Make a Mixed Media Canvas from Cardboard with Mixed Media Art Paper and Medium

It’s Monday …so you should know that means it’s time from Mix It Up Monday! Each Monday we shine the spotlight on mixing it up. Whether it involves fabric like today’s amazing Hand Print Quilt from Kim Lapacek or Designer Gracie Chavez mixing it up with paper using Rebekah’s Meier’s line with us! Today Gracie will show you how to make a mixed media canvas that you’re going to love!

It’s Gracie Chavez. Today I have a DIY idea that I know you’ll love! I’m creating a canvas base from cardboard, with lots of texture! Join me while I play for the first time with Rebekah Meier’s new Mixed Media line for Therm O Web.

Make a Mixed Media Canvas from Cardboard with Mixed Media Art Paper and Medium

Therm O Web Supplies:
Rebekah Meier Designs Mixed Media Medium Jar 4 fl oz
Rebekah Meier Designs Mixed Media Art Paper 9″ x 12″ (4 sheets per pack)
Rebekah Meier Designs Mixed Media Foam Sheets 9″ x 12″ (2 sheets per pack)
Rebekah Meier Designs Transfer Foil 6″ x 6″ (12 sheets per pack) • Vintage Tin
Rebekah Meier Designs Transfer Foil 6″ x 6″ (12 sheets per pack) • Antique Pearl (Satin)
iCraft Mixed Media Adhesive 2.1 fl oz
iCraft Mixed Media Sheets • Light Weight
Gina K. Designs Sheer Satin Fancy Ribbon 5/8″ x 10 yd • White/Gold
Zots™ Singles • 3-D

Other Supplies:
Raven Mosaic Stencil
Fairytale Dreams patterned papers
Acrylic Paints
Embossing powder
Other Tools: ruler / exacto knife / paper trimmer / brush / stapler / dressform, oval and oval frame dies / die cutting machine

DIY Canvas with Rebekah Meier’s Mixed Media Papers and Medium

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Step 1. Use a ruler and an exacto knife to cut a piece of cardboard.
Step 2. Cut a piece of Rebekah Meier Designs Mixed Media Art Paper, big enough to cover the cardboard.
Step 3. Peel the backing off the Mixed Media Art Paper.
Step 4. Adhere the Mixed Media Art Paper to the cardboard.

Step 5. Rip a few pieces of patterned papers and use Rebekah Meier Designs Mixed Media Medium to adhere it randomly to the canvas.
Step 6. Continue adding different pieces of patterned paper, layering them randomly.
Step 7. Apply beige acrylic paint around the edges of the canvas.

Step 9. Use the Raven Mosaic stencil to apply Rebekah Meier Designs Mixed Media Medium with a palette knife.
Step 10. Pour embossing powder to part of the stenciled area. Shake off the excess.
Step 11. Use a heat gun to dry and set the embossing powder.
Step 12. Once the medium on the remaining part of the stenciled are is dry (clear and tacky), foil the area with Rebekah Meier Designs Transfer Foil • Antique Pearl (Satin), using your fingers to burnish and transfer the foil.

The final effect is beautiful, with lots of texture and layers. I love how much you can do with the Rebekah Meier Designs Mixed Media Medium, since it can not only be used as a glue to add glitter, embossing powder and more, but also as a gel you can apply foil to.

You can keep adding touches of paint and other elements to the canvas. I finished off the background adding some solid tempera around the edges. This makes for a great background that you can use as is, but I decided to embellish it a bit more with a couple of embellishments: A foiled mirror and a little dress form.

To make the foiled mirror embellishment:

Step 13. Using a die cutting machine, cut 2 ovals from Rebekah Meier Designs Mixed Media Foam Sheets, 1 oval frame and a dress form from patterned paper.
Step 14. With one of the foam ovals, peel off the backing sheet on one side, to reveal the adhesive.
Step 15. Apply Rebekah Meier Designs Transfer Foil 6″ x 6″ • Vintage Tin to the oval, using your fingers to burnish and transfer the foil.
Step 16. Peel off the remaining backing from the foiled oval and adhere it to the oval frame die cut.
Step 17. Attach the remaining foam oval to the back of the frame die cut.
Step 18. Then remove the remaining backing from the foam oval and adhere the frame to the canvas.

To make the dress embellishment:

Step 19. Cut a small piece of iCraft Mixed Media Sheets • Light Weight
Step 20. Spritz water to wet the mixed media sheet.
Step 21. Shirr the piece of mixed media sheet, shaping it like a dress.
Step 22. Secure the shirred sheet with a stapler.
Step 23. Apply Rebekah Meier Designs Mixed Media Medium to the back of the little dress.
Step 24. Attach the dress to the dress form die cut.

Step 25. Tie a piece of Gina K. Designs Sheer Satin Fancy Ribbon 5/8″ x 10 yd • White/Gold around the middle of the dress form.
Step 26. Make 2 loops from the same ribbon and secure them with a stapler.
Step 27. Finally adhere the dress form to the canvas, on top of the foiled mirror, with Zots™ Singles • 3-D and iCraft Mixed Media Adhesive 2.1 fl oz

And there you have it! A sweet, mixed media canvas made from scratch! The fun thing about this DIY technique is that you can personalize your canvas to create it in whatever size or shape you want, since the Rebekah Meier Designs Mixed Media Art Paper will adhere to anything. This Art Paper is basically canvas fabric with adhesive backing so it will make anything you stick it too a perfect base to work on. (It holds layers very well!) I would love to try it out to make heart and circle shaped canvases using cardboard also. What would you like to create with it?

I hope you enjoyed today’s project idea! I loved working with the products in this new line and can’t wait to try them out in more creative ways! Until next time.