If you want to create incredible, long-lasting, vibrant, and ready-to-hang masterpiece but all you have around you are old throwaway materials such as Sheetrock, plywood, or some other sturdy but unremarkable surfaces, and nothing really in the name of art supplies, never fear! For only a $25 investment or so, you and your kids can truly have a masterpiece.
Rummage around for any leftover art supplies from the kids' closets - broken crayons, old half-dried temperas, acrylics, Sharpies, pencils, markers, whatever it is. Oil media such as latex or oil paints are not appropriate, however. Prepare your surface by making sure it's clean and accepts your media.
Once you are happy with the results, prepare the epoxy resin and apply by following the directions. This activity should only be attempted by adults, in a well-ventilated area. After 48 hours of waiting, voila - instant incredible durable canvas art! The epoxy will darken and deepen any color added, creating a multidimensional view. It will also create a high gloss, thick permanent surface, giving the work quite an edge. This project would be very motivating to all future artists.
Source: EnviroTex epoxy resin http://eti-usa.com/envirotex-lite/ http://art.aliciaraya.com/
By Hello from Marshall, NC
This page contains the following solutions.
I don't know how all the crumbs get into my kitchen drawers. It seems like I'm always taking everything out of the drawers, dumping the crumbs, and wiping them clean - and replacing the liner!
Salvaging Smelly Plastic Canvas. If you get plastic canvas that smells bad, try putting it in a sink full of hot water and dish soap. Let it set for an hour, take it out and put it on a towel. This also works with plastic canvas that is not flat.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
I just purchased a pattern book to make a plastic canvas doll house. Now I am having difficulty purchasing the 12' x 18' stiff plastic canvas. I live in a small town in Saskatchewan, Canada. Can you offer any suggestions? Does it have to be 12 x 18? I can find the smaller sizes much easier.
By Laura Johnson
Can you glue, sew, etc., the smaller pieces to make a large piece?
Try a search for Annies Attic. If you can't find that, yes, you can add pieces to get the size you need. I have glued them together and had good results.
I buy the Impex and UltraStiff in that size over here in the UK through Amazon - have you tried the Canadian Amazon site? It's sometimes listed as vinyl weave or plastic mesh on the Amazon over here so you may need to run several searches.
My daughter lives in the US and buys it at WalMart, and a few craft supplies online shops, she's even found it at needlework sites (cross-stitch, tapestry, needlepoint).
Also, Herrschners ships from the US to Canada and has a fantastic selection, try this link:
www.herrschners.com/
Do you know where I can get scissors for plastic canvas?
By Pam H.
Don't spend a lot of money on scissors for plastic canvas - I've been using the same pair of inexpensive (I think I paid £2 at the pound store for mine years ago, in the US try The Dollar General, same thing as Pound Stretcher over here:) for several years.
Every now and again I sharpen them by cutting through my scrubbie pad sheets - works a treat!
