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Add An Image to Canvas with Mod Podge

Learn how to transfer an image to canvas with Mod Podge. I did this with a few of my favorite prints – you can do it with your favorites too!

Skills Required: Beginner. It helps to have experience with Mod Podge to avoid wrinkles. You’ll be painting canvases and then decoupaging printed images to the fronts of them.

Add An Image to Canvas with Mod Podge

I’m a huge fan of wall art! One of my favorite things about Mod Podge is that it’s so easy to put image to canvas, and on a budget.

You can pick prints you love (from anything really), and turn them into something you can hang on your wall. I particularly love scanning things and turning them into projects (not for re-sale, but for personal use).

This is one of those DIY canvas art projects that uses a scanner . . . and it’s *really* beginner. For those of you who have done decoupage before, you may roll your eyes at this one . . . but just bear with me.

There are a few newbies out there who have never used the Podge before, and this is about the easiest place to begin. I mean it!

So as you can see, I did two mini-canvases featuring one of my favorite artist ever, Charley Harper. I love his work, and I own a few of his prints (lithographs) as well as this coffee table book:

Charley Harper an Illustrated Life by Todd Oldham

I decided to go ahead and make some wall art with some scans from the book. Before I go on I have to say that when you scan things that are not yours, it can be for personal use ONLY.

You aren’t allowed to sell them or claim them as yours. You probably already knew that, but I just wanted to make sure. So here’s how you make this photo craft.

Image Transfer to Canvas

Gather These Supplies

Scanning images from a book

I first scanned in two little illustrations from the book that I liked. I like the Flip-Pal mobile scanner because you can take the door off and turn it over.

Perhaps why they call it “flip” pal? I scanned at 300 dpi, but you can scan at 600 dpi too so that you can blow the picture up.

Trimming an image out of paper using a ruler and craft knife

Print out the images of your choice and trim them to fit the canvases. I will tell you that if you printed them on a laserjet printer, you can go ahead and decoupage them after this.

For an inkjet printer, you MUST spray the sheets on both sides with a clear acrylic sealer before Mod Podging, or the ink will smear.

Painting a canvas with blue acrylic paint

Paint the canvases with the colors of your choice and let dry. You will likely need multiple coats of paint.

Spreading a medium layer of Mod Podge down on a canvas with a brush

Spread a medium layer of Mod Podge down on the canvas and smooth the design down to the top.

My technique with canvases is to turn them over and smooth from the backside too, since the canvas is very flexible in the middle. Smooth all of the bubbles out and wait 15 – 20 minutes for drying.

Painting a layer of Mod Podge over an image on canvas

Put a top coat on your image and then the entire canvas. Repeat for the other canvas. You are done adding your images to canvas; didn’t I tell you that was easy?

Add An Image to Canvas with Mod Podge

Get the printable how for this project below:

Yield: 2 canvases

Image to Canvas

Image to Canvas

Learn how to add an image to canvas using decoupage medium. Create your own wall art with any printed image.

Prep Time 30 minutes
Active Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Difficulty Easy
Estimated Cost $6

Materials

  • 5" x 7" canvases - two
  • Book or photos
  • Mod Podge Gloss
  • Acrylic paint
  • Clear acrylic sealer or hairspray

Tools

  • Scanner
  • Computer and printer
  • Paintbrush
  • Ruler
  • Craft knife

Instructions

  1. Scan a book or photos and print out the images. If inkjet, spray with clear acrylic sealer or hairspray on both sides.
  2. Paint the canvases with the colors of your choice and let dry.
  3. Spread a medium layer of Mod Podge down on the canvas and smooth the design down to the top. Let dry for 15 - 20 minutes.
  4. Put a top coat on the image and then the entire canvas. Let dry completely before hanging.

Notes

If you are having a hard time smoothing the image to canvas, turn over on a non-stick work surface and smooth from the inside. This helps since canvas is flexible.

Did You Make This Project?

Please leave a rating or share a photo on Pinterest!


If you love this DIY wall art, you’ll want to check out these other projects:

JJ

Monday 29th of October 2012

How to hang the canvas on the wall? Thanks!

Amy

Monday 29th of October 2012

Hi JJ - I like those Command hooks/strips you can get at any craft store OR at Target, etc.

Brandi

Saturday 22nd of January 2011

Very cool!

kreativeimagination

Monday 17th of January 2011

great project!!!syeda

syeda_lubabah@hotmail.com

Kate in Austin

Saturday 15th of January 2011

Just found your blog. I have high hopes of using the Mod Podge thats been in our art cabinet for a yr. Maybe I'll get brave & pull it out to try something new.

Cassie

Friday 14th of January 2011

This is giving me some great decorating ideas for a budget.

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