Get inspired with over 30 ideas for Mod Podge on canvas! Ranging from very easy to intermediate, you’ll love this variety of DIY wall art.
Watch the video in this post to get some affordable ideas for decoupage on canvas. Such great inspiration!
Ever find yourself staring at a blank canvas, feeling a mix of excitement and intimidation? You’re not alone. Many of us dream of creating our own wall art but quickly realize we’re no Van Gogh with a paintbrush.
And now you can. With Mod Podge.
Fear not, because I’ve discovered a foolproof way to unleash our inner artist without needing to master the art of painting: Mod Podge on canvas. It’s fun, surprisingly simple, and the possibilities are endless.
I’m thrilled to share over 30 adorable and easy Mod Podge canvas ideas that will turn that daunting blank canvas into a masterpiece of your own making.
Whether you’re looking to add a personal touch to your living space or searching for a handmade gift idea, these projects are perfect for crafters of any skill level.
And for those who love the idea of decoupage art on canvas, you’re in for a treat. You’ll see how easy it is to transform ordinary canvases into extraordinary pieces of art.
Before we leap into the creative abyss, let’s tackle some common questions. From selecting paints and understanding what else you can slap onto your canvas with Mod Podge (spoiler: almost anything!), I’ve got you covered.
I’ll even touch on whether you need to prime your canvas (usually not) and if you should bother painting the sides (definitely yes).
What paints to use on canvas?
I recommend, since you aren’t painting masterpieces, just using an acrylic paint from the craft store for these canvas art projects. My favorite acrylic paint is FolkArt. The color palettes for both of these lines are awesome, and the paints flow really well on canvas. They also cover really well.
What can you use on canvas besides paint?
Just about anything, if you have a bottle of Mod Podge! I’ve used felt, cardboard, scrapbook paper, fabric, jewelry, stamps, Sharpie, coloring pages, and more. Learn what you can use with Mod Podge that won’t bleed.
Do you need to prime canvas for acrylic paint?
Generally speaking, you don’t. Most of the canvas I buy at the craft store is pre-primed, so I don’t have to worry. Even if you buy canvas and it’s not primed, you’ll be fine just to start painting.
Having said that, you might have to add a few more coats of acrylic paint just because it will soak in. The paint also won’t flow quite as well across the top of the canvas.
What you can do if you want to prime your canvas is paint it white, or add a coat of Mod Podge over the canvas. Then you can paint on top with ease.
Should you paint the sides of a canvas?
Yes, I always do, especially with the gallery wrapped canvases. This is because I typically don’t hang canvas items with a frame, so you can see the edges and tell that they are unfinished.
Sometimes I wrap the fabric or paper around the sides too. The only time I would leave an unfinished edge is if I were going to frame.
If you use paper or fabric to cover the canvas, flip over and smooth from the back, inside the frame. Make sure you use a craft mat to cover your table for this reason.
Which Mod Podge should I use on canvas?
Use any Mod Podge formula you like. Our formula guide will help. I typically use Gloss, Matte, or Satin depending on the finish I’m looking for. You can see a visual of the finishes here.
If you’re ready, grab your Mod Podge, pick out your canvas, and let’s get ready to transform it into your new favorite piece of home decor. And remember, the only rule here is to have fun and let your creativity flow. Let me know what you think in the comments!
Glue Pictures on Canvas
Learn how to glue pictures on canvas with Mod Podge! This is a great project for instant decor.
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Magazine Collage
Learn how to make a collage with Mod Podge! This magazine collage is easy enough for anyone to make, and it can be personalized.
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DIY Love Canvas
Create your own canvas with the word "LOVE" on it in scrapbook paper! It's a charming addition to any room in your home.
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American Flag Canvas with Fabric and Mod Podge
Make unique and EASY American flag canvas art with fabric and Mod Podge! Perfect for the 4th or for just showing off your USA pride.
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Photo Booth Simple Canvas Art
This photo strip canvas makes a great gift, and you can customize it with portraits of your pets, friends, or family members!
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Poster on Canvas
Learn how to put a poster on canvas with Mod Podge!
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Beautiful (and Easy) Watercolor Collage
Make this simple watercolor collage by cutting up watercolor paintings and decoupaging them to canvas. This wall art project is SO easy!
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Instagram Mini Canvases in a Few Steps
Here’s an EASY tutorial for making Instagram mini canvases using Mod Podge. Mini canvas craft ideas fun and simple – and these make great gifts.
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Easy Fabric Canvas Art with Mod Podge
This fabric canvas art uses fun, patterned fabric for the background. Just add a painted wood cut out to the front for instant wall decor.
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Painted Pear Canvas
I made this Mod Podge canvas art by adding a ton of patchwork fabric shapes to canvas with Mod Podge, then painting a fruit right on top.
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Budget Friendly DIY Canvas Art
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!
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French Fruit Wall Art
This Mod Podge canvas art was inspired by a popular online store – it looks great and costs a fraction of the price.
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Quotes on Canvas
Learn how to apply quotes to canvases with Mod Podge! It's a lot easier than you think.
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EASY DIY Canvas Art with Plastic Animals
This cute DIY canvas art made with plastic animals is such a fun and easy idea! Mini canvas art like this is perfect for a nursery, kids’ room, or craft studio. You can complete this project in five simple steps.
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Make Paint Chip Art from a Rectangular Canvas
If you want to make sure you have a unique canvas project as part of your decor, check out this easy paint chip art made with Mod Podge.
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How To Make Tissue Paper Canvas Art
If you have leftover tissue paper you won't be using for presents, turn it into wall art with Mod Podge.
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Easy Geode Canvas
Learn how to make a DIY geode canvas in three steps! This home decor project is a great way to add beautiful art to your wall, on a budget.
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Photo Wall Art
Use 12 (or more) of your favorite images to create personalized Mod Podge canvas art to hang in your family room.
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Flower Wall Art
Create a unique floral collage on canvas using your favorite paper or fabric scraps.
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Make your Own Doily Wall Art the Easy Way
I created wall art using scrapbook paper doilies from the dollar bins at the craft store.
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Make Nautical Wall Art in Three Easy Steps
Are you inspired by seaworthy decor? This nautical wall art is easy to make with Mod Podge – and uses a fun color palette.
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Art by Debbie Saenz
Debbie will show you the easy way to get a mixed media effect – and the result is this beautiful bird canvas.
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How to Decoupage Napkins on Canvas
Are you wondering how to decoupage napkins on canvas? Learn how to do it with this emoji canvas project. Such a fun idea and very easy!
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Wedding Card Collage You’ll Want to Display
This wedding card collage is so easy to make. Don’t keep those beautiful cards in a box – make a unique piece of wall art that you can display!
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Map Canvas Art is Easy to Make
This unique hand lettered map canvas art is an easy and budget friendly way to decor a wall – plus you can customize with any words you like!
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Mixed Media Canvas
Learn how to make a mixed media canvas with scrapbook paper and Mod Podge! This was a fun experiment with cute chipboard accents. So easy.
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Ready to decoupage on canvas? Grab a canvas here and get started with one of these 20 ideas! If you want to see a video of some abstract Mod Podge canvases, simply press “PLAY” in the center of the video in this post!
I love all these ideas! I used small canvases and mod podge to make some great christmas presents this year.
great round-up and thanks for the feature!! and now I have a couple of new ideas….
Thanks so much for the feature! A lot of great ideas here!
I remember that painted pear canvas!!!
What a great collection of some really cute art. I’m excited to visit them all to see how they did it. Thanks for sharing!
Love these ideas! Ready to take them and run!
What great ideas!
I am really motivated to try one of these soon!
Thanks Amy!
Lisa
Thanks for featuring my canvas! I love Mod Podge!!! and I love these other great ideas too 🙂
just popped over here to find out about some modpodge ideas and found my diy! thanks for the feature, it’s very flattering!
jen
http://www.livetreschic.blogspot.com
How many layers of modpodge would you use when decoupaging fabric to a flat, textured (in other words, the original finish is not slick) plastic surface? I am thinking: two. Sound about right, or has experience taught you to add more?
Hi there Hovawart! That is going to be tricky, because plastic is hard – but I would try at least two layers. You’ll know quickly if it’s going to work or not.
Great ideas! I’m going to be using a lot of Mod Podge this summer!
I’m having trouble with my photo paper buckling up when I put modge lodge on canvas??? Help!
Hi Anonymous! I would make sure that you are putting enough on – you need you use a lot more on canvas than on wood. THEN I would turn the project over and smooth from the inside of the canvas. THEN let dry for 15 – 20 min before applying a top coat!
I have a question. I would like to reuse one of those already painted canvas that are always at thrift stores. I would like to Mod Podge a poster print to this already painted canvas. Do you think this would work? I’m afraid of ruining the poster if it doesn’t stick correctly to the painted canvas, or paint peeling off with the Mod Podge.Should I place something like paper with Mod Podge on the painted canvas before applying the poster? Any advice on this is much appreciated =)
Hi Cassandra! You shouldn’t have a problem as long as you:
1) test to make sure the paint isn’t going to chip off easily; if it doesn’t you’ll need to sand it all the way off.
2) sand lightly anyway and possibly use a primer, especially if it’s oil paint.
Another consideration is the texture of the painted canvas. Is the paint that was on it dimensional? If it was, you’ll be able to see those lumps unless you send them down.
And Mod Podging to canvas always requires A LOT of Mod Podge. Put a lot on and then wipe the excess away from the edges as you smooth!
Maybe someone has asked this already… I used mod podge to stick a photo to a canvas (the fabric on frame kind of canvas). I only put mod podge on the canvas (not on the photo) and stuck it down. About 2 days later the photo started to bubble. Should I have put mod podge on the photo too when I put it down on the canvas? Can I still put mod podge on top of the photo and will the bubbles disappear or do you have to put mod podge on the photo while the mod podge on the canvas is still wet??
Hi Monica! There are a few things. First of all, you have to use A LOT of Mod Podge on canvas because it soaks in, so yes, you probably should have put it on the photo as well. Also, if it was a “real” photo, it’s probably not going to stick well because there is a coating on photo paper – so a printout on regular paper would have been best (don’t know if you used photo paper or not).
If it’s not a real photo, you can put Mod Podge over the top and see if the bubbles go away. If not, you’ll have to start over. Good luck!
PS – you can watch my videos here: youtube.com/modpodgerocks. They might help you.
Hi Amy, I love Mod Podging on canvas too. These ideas are really great, especially the family rules wall art. The possibility is limitless and what you need is creativity to come out with your own ideas!
I’m Happy and Sad at the same time. Happy to see your blog and sad because Mod Podge is not available in India. I wish it was, I could also create something like this 🙁
Hi Amy! I’m a new follower. I absolutely love your canvases! They are amazing!
I work with mod podge and find it rocks, just like you said. Thank you for sharing.
Can I use mod podge to attach strips of fabric to Styrofoam for fabric balls?
Hi Lisa! Yes you can!! 😀
Thank you for sharing…this makes me feel as if i can do it! I am going to give it a try!
Amy, you are divine! Thanks for sharing your skills
Can you use mod podge to put pictures on a glass table?
Hi Rachel! Yes, you can.
I want to send a photo to Walgreens to be made into a 24 x 26 poster and then Mod Podge this to a canvas. Think this will work?! – and if so, is a 32 fl. oz jar enough? Help…this is my first project with Mod Podge!!
Hi CJ! You can definitely do this (and an 8 oz. jar will be enough) but if you’ve never used Mod Podge I encourage you to try another project first. At least do a small test to work with it to make sure you are comfortable getting out wrinkles, etc. I don’t want you to ruin your print. And my first project was a bust!
Very fun, I love the doilies and I bet Mod Podge would be great for them! The circles are also soooo fun, may have to try that–wonder if paint store chips would work??
There are some really awesome canvas in this collection!
Thanks so much for sharing!
Hugs,
True 😀
What is the best way to mod podge photos onto mdf? I’ve tried it a few times now but keep getting bubbles, which by the way I would LOVE to know how to get rid of??? Some small bubbles, others quite big. I put mp on the board and to the back of photo, but maybe I put too much??? Cause if I try to rub the photo down with fingers or cloth, I get finger prints vs colour rubs off.. Please heeeelp!!! Super thanks!!!
Hi Ann! Have you watched my videos at youtube.com/modpodgerocks? There is one in particular that should help you with the wrinkles. Also if the photos are printed on an inkjet printer, they are going to smear if you don’t seal them first. There is more information here:
https://modpodgerocksblog.com/learn-how-to-mod-podge/ (search for inkjet)
I would like to make a canvas family photo with one of the recent pictures we had done and I am not sure which is the best way to have the photo printed cause I have seen some that some people use ink photos and others use poster which do you think will work better? I have never done this before so it will be my first time and I love the way the gallery wrap looks that are sold online … is this something I could do if I print the picture big enough to go around the whole canvas? Thanks so much for your help and advise :)!
Hi Heather! Laserjet is your best way to go if you want to Mod Podge it down (no smearing) and also I wouldn’t go for gallery wrapping unless you are a pretty seasoned Mod Podger. It’s difficult to wrap paper around canvas.
Hi I need a lil help here with the mod podge. I have a 12 by 12 canvas. How do you put scrapbook paper on the canvas properly without the bubbles?
Hi Destiny! I recommend watching my videos at youtube.com/modpodgerocks – you’ll follow the same basic idea for the basics video, but I also recommend flip the canvas over and smoothing from the inside of the canvas as well. You also need to use A LOT of Mod Podge. 😀
Hi thanks so much for the advice! I look forward to seeing more of your crafts , keep up the good work !!
Destiny
i am a preschool teacher. This yr the kids made gingerbread men ornaments and painted them. Can we use modge podge to apply photos of the kids faces on the ornaments? The surfaces of course are not flat or smooth made by 3 yr olds. How would you apply the pics of the faces on? And the pics are on plain printer paper.
Wonderful and fun filled!! Thanks for this beautiful idea.
Love these! I recently came across some sample wall paper that I want to turn into wall art. Will mod podge work on wall paper too?
Hi Sara! Yes it will – I’ve seen people use it many times 😀
Ideas are a Bit childish. Not really for adults. Not impressed
Hi! I recommend you join the Mod Podge group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/craftywithmodpodge
There are definitely more artists in that community. You can share your projects and show everyone what decoupage wall art for adults should look like. Enjoy!