More Newspaper Art

Remember this recycled newspaper art project I finished last week?

Well, I was secretly making it for my mom for Christmas, but I wasn't sure if she'd like it. I posted it early to see if she'd comment on it... and she told me on two separate occasions she liked it so I was safe giving it to her :) I also made her this one! Here's how I did it.

What you'll need:
Canvas
Paper (I used newspaper but you could use fabric, magazines, wrapping paper, etc.)
Acrylic paint
Paint brush
Sponge brush
Mod podge

(This project was inspired by this tutorial from Crafted Love)

First, tear up some pieces of newspaper. I chose to tear instead of cut so it would have more of a collaged look.

Next, mix up your mod podge solution. I don't think it really matters the exact mixture, I would say I had 1 part mod podge, 3 parts water. It should be thicker than water but easily spreadable.

Cover one section at a time of your canvas with the glue solution. I would recommend putting newspaper or an easily cleanable medium under your canvas because I made a MESS and had to clean up and start over by putting newspaper down. Oopsies :)

After you put the goop on the canvas, lay the paper down and put more goop on top. I started making the newspaper go up or down or side to size, but I ended making it go every which way, which I liked better.

Wrap the newspaper around the side of your canvas. I wrapped mine around the back so it would stay down. Eventually I had to tape it down on the back because it wouldn't stay.

Let it dry for a few hours before you paint. I put mine outside to dry so it would dry faster (I'm impatient), but I would NOT recommend this. The cold made the newspaper peel and I had to re-glue some parts. I think this is also why I had to tape it to the back in the end.

Now that your canvas is dry, time to paint! I originally got this idea from Crafted Love (see above) and I liked her design, so I stuck with it. I was in a hurry to get it wrapped before I went home so I didn't have time to be too creative. However, there are so many possibilities-- chevron pattern, you could lay down lace and spray paint, you could paint a book, make some abstract art, geometric shapes, anything!

Mom loved both art pieces (I think). It was a fun and inexpensive gift to make.