How to Repurpose an Old Canvas

How to Repurpose an Old Canvas into New Art

Looking to repurpose an old canvas? One of my favorite things to do is to repurpose things that I already have. Here I had an old canvas in my basement that no longer fit the design of my house and was just taking up space in storage. So why not make it into a custom piece that I love and goes with the current design of my home?

Repurposing one thing into something you will use is one of my favorite ways to save money. And who doesn’t love to save money? I know that I do! I even already wrote a blog post on some of my favorite tips; that you can find here.

Today I am going to show you each step I took to turn one piece of art into a whole new piece of art that you love and has a custom meaning just for you.

The Before and After of Repurpose Canvas

The before picture of the old canvas. The canvas is leaning against a white wall and light wood floor. The canvas has a dark wood skinny frame. The canvas is black and white abstract piece.

The after picture of the repurposed canvas. The canvas is leaning against a dark blue wall sitting on brown wood piano. The canvas has a brown wood frame. The canvas is painted a cream color with abstract darker cream color with the words "In its time" in the right corner. Along with the canvas on the piano it is paired with a black vase with flowers and greenery coming out of it and a small gold frame with no picture in it.

As you can see you can drastically change the appearance of an old canvas into something that is beautiful to you and might even have a special meaning to you and your family. In this post, I will teach you each step that was taken to make the before into the after.

Supply List To Repurpose An Old Canvas

Just like any other DIY project, you will need at least a few supplies to start your project. Most of these items you might already have around your house. (The only thing I didn’t already have was the cork letters.) Based on your own vision of your future creation your supplies might be slightly different, but for the most part, this is what you will need to repurpose an old canvas.

A picture of all the supplies used to repurpose the canvas. In the picture all the items are setting on the table. There is plastic cup full of paint brushes and sponges, 3 small tubes of paint and 1 large tube of paint in cream. A lime green Ryobi battery powered glue gun, a paper plate with blue detailing with a sponge paint brush and small paint cups on it. A tub of spackling with a red top. A spackling tool with a yellow handle. Two packages with lettering made out of cork. A Roll of blue painters tape.

Acrylic Paint
Cork Letters
Glue Gun (Yes, I have a fancy Ryobi glue gun. Yes, I do love it!)
Paper Plate (or somewhere to put the paint)
Painter’s Tape
Painting Utensils
Spackle
Spackle Knife

Steps to Repurpose an Old Canvas

Step 1 – Apply Painter’s Tape

The canvas is sitting on gray table with the wood frame covered in blue painter's tape. The canvas is black and white abstract piece.

Very important. Before you start anything make sure you use painter’s tape on any area you do not want to be changed in any way.

In my case, on the edge of the original canvas is a wood frame. I wanted that frame to stay and look the same, so I applied tape over it to protect it from the elements I would be applying to it.

Step 2- Paint Over Current Design

The canvas is sitting on a gray table with the wood frame covered in blue painter's tape. The canvas is black and white abstract piece and is being painted over by cream pant. Laying on the canvas is a black sponge paint brush sitting next to what has been painted.

Here you will see that the next step is to paint over the old current design. I decided to use a nice neutral cream color paint. Make sure you do enough coats so that you can no longer see the original design (It only took me two coats).

This first layer of paint that you do does not need to be perfect. You will basically cover this layer anyway. But I have learned from past experience that it is easier to go ahead and cover the original art before you start going in with the spackle.

Step 3- Choose a Phrase and Paint the Letters

A white paper plate with blue details on the rim a butcher block counter top. On the plate are the Letters "I", "T", "E", "S", "I", "M", "T", "I", "N", and a coma. The letters and coma are painted a cream color. Leaning on the rim and laying on the counter top is a back sponge paint brush on the right. On the left of the plate is a small paint cup that is white and has cream paint inside.

This is where you can start getting your creative juices flowing! I chose to go with the phrase, “In it’s time”; which is from one of our family’s favorite Bible verses, Ecclesiastes 3:11. This verse helped us all throughout our adoption journey.

But our story is not the same as yours. We each have our own special story that is being written and are not exactly the same.

Take some time to think about what is important to you and to your family. Is there a phrase you say to each other a lot? Is there a verse that is important to you? A quote from your favorite childhood book? It doesn’t have to be crazy, just important to you and that you like!

Once you come up with your phrase spell it out with the cork letters that you bought. Make sure you have enough of each letter then place it on your canvas to make sure you like it.

Once you are completely settled on it, start painting your letters. I used the same cream paint that I used to cover the canvas because I liked the monotone look it gave, but feel free to make it your own!

Step 4- Spackle Over Canvas

A canvas painted a cream color sitting on a gray table with blue painter's tape. On the canvas is a lump of spackling with a spackling tool with a yellow handle on top on top of the spackling.

A canvas painted a cream color sitting on a gray table with blue painter's tape. On the canvas is spackling smeared on the top side with a spackling tool with a yellow handle off to side bleared to the right on the canvas.

This is the fun step! Start by applying a little bit in the corner with a spackle knife and smear it down. Almost like icing a cake.

Keep adding more spackle to different areas until you have covered the whole canvas. I chose to do thinner layers for a rough, imperfect looking spackle, but you do whatever looks good to you.

Step 5- Glue on Your Letters

A picture of the bottom right corner of the canvas with blue painter's tape on the sides. In the corner a glued on words "IN IT'S TIME". The right of the canvas on the table is a lime green Ryobi glue gun and in front of the glue gun is a white plate with blue details.

Next, grab those letters you painted and heat up that glue gun!

Start by placing the letters where you might want them. Make sure they are in the perfect position in your own opinion. Once you glue them down they won’t be going anywhere, so make sure you are certain.

Once you are happy with where you are going to place them, start gluing them down and let them dry before going on to the next step.

Step 6- Start Painting

Picture of the painting the repurposed canvas on a gray table. A paper plate that is white with blue detail on the rim is sitting to the right on the canvas. On the plate is a small paint cup with cream paint in it. On the left bottom corner is a yellow sponge starting to paint the canvas. The canvas has a blue painter's tape covering the frame. The canvas is painted a cream color with the words "In its time" in the right corner.

This is where it can start to be intimidating. Please don’t worry! There’s really no way to mess it up. Just keep reminding yourself that it is abstract art and all art is relative to the beholder.

I started using a sponge to apply paint to the canvas in just one corner to test out what worked and what didn’t. I honestly just winged it and did what I thought looked good. As you see below, I used different colors and different paintbrushes to get the look I liked. Just keep going till you are satisfied with the look. But don’t take too much time, the point of art isn’t for it to look perfect.

Picture of the painting the repurposed canvas. A small cup for paint with green paint in it along is a paint brush with a red handle. The canvas has a blue painter's tape covering the frame. The canvas is painted a cream color with abstract darker cream color with the words "In its time" in the right corner.

Step 7- Take Off Painter’s Tape

Once your paint is done drying, you might be questioning your masterpiece. I know I was. That was when I remembered the painter’s tape was still blocking my enjoyment of my new piece. Take that off! See much better! Once the tape is off you have yourself a finished product … and it looks wonderful.

Step 8- Enjoy Your New Art Piece

Picture of the repurposed canvas. The canvas is leaning against a dark blue wall sitting on brown wood piano. The canvas has a brown wood frame. The canvas is painted a cream color with abstract darker cream color with the words "In its time" in the right corner. Along with the canvas on the piano it is paired with a black vase with flowers and greenery coming out of it and a small gold frame with no picture in it to the left of the canvas. On the right of the canvas is 8 by 10 gold frame with a wedding picture in it.

Well, you did it! You made yourself a custom art piece for your home by repurposing an old canvas. Step back and admire what you accomplished!

Now you get to decide where you want it and style it to your liking. You made your house feel more like a home by placing a meaningful art piece in a special spot. I know I will treasure mine for a long long time.

Please, leave a comment below with how it went for you and what phrase you chose to put on your repurposed old canvas!