DIY Africa on canvas

This DIY project is a great way to beautify a room in your home. It can serve as a focal piece or conversation started for your home.

Expertise needed: Beginner. Anyone who can handle a pen knife and brush can do this. Total Approximate time: Approximately 1-hour total but it has to be done over the course of 2 days.

Materials needed: Canvas (determine the size you need first because the art you print will depend on the size of the canvas), Paint for the canvas, gold leaf paint (I got this one from Amazon.com).

Step 1: Find an outline of Africa. You can get this from Microsoft Word as a clip art.

Step 2: Enlarge it with your printer/copier to the size you want OR just print it out on an 11 by 14 sheet of paper (depending on teh size you are going for.

Step 3: Cut it out using a pen knife or scissors.

Step 4: Read the instructions on the fold leave package to make sure you know what is needed.

Step 5: Tape the cut out paper to the canvas in the position where you want it. Then paint around the canvas first. I used regular paper so to preserve the integrity of the lines, I wanted to get this part done first so I wouldn't risk the paint sipping into the canvas.

Step 6: Paint the entire canvas. Let dry for at least 24-hours before removing the paper.

Step 7: Carefully, apply the gold leaf paint. Let dry for at least 24-hours.

Step 9: Your painting is ready to be hung up.

Step 9: Enjoy! Total spent on materials: Canvas cost $7 (it was on sale at Michaels and I had a 50% off coupon). Black paint I already had at home from painting our morning room chairs. Gold leaf paint was $9.13 on Amazon.com. Brush I already had at home. Total cost was about $17. That's why I love DIY items. Even if I had to purchase the black paint and the brush, it wouldn't cost more than $25. Just as an FYI, it is listed for $75 and $105 on Etsy. Feedback: Working with the gold leaf foil was a little more challenging than expected. I ended up re-applying the adhesive because some of it didn't stick. You have to work fast because after 20-40 minutes, the adhesive gets "tacky". I plan on doing more painting around the house at some point. Will definitely keep this process handy for future wall art.

I hope you enjoyed this simple DIY project. Please take a moment to "like us" on Instagram and Facebook so I can continue to bring you beautiful content like this. And while you're at it, visit our store AyoBE Boutique for beautiful and unique African Print items for you and your loved ones. Visit AyoBE Boutique to view/purchase additional African themed/African Nursery art by me.