Fabric Covered Canvas Wall Hanging Tutorial...that's a mouthful

I did this paintning several years ago and I have just gotten so bored with it! I have been wanting to replace it forever but a new canvas is expensive and this one has already been painted over a few times so there are lots of random textures to it! I have had the idea of covering it with fabric for awhile, but I just couldn't find the right fabric....until I went to Target one day and saw some cute pillow covers for $5 a piece! I was thrilled and bought a few to actually cover pillows and then went back for more to do this project! So, my old, boring painting went from this: To this! And I love it! It brightens up the room, especially since I have white walls. I hate white walls! That's one bad thing about renting! Anywho, I wrote a tutorial in case you want to follow along!

Things you'll need:

• A canvas of whatever size you choose. Or several canvases if you want to just put several next to each other. Mine was a 24x36.
• Fabric of your choice. I have 3 pillow case covers made of heavier home decor fabric. The amount of fabric you'll need will obviously depend on your canvas, the amount of patterns you use, etc.
• Sewing machine
• Thread
• Staple gun and staples
• Iron and ironing board

Alright, are you ready? Let me know if anything doesn't come across very clearly!

I started out with 3 pillow case covers that I then cut up into 6 seperate pieces. I just removed the zipper from each as I cut along the seams. If you have regular fabric from a bolt, etc. you'll want to measure the size you need and add a 1/2 inch to the sides on the inside and 3 1/2 inches to the top or bottom or sides for the seams and canvas wrapping allowance. Does that make sense? You need 1/2 inch for all of the inside seams and at least 3 1/2 inches for all of the outside edges so you can wrap it around the canvas.You will want to lay out your pieces and find the pattern you want before proceeding. Then take the top left piece and bottom left piece and put the right sides together. Sew with a 1/4 inch seam as shown below. Do this for the middle and outside 2 pieces as well. You should have 3 pieces now with each attached at the middle seam. Now you'll want to open up the seams and iron them flat so they lay nicely on the canvas. Then attach the 3 pieces together (also with right sides together) and do the same with those seams. (I forgot to take a picture of this process, but it should be easy. If not, let me know.)
You will then have one big piece like a quilt with all 6 pieces sewn together.

Now you will need your staple gun. I bought mine at Target today for $10.00 and you'll need staples too, they come seperately. I just bought a light duty one and it's fine for these projects.

I marked the center of the frame (on the back) and lined my seam up with it. Then you take the staple gun and push it right up against the fabric and wood and push hard. This can be rather addicting...I put lots of staples into mine just because it's fun! Follow with the opposite side marking the middle and pulling taught so your fabric looks nice on the front. (You might want to look at the front just to make sure it's all centered right! I then worked my way up both of the sides with the staple gun.Here's a close up. My edges are raw because they won't be showing and remember that I just got some pillow cases apart, so the edges are looking rather rough!!Now do the top and bottom pieces and work your way out. When you get to the end you'll tuck the corners in so the top can come down and it will lay flat. Just play with it until you get it right. A mitered corner works great. I put 2 staples in just for good measure. I had quite a bit of extra fabric at the top and bottom because I had more than 3 1/2 inches for the allowance. I went ahead and just trimmed the excess so my canvas would be able to hang right.Now hang it up and enjoy it! If you ever get sick of your art work you can always recover it!! Let me know if you had a hard time following my tutorial, I'm new at this tutorial thing.

Go ahead and leave a comment too, I kind of feel like I'm talking to no one!!! :)