A couple of months ago, I posted about how Jenni and I met up at a local store and saw some adorable (and simple) canvases designed for kids' rooms.
(And since the entirety of this post is aimed at gently ripping off imitating their idea, let's just be subtle and call our particular store...um...Shmottery Shmarn.)
Several of you e-mailed me to report that you actually tried out this clever little crafty idea, and I did too. With the kind permission of the e-mailers in question, I thought I'd show you what amazing things people are up to with their canvases.
Let's start with mine, because they're the least good in the batch. I used super-cheap Wal Mart canvas, painted them, and used decoupage glue (Modge Podge is my favorite) to adhere the designs cut from scrapbook paper:
There were too many ripples in the paper. When I try this again, I'll probably try a wallpaper roller to help smooth out the wrinkles. Because Modge Podge is FOREVER, and once those wrinkles set in, you're sunk.
Linds of This Abode used an old pair of jeans, fabric and ribbon to do this adorable canvas:
Amy blogs at Journey to Adoption and Jonathan's Journey, and she tackled an extremely impressive canvas collage for her nursery:
Tami of Muddlin' Thru Motherhood made this canvas as a baby shower gift for a friend:
Tracye of TracyeCakes didn't mess with the decoupage, she just painted. And look how great it turned out, customized with the child's name:
Here's a funky idea by Anne--wouldn't this be cute in a preteen's room?
Danielle of Mississippi Mama did this little green and blue number:
Kate did these beautiful flowers using only Modge Podge (in matte finish) and paper, and she said the entire project cost her only $16:
My sister-in-law, who has artistic ability coming out her ears, did these great pieces for my nieces' room:
Kristin of Grace Violet did an entire post on her decoupage adventure--go read the details (and see great pictures) here.
If you try your own version of this project, I'd love to see the results!
They're so beautiful! I would definitely try this in my own new home. :) *and goes off dreaming her own*
Posted by: Yvie | Friday, June 27, 2008 at 01:54 AM
Very cool!
Posted by: d-ann | Friday, June 27, 2008 at 02:01 AM
so cool! I've got some canvases to try this on over the next few weeks thanks for even more inspiration.
Posted by: AmyDe | Friday, June 27, 2008 at 05:26 AM
Oh, those are so pretty!
Posted by: Beck | Friday, June 27, 2008 at 05:57 AM
Oh! I love them all - I want to go out today and get the materials to try some of these myself... my daughter is ready to change her room. Perfect!
Posted by: Angela | Friday, June 27, 2008 at 06:19 AM
such cute ones! i made one last christmas for a gift. here is the link...
http://buraellen.blogspot.com/2007/12/gift-update.html
Posted by: amy | Friday, June 27, 2008 at 06:25 AM
Oh, Shannon -- I think yours looks GREAT! Don't down it! :)
Posted by: Amy Beth @ Ministry So Fabulous! | Friday, June 27, 2008 at 06:38 AM
Those all look great, yours included.
Posted by: Lizz @ Yes, and So is My Heart | Friday, June 27, 2008 at 06:53 AM
Wow. I am once again reminded of how un-artistic I am. Maybe I can talk my artistically-inclined sister-in-law into doing something like this for my daughter in a couple of years? These are all beautiful--look like something you'd see the designers creating on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition!
Posted by: Louise | Friday, June 27, 2008 at 06:56 AM
That is a really neat idea. I'd love to try it out. Thanks for a great idea.
Posted by: Tami@ourhouse | Friday, June 27, 2008 at 07:00 AM
ooh fun! I need to give this a try - we have #2 on the way, so these would be great for a nursery! Thanks for the inspiration!
Posted by: jodi | Friday, June 27, 2008 at 07:08 AM
Love, love, LOVE these ideas! I'm going to pass them on to my daughter who is the crafty one in our house.
Posted by: Shelly W | Friday, June 27, 2008 at 07:13 AM
Beautiful!
Posted by: Rebecca | Friday, June 27, 2008 at 07:38 AM
My wheels are definitely turning! Everyone's work looks fantastic!
Posted by: Laura | Friday, June 27, 2008 at 07:45 AM
Ooooh, thanks for posting these, Shannon. They look great-lots of great ideas...I may have to try some more, since I found out that it wasn't that hard! I'm flattered that you included mine, too!
Posted by: Amy | Friday, June 27, 2008 at 07:51 AM
Those are really great! I wish I had the talent to do something like that!
Posted by: Annabelle @ Christian Momma | Friday, June 27, 2008 at 07:57 AM
I got some family and friends together and we each made an animal face on canvas while I was pregs. Copied the design right off someplace trying to sell for $40 each. Since none of us are artists we used hair dye squeeze bottles. Daughter is now 3 and they still look great. Now off to find a photo somewhere.
Posted by: robyn | Friday, June 27, 2008 at 08:03 AM
What a great idea! I've got little bits of "keepsake" fabric that would work really well for this. Thanks for sharing. Maybe Baby #6 will get something cute in her room!
Posted by: FishMama | Friday, June 27, 2008 at 08:11 AM
Very nice work on all of them. I'm hoping to redo my girls' room, and the ones you made would match the color scheme perfectly. I will definitely be coming back to this post for inspiration/guidance. Great work!
Posted by: nicole | Friday, June 27, 2008 at 08:13 AM
Very cool - may have to try this as my boys move out of the baby stage and we need to spruce up their room a bit more!
Posted by: Colleen - Mommy Always Wins | Friday, June 27, 2008 at 08:16 AM
Wow! Everyone is so creative. Since I just found out a couple of weeks ago that baby #3 is a girl, I'm going to try my hand at some of these for her room! Thanks for the great inspiration!
Posted by: Laura V. | Friday, June 27, 2008 at 08:19 AM
I am cracking up because I have this same... um...Shmottery Shmarn in my area and have been totally planning to do some canvases for our upcoming little girl's bedroom. Teehee! Glad to know I am not the only crafty/thrify one around!
Posted by: Robin Forman | Friday, June 27, 2008 at 08:25 AM
What an awesome idea. I am holding back the urge to run to Hobby Lobby right now, lol!
Posted by: Shannon | Friday, June 27, 2008 at 08:28 AM
Wow those are ALL amazing!
Posted by: aimee | Friday, June 27, 2008 at 08:29 AM
Wow! These are great!
Thanks for including mine :)
It's great to have more inspiration.
Posted by: Linds | Friday, June 27, 2008 at 09:06 AM
I will admire those from afar and attempt them never. GREAT JOB, GIRLS!!
Posted by: Marla Taviano | Friday, June 27, 2008 at 09:07 AM
I have been eying those in "that" catalogue for years, thinking, I know I can do that. I started one, but never finished. I bought my canvas at a craft store with a 50% coupon.
Now, I'm totally inspired to finish it. Thank you.
Posted by: Fiddledeedee | Friday, June 27, 2008 at 09:11 AM
I love the ones your sister in law did. So happy and cute!
Posted by: Memarie Lane | Friday, June 27, 2008 at 09:21 AM
Would it sound like I'm sucking up if I said I like yours the best? I'm just not quite creative enough to do this myself...but I could probably copy some. They're all so cute!
Posted by: Meg in Tally | Friday, June 27, 2008 at 09:29 AM
These are amazing. At first I felt a little daunted but after seeing these I think I will be trying it out! Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Full of Boys | Friday, June 27, 2008 at 09:31 AM
They all look great, and yours are adorable; I love the pink and green!
Thanks for including my tutorial!
Posted by: Kristin | Friday, June 27, 2008 at 09:34 AM
You're a darn genius! These are so awesome! I have some aprons that have a stain or two, but the rest of the fabric is still wonderful. I may have found a new use for the wonderful old vintage fabric.
For your daily dose of vintage goodness & a bit of silliness, stop by Confessions of an Apron Queen
Posted by: The Apron Queen | Friday, June 27, 2008 at 09:48 AM
Thanks for an inexpensive, easy, not TOO messy project for a hot day! LOVE these collages!
Posted by: Jessica | Friday, June 27, 2008 at 09:52 AM
I am so inspired! Thank you for sharing all those great ideas.
Posted by: Fuschia | Friday, June 27, 2008 at 10:11 AM
I wanted to do those when I saw them. Maybe someday I'll actually have the time - how inspiring. Yours are adorable!
Posted by: Karen {simply a musing blog} | Friday, June 27, 2008 at 10:39 AM
thanks for posting mine. very fun to do and now I have more ideas
Posted by: kate | Friday, June 27, 2008 at 10:43 AM
I did it, too:
http://knockout13.blogspot.com/2008/05/after-reading-this-i-was-inspired-to.html
Posted by: Kristy | Friday, June 27, 2008 at 10:45 AM
these are amazing! i'm currently plotting a knock-off of your knock-off's :)
Posted by: Katy Van Wyk | Friday, June 27, 2008 at 11:34 AM
These are so impressive! Great job, everybody!
Posted by: Lisa @ Stop and Smell the Chocolates | Friday, June 27, 2008 at 11:57 AM
Oh, MY goodness! I especially love the denim one and yours ... so cute.
I especially love the idea of a) recycling old jeans... and 2) using scrapbook paper!
Clever.....
Posted by: GiBee | Friday, June 27, 2008 at 12:22 PM
Wonderful!! I love to see this kind of thing--so creative and inspiring. And Shmottery Shmarn was hilarious!
Have a great weekend, Shannon!
Posted by: Holly Smith | Friday, June 27, 2008 at 12:22 PM
I am so inspired!
Posted by: jennielynn | Friday, June 27, 2008 at 01:11 PM
I am not very good at crafts - but I think even I could pull this off!
Posted by: Susan G. | Friday, June 27, 2008 at 01:37 PM
These are awesome! Love the baseball one by Martinez. Boy Mom - can you tell?! :)
Posted by: CarolinaMama | Friday, June 27, 2008 at 01:42 PM
Great work! They look very much like Shmottery Shmarn, perhaps even better!
Does any one have any instructions or ideas for boy rooms, particularly trains or construction vehicles?
Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Cibbit | Friday, June 27, 2008 at 01:44 PM
My goodness, all these talented women wasting their time hunched up over their computer keyboards when they could be setting the crafting world alight.
I think you should all form a cooperative and blast Shmottery Shmarn (whatever the hell that is - we certainly don't have one of those in the UK. Unless it's actually called House of Fraser and that shmottery thing is some code I'm not in on!)
Posted by: Tara@From Dawn Till Rusk | Friday, June 27, 2008 at 02:41 PM
I love looking at other people's craftiness!!
I haven't had time to be crafty in a while, but have been known to do some canvas painting in the past. I just posted some pictures on a blog I set up just for my artwork...
http://michigancutiepaints.blogspot.com
Posted by: Stacy | Friday, June 27, 2008 at 03:06 PM
Hey, Cibbit, I read your comment and want to share a train idea with you...I couldn't get your link to work...If you come back here, email me at [email protected]
Posted by: Stacy | Friday, June 27, 2008 at 03:13 PM
I'm so inspired now, despite my lack of artistic ability. All of you did a fabulous job!
Posted by: Jackie @ Our Moments Our Memories | Friday, June 27, 2008 at 03:23 PM
Well done! Really, all of those are top-notch.
We're in a small place right now, so every wall is already decorated. (All six of them.) (Not really. But it feels that way sometimes.)
But when we move into a real house, I fully plan to implement some of these creative ideas!
Posted by: Kelly @ Love Well | Friday, June 27, 2008 at 03:31 PM
I just recently tackled a similar project for my niece's nursery. I used the colors and theme from her nursery and surprised my sister-in-law.
http://mjanem.blogspot.com/2008/06/gift-for-madeline.html
Posted by: Jane | Friday, June 27, 2008 at 04:19 PM
Those are all so adorable! Such talented ladies. I can't wait to try this myself :)
Posted by: Stephanie | Friday, June 27, 2008 at 04:34 PM
Here are my knock-offs! Everyone did such nice work!
http://web.mac.com/camealy/Family_Page/Word/Entries/2008/6/27_Look_what_I_made!.html
Posted by: kris | Friday, June 27, 2008 at 08:53 PM
Aww, thanks for posting mine! :)
Posted by: Mississippi Mama | Friday, June 27, 2008 at 09:01 PM
Very cool!
Posted by: Bah | Friday, June 27, 2008 at 09:50 PM
Those are awesome! I'm going to try the ladybug paintings from the PB catalog when our house is finished!
Posted by: onemotherslove | Friday, June 27, 2008 at 10:16 PM
So fun to see! I wish I was that crafty!
Posted by: Genny | Friday, June 27, 2008 at 10:24 PM
ohhh - I love them! Especially the one for your nieces room. :)
Posted by: Janice (5 Minutes for Mom) | Saturday, June 28, 2008 at 01:47 AM
My mom and I did mats w/ my boys names on them. Check them out!
http://wanibug.blogspot.com/2008/02/vision-in-plaid.html
Posted by: Wani | Saturday, June 28, 2008 at 10:25 AM
Wow! They are all so neat! :)
Posted by: Stephanie | Saturday, June 28, 2008 at 04:53 PM
Super cute! Here is a tip on the wrinkles that I discovered this week. I have been altering clipboards experimenting with MPodge, scrapbooking paper and those frustrating wrinkles.
First, use light covering of glue. That is sorta obvious. But even when you do this you will still get wrinkles. When this happens set your project outside in the heat! This especially works if it is hotter than hades (I am in Texas).
Yesterday, one of my clipboards wrinkled up badly when I was doing a coat of MPodge. I simply walked outside in the 150 degree patio and put my paper covered clip board on my patio table to dry. TADA! No wrinkles when I went to check on it a bit later. Something about the heat not only drys the project quickly but it shrinks it all back up and the wrinkles virtually disappear!
So...take advantage of these hot summer days! Paint also dries quicker this way, as do paint brushes.
I have never done a WFMW...but that is what this sounds like, eh? :)
Posted by: Leslie | Saturday, June 28, 2008 at 06:32 PM
I have a print from uppercase living on my desk here, that maybe I will get the courage to apply after seeing these! You're all so talented...ok, fighting envy,here!
=)
Posted by: Stacey Sickmiller | Sunday, June 29, 2008 at 12:40 PM
I didn't use an actual canvas, but I did some PB inspired art which I showed here:
http://charitygrace78.blogspot.com/2008/06/ladybug-for-grace.html
And I wrote a little tutorial here:
http://revivingmotherhood.wordpress.com/2008/06/24/ladybug-door-sign-tutorial/
So fun!!! I loved seeing everyone else's designs!
Posted by: CharityGrace | Sunday, June 29, 2008 at 02:59 PM
I didn't use an actual canvas, but I did some PB inspired art which I showed here:
http://charitygrace78.blogspot.com/2008/06/ladybug-for-grace.html
And I wrote a little tutorial here:
http://revivingmotherhood.wordpress.com/2008/06/24/ladybug-door-sign-tutorial/
So fun!!! I loved seeing everyone else's designs!
Posted by: CharityGrace | Sunday, June 29, 2008 at 03:05 PM
You gals inspired me to play Martha Stewart this weekend...
http://valentinesinmi.blogspot.com/2008/06/big-girl-room.html
Posted by: Aleesha | Monday, June 30, 2008 at 11:59 AM
I found something I would love to be able to do at showoffsart.com. I saw the plain magnetic boards at IKEA!! Maybe I'll give it a shot...or I'll just order them from the website.
Posted by: Robin Storch | Tuesday, July 01, 2008 at 03:01 PM