Welcome back to the craft room and today’s How to Make an Exploding Busted Canvas post. If you have been on YouTube lately, you have most likely seen at least one video on this current trend. I know I have, and it intrigued me enough to give it a try. As you will see, things didn’t go as planned a few times. However, I kept going, adjusting my plan and came out with a beautiful, finished project. Let me show you what I made, and how I made it.
The Inside of the Canvas
This project begins with a stretch canvas. It can be any size you like. I decided to start small with an 8″ x 10″ canvas that I purchased from my local Walmart. For a little over $3.00 I picked up a 2-pack. My intention was to also purchase the canvas board for the back, but unfortunately, they were sold out of that size.
I began my project by working on the inside of the canvas. The idea for my project needs two pieces of cardstock. The first going on the inside of the stretched canvas. I began by cutting that piece of paper down to 6″ x 8″. Then I added a generous coat of Matte Mod Podge to the canvas. I then placed my paper down, with the pattern facing up. After smoothing it down with my fingers, I added more Mod Podge to the paper to coat the top. Almost immediately I saw a wrinkle form on the paper. As I continued to spread the Mod Podge, the wrinkle became so much worse as you can see below.
I was not happy with that, and knew it would not work for this project, so I scrapped this canvas. Thankfully with a 2-pack I was ready to try it again. I have seen in several videos where they applied the Mod Podge to the canvas and let it dry completely. They will then add and iron the scrapbook paper or napkin and just like magic, it is adhered to the canvas. So, that was take two of the process! I applied a rather heavy, but even coat of Mod Podge and let it dry completely. I then came back in with another piece of 6″ x 8″ scrapbook paper and applied heat with my Mini Cricut EasyPress set on medium. It seemed to work, so I moved on with the process.
The Outside of the Canvas
From the moment I decided to create a Halloween inspired canvas, I knew what the plan was for the front. It began with a layer of black Apple Barrel acrylic craft paint. After the top and sides of the canvas were dry, the real fun began. It started with a heavily crumpled piece of tissue paper. Laying down a layer of Mod Podge, I placed the tissue paper over the top. I wanted to keep as many of the wrinkles as possible, so I moved across the canvas in sections. I also placed the tissue paper down the sides of the canvas before adding a layer of Mod Podge overtop.
After the Mod Podge was dry, I added another layer of black paint. I then let the canvas sit overnight to fully dry and cure. To add depth, texture, to the front of my project, I used the Antique Bronze Distress Crayon from Tim Holtz. I lightly ran the crayon over the surface of the canvas before buffing it out with my finger. Not only did this pick up the wrinkles from the tissue paper, but also some of the texture of the canvas. To edge the canvas, I used a heavier layer of color just on the edge. This was the first time using the Distress Crayons, so I set the canvas aside to dry for an hour or more.
Cutting the Canvas
The most nerve wracking part of this project, and the part I was not looking forward to is cutting the canvas apart. Depending on the look you are after, there are several different ways you can cut your canvas. I chose to do a crosscut as well as corner point cuts to give me a truly exploded look. I placed a piece of parchment paper down on my cutting mat and after a slight hesitation, made my fist cut.
Depending on the crafter you watch, I have seen a few different cutting tools. Some will poke a hole in the canvas and cut it with a pair of scissors. Other crafters will use a combination of a blade and scissors. For me, the most precise cutting utensil is a finger blade. I have the most control and can easily regulate the pressure. I also went back in with my pair of Cutter Bee Scissors when I needed to deepen a cut.
After the cuts were complete, I turned the canvas over to start manipulating the individual points. While doing so, I heard some strange noises. Sadly, I found that the scrapbook paper on the back of the canvas had begun to pull up. My initial response, glue it back down, so that’s what I did. After a while though, walking away was the best option. When I came back to the project, I just ripped the paper off. While digging through my small collection of craft paints, my son helped choose a combination of Liquitex Basics Gold and Cadmium Yellow Deep Hue. In the second image below, you can see where some of the scrapbook paper stuck to the canvas. This created another interesting texture to the finished piece.
Adding Fairy Lights
To add a little bit more interest to my Exploding Busted Canvas creation I wanted to include fairy lights. I purchased a battery powered, 9.8 foot strand from Michael’s and glued them the frame of my canvas. I used my Gorilla Glue Dual Temperature hot glue gun for this part of the project. This 9.8 foot strand went around the inside of the frame 4 complete times.
The Canvas Back Board
Before completing the front of the canvas, it was time to move on the back board. As I mentioned earlier, I was unable to purchase a canvas board to fit this frame. Instead, I used a piece of We-R-Memory Keepers Designer Book Board. I cut it down a little smaller than 8″ x 10″ with my Tim Holtz and Tonic Studios Rotary Paper Trimmer. Then, because it would be seen, I went around the edge with a black Sharpie Marker so it would blend into the canvas. To add the decorative scrapbook paper, I applied some 1″ Scor-tape.
To adhere the back board to the canvas, I added a liberal amount of hot glue to the back of the stretch canvas. The back board was then centered and secured into place. If I were to make another Exploding Busted Canvas to gift or sell, I would also staple the back to the frame for a more secure fit.
Opening the Canvas
Once the back is in place, it is time to start busting our canvas front open. With my dual temperature glue gun set on high, I began securing the individual points to the canvas front. There are many ways you can secure the canvas points to the frame. I wanted to show the individual points of the cuts, but you could instead, roll them under, the choice is yours. Because I knew this frame would be sitting on my desk, I did not want the points hanging over the edge at the bottom. I added a small amount of hot glue to the back of each point and held them in place to dry. Be careful, as this is very hot.
The focal image of my canvas is a witch flying across the moon. I cut both the moon and witch on my Cricut Explore Air 2. The witch SVG is partly my design, and partly someone else’s. In 2023 I designed the broom as part of a Halloween t-shirt design. You can see that post here: Halloween T-shirts With HTVRont Auto Press. The witch design can be download from Creative Fabrica here: Witch SVG, Witch Bundle SVG. To add a little bit of texture to the moon, I used Lost Shadow Distress Paint. With a piece of paper towel, I then lightly dabbed clouds across the moon. The witch is popped up on the moon with black Thin 3D Foam Squares.
The Finished Exploding Busted Canvas
For this project I decided to wait to add my focal image until after the canvas was finished. This way I would be able to place it exactly where I wanted my witch and moon to be. After securing her to the canvas with Thin 3D Foam Squares, my first Exploding Busted Canvas was FINALLY complete!
Thank you so much for joining me for today’s How to Make an Exploding Busted Canvas post. With so many roadblocks along the way, I truly did not think it would ever get finished. However, I am so glad that I pushed through and found a way to make it happen. As odd as it sounds now, I’m glad the scrapbook paper did not work for the inside of the canvas. This gold/yellow color really is so much prettier, and with the fairy lights on, it just shines! Let me know in the comments if you will be jumping on this trend. Personally, I already have plans for a fall canvas as well as a Christmas canvas! Until then, have a wonderful week and I will see you back in the craft room again soon!
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Rally great project! And tutorial. 😁🧡
Thank you so much for the visit and the compliment!!