking for new wall art to make…I’m running out of walls!

    Thanks for linking up to Saturday is Crafty Day! I hope to see you back next week!

  7. Come across your blog when googling for fabric modpodge 🙂 I have never used modpodge before but been thinking of doing some modpodge on my super battered bookcase. Was a little worried how it’ll turn out, but after reading your posts. It seems doable.

    Thanks!
    Cecil

  8. Just stopping by to say thanks for visiting my blog:)

    What an awesome crafty blog! I love this wall art project! Lots of great tips too…I am going to link this site in my sidebar (if you don’t mind).

  9. OHHHHH PLEASE come link this up on MIdchix!!! TRULY ADORABLE and it’s a BIRD!!!! OUR THEME!!! PLEASE!!!!Link it up in the Craft Mamas Flock!!!

  10. That wood cut out is adorable! I’ll have to keep my eyes open for one of those. Love creating my own artwork. So cute!!

  11. Awesome like always Amy! Thanks for the tip on painting the fabric with Mod Podge. I would never have known to do that.

  12. That’s pretty cool! And I love the bird, of course! I’ll be checking back to see more projects!

  13. Love the dimensional bird and branch on your great graphic print. Very creative!

4.50 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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