Master Mixed Media: Effortless Techniques for Stunning Canvas Art"

Welcome to our creative corner at Decoupagenapkins.com! Today, we're excited to bring you a special treat—a step-by-step guide to creating a stunning mixed media canvas, courtesy of Donna at Mason Creations, etc. Before we dive into the process, we'd like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Donna for sharing her expertise and making this tutorial possible. You can watch her video here:

Whether you're a seasoned crafter or just starting out, this project promises fun and creativity. Let's get started:

Step 1: Start by selecting your canvas or other decoupage base. This project is versatile, suitable for canvases, wood cutouts, and more—find your base on Decoupagenapkins.com. In this video, Donna uses a canvas. Prime your canvas with a coat of Gesso. This will help the rest of your craft products adhere to the canvas as well as providing a nice white background that will make the images on the rice paper pop.

Step 2: Prepare your rice paper image by tearing the edges. Donna uses a water brush to help her tear the paper. Tearing the rice paper is preferable to cutting because the irregular edge will blend more easily into the overall project. She then sprays a light mist of water on the rice paper to make it more flexible and easier to work with.

Step 3: Donna uses Polyvine Decorator's Varnish as both the decoupage medium and the top finish for this project. She applies a thin layer of Polyvine Decorator's Varnish to the canvas, carefully lays down the rice paper, and smooths out any bubbles by brushing a top layer of varnish from the center out to the edges of the image. Polyvine varnish serves as an excellent decoupage medium and protective finish.

Step 4: Once the varnish dries after a few hours, Donna paints the background using Pentart paints. She blends colors where they meet for a beautiful ombre effect.

Step 5: After letting the paint dry for about an hour, she creates a frame with texture paste and a stencil. Donna applies painter's tape to the portions of the stencil she is not using. Then she uses Pixie Spray, which helps the stencil stick to the canvas and peel off easily. She applies texture paste over the stencil with a palette knife, removes the excess, and then removes the stencil. One tip Donna gives is to clean the stencil immediately after use so the texture paste won't dry and ruin the stencil. She allows each section of stenciled paste to dry before repeating the process around the canvas edges.

Step 6: Add the final touches with paint on textured areas. Donna adds additional Polyvine Decorators Varnish for protection and mixes in glitter for extra sparkle.

Through each step, Donna highlights how easy and enjoyable it is to bring such a project to life, ensuring beginners and experienced crafters alike can follow along and create something beautiful.

In closing, we'd like to express our gratitude to Donna for her invaluable contribution and expertise. Her tutorial not only enriches our crafting journey but also demonstrates the quality and variety of products available at Decoupagenapkins.com, from rice papers to paints and stencils. Join us in celebrating creativity and start your decoupage project today!

Happy crafting!