From Rice Paper to Rooster: A Canvas Craft You’ll Love

Have you ever wanted to bring a bit of farmhouse charm into your home with your own two hands? This project is the perfect blend of rustic and whimsical — a mixed media canvas featuring charming chicken rice paper, a wood-look background, and a colorful clay rooster centerpiece. Whether you’re new to decoupage or just itching for a fresh idea, this one’s for you!

This fantastic tutorial comes from our friend and talented affiliate, Donna at Mason Creations Etc. She walks us through each step of this project in her signature style — encouraging, approachable, and full of clever tricks. Watch her full video below, then follow along with the step-by-step guide right here.

Step 1: Prime Your Canvas

Start with a stretched 8x10" canvas. Give it a solid coat of gesso, making sure to cover the top and sides. This will give your paint and rice paper the perfect surface to stick to and eliminate the need for a frame, since the rice paper will wrap cleanly around the edges.

Step 2: Apply the Chicken Rice Paper

Choose your favorite chicken-themed rice paper — this will be the star of the show. Trim away any white borders (cutting is fine for this one since there’s no blending), then apply a thin, even coat of Polyvine Decorators Varnish to the canvas. Place the rice paper on top, cover with a piece of misted plastic (like from a cut Ziploc bag), and smooth out any wrinkles with a paper towel.

Step 3: Add the Wood Background

Use a wood-patterned rice paper to create contrast beneath the chicken paper. Tear the bottom edge of the chicken paper slightly to avoid harsh overlaps — rice paper is translucent, and Donna shows how layering can reveal lines you didn’t expect. Decoupage the wood paper using the same technique: varnish, plastic sheet, smooth.

Step 4: Wrap the Edges

Snip the corners and wrap the paper around the edges like you’re wrapping a gift. Aleene’s Tacky Glue holds everything tight so the paper stays put as it dries.

Step 5: Seal with Polyvine

Once dry, seal the entire canvas with Polyvine Heavy Duty Wood Varnish (Satin Finish) using a Polyvine varnish brush. This brush gives a smooth, streak-free finish. Let each coat dry an hour, and lightly sand between coats for a polished, professional look. Two to three coats give you a durable, moisture- and heat-resistant surface.

Step 6: Embellish with Twine and Wire

Wrap twine around the canvas where the two rice papers meet for a rustic divider. Then attach a strip of chicken wire trim across the woodgrain area using a hot glue gun. This adds fantastic texture and ties into the farm theme.

Step 7: Mold and Paint the Rooster

Press Das air-dry clay into one of our Accent Series silicone rooster molds and freeze it for 20 minutes. It’ll pop right out without breaking. Let it air dry overnight, then paint it with Pentart Light Brown paint to create a base for a reverse antiquing effect.

Step 8: Add Color to the Rooster

Use a variety of Pentart paints — yellow, red clay, cobalt blue, turquoise, and more — to dry-brush across the high points of the casting. Blend colors where they meet for a natural look, leaving the brown in the recesses to create depth. For extra shine and detail, add metallic wax rubs like Mint Sparkle, Firebird, and White Pearl using your finger or a small brush.

Step 9: Make a Bow and Finish the Look

Use a bow-making tool (like Donna’s mini Bowdabra) to create a layered ribbon bow. Secure it with a hot glue gun to one corner of the canvas. Then place the rooster right in the center using glue, and finish the edges of the canvas with a dab of soot-colored antiquing paste for a lightly distressed look.

Thank you again to Donna at Mason Creations Etc. for this inspiring tutorial! Her creativity and clear guidance make even the most layered projects feel doable and fun.

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