Food Coloring Stained Canvas - no talent required!

There's absolutely no need to be arty to do this one.. you don't even need paint or a paint brush! Simple and stunning this stained canvas could be used as a scrapbook board, writing board (like at a wedding or baby shower for guests to write best wishes on!) or as a personalised handprinted name board.

You'll need
Canvas
Food Colouring - any colour;
(Alternatively you can use an instant coffee granule paste 1tsp granules to 5tsp water)
Sponge
Plastic Gloves
Saucer of water


Start by wetting the canvas. Put on the gloves (so you wont have stained hands) and pour a drop (1/4 teaspoon) of food colouring onto your sponge. Just rub this into the canvas and spread it all around. It doesn't matter if its even or not.. Depending on the colour strenght you're after you'll probably build up a few layers of colour anyways.. and even if not, the next step ensures you cant go wrong with your first layer.

Leave this to dry and see how it turns out. Add another layer of colour if its too light by repeating the first step.











Once dry, add some more food coloring to your sponge and rub in circles around the edges of the canvas to create a frame.



Once dry (again!) splash a few drops of water around the canvas. This causes the colour to lighten in the wet areas and gives a really cool effect.

It comes together really well!!!

Depending on what colour you use, or how many layers of colour you build up, you get a variety of different effects

  Red food colouring effect + coffee paste on top of this once it had dried. 

 instant coffee granule effect

Simple Blue food colouring staining - it actually takes on a pinkish tone in spots  for some reason!! 

Leave to dry and admire your work!

See above for some pictures of the scrapbook boards you can make from these plain stained canvases.

Here is one I made for my daughter for her room.

                                                            .................  and one for the grandparents after Christmas 

 ... or if you are like me and can't resist adding one or two more things .. here is one idea which is perfect for a little girls birthday party.

Birthday Present Personalised Canvas with handprints 

With some chalk, draw the outline of a ballerina dress. I added a birthday girl's name beside this.

 

I then painted around my outline in a light pink acrylic and left the 'tutu' part of the skirt for the party guests to make their handprints on. It was great as they had no idea what they were being asked to do! 

Once all the guests had all made their handprints and it had dried it was time for the big reveal for the birthday girl...... 

And needless to say she loved it! 

Sorry the lighting is a bit off here, the colours were spectactualar with the blues, pinks and textures from the staining and handprints - trust me on this.. it was fabulous