How to Make Your Own DIY Canvas Light Home Decor Tutorial

This is a guest post written by Callum Mundine from LED World in Australia. He co-owns the business with his brother and is chief lighting designer. In his spare time, he enjoys making fun DIY project for his children.

Family time is important, especially when you have little ones who won’t stay little forever. You have to make most of the time you have with them. If your kids are still at the age when you’re the greatest thing on earth and their absolute favorite person, lucky you. This is the perfect time to involve them in fun projects that bring out their creativity.

This D.I.Y. canvas light is a fun and easy project that you can do with your tiny tots. Using only affordable and kid-friendly materials, you can dress it up with pretty lights and put it up in their room. Here’s how:

Step 1: Gather your materials

Here are the items you will need to make your own DIY Canvas Light

• Canvas of your choice
• Fast-drying acrylic paint (or regular poster paint)
• Paint brush
• Masking tape
• LED string lights
• Craft knife

You’ll find most of these lying around your home. The rest you’ll be able to find at your local bookstore or hardware shop.

You’ll find many different shapes and sizes of canvas, so pick the ones that both you and your child like best. LED lights also come in many varieties, including battery-operated ones and those that you’ll need to plug into an electric outlet. You may want to get the battery-operated kind to make sure it’s safe for your child.

For your paint, make sure to get the water-based, non-toxic acrylic paint. Water-based paints will come right off those adorable little hands under running water. You can also use glitter to make pretty shimmer on your piece.

Step 2 – Paint your masterpiece

Once you’ve gathered everything you need, place old newspapers on your work area to make it easier for you to clean up afterwards.

Begin painting the background for your lights. Abstract backgrounds will be a nice highlight to the LED lights, while painting specific figures such as a family picture or your house will be an interesting piece of décor to add to your home.

Fast-drying acrylic will set in a few minutes, or you may also use regular poster paint. Both are non-toxic and safe for your little one.

Step 3 – Install your lights

Once the paint has dried, you can begin adding your LED bulbs to the canvas.

Turn your canvas over. Grab a pencil and begin laying out were your light bulbs will be placed. Ideally, space your markings as far apart as the bulbs are on their string. Once you’re satisfied with your layout, you may start poking holes into the pencil marks. Place the bulb through the hole and tape it in place using a masking tape. Repeat this process until all the bulbs are in place.

Once you are all done, you now have your very own masterpiece. You can choose to hang it up in your child’s room or in your living room.

Try it out today, take a picture, and let us know how you and your child like it.

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