First let's start with the materials:
1 Stretched Canvas (I used 11 x 14)
Three different colors of acrylic paint (red paint is not pictured)
Paint Brush
Scissors
Cardstock and Printer (not pictured)
I started by giving my canvas 2 coats of blue acrylic paint (Folk Art 2555 Deep Ocean Blue):
I tried to make sure the paint was even, especially in the middle where the state would be seen. The first coat I went across my canvas. For the second I went up and down.
Then this happened....I couldn't have done this if I tried! My scissors just landed this way!
Next I printed out a map of my state on cardstock. I measured it to make sure it would fit well on my canvas.
I took my scissors and got to cutting. I decided to skip trying to cut out the island chain on the coast of my state (The Outerbanks) and left them on there. I like the shape better. At this point I started remembering my 4th grade state project, where I used salt dough to make the Ol' North State. Good times. Back to the project!
I applied removable adhesive to the back of my cardstock and stuck it on my dry canvas (I let it dry overnight just to be sure).
I used a contrasting paint color (Folk Art 2561 Steel Gray) and started in the middle and painted OUT from my state. I didn't want to try to push the paint against the edges and have the cardstock curl or the paint get underneath.
I gave the canvas two coats but didn't wait until the second coat fully dried before removing the state.
I wanted to make sure it would come up easily. I used tweezers to pull the side up so I wouldn't hurt the paint. It looked AWESOME. So awesome I forgot to take a picture. But I decided to put the final touch, a little heart over my home town.
What colors would you use?
This post was originally featured on She Wears Flowers.
