Quick & Easy Birthday Canvas

I try to be creative when it comes to

giving birthday gifts.

If I really think I can paint

something the birthday boy or girl

will like or use,

then I paint something.

Usually, it's a personalized bin

that I can fill with drawing paper,

paints, markers, etc.;

but not this time.

Here's how I made this:

I chose a blank pre-stretched canvas

and acrylic paints in colors

to coordinate with the birthday girl's bedroom.

Here's the quick and dirty

on how I base coat large backgrounds:

I use a roller with a clean sponge,

I squeeze multiple colors of acrylic paints onto

a palette (in this case, a disposable plate),

Roll the sponge into the paint

until it's covered.

The beauty of this technique, is that you

can cover the canvas completely and quickly, 

with no pattern and no cause for

concern if you run out of paint.

Simply apply more paint to the palette

- randomly -

and then apply the paint to the canvas

until it's covered.

Ta-dah!

Here's another tip:

store the sponge in sealed Cling Wrap -

it will stay nice and moist

and you can use these same colors again.

Next, I hand painted her name onto the canvas.

Please note, had I used tracing paper

and transfer paper to apply the name, it would

have been perfectly centered and each

letter would have been the same size.

Instead, I got this.

I shaded around each letter with a deeper

shade of the background color.

Then, I applied a darker shade of green

to the bottom half of each letter.

Then I randomly applied polka dots

with sponge stipplers.

Finally, I applied a sparkly glaze.

And used a hot glue gun to attach a

furry boa around the canvas.

Happy Birthday, Emma!

- peace out -