Hot Mess Canvas (& How to Get the Best Results!)

Get the hot mess canvas designs (Design #117) at https://jennifermaker.com/hot-mess-ca...

Learn how to make this trendy home decor painting project - a hot mess canvas! It's so easy to personalize and makes a wonderful gift.

MATERIALS LIST (contains my affiliate links):
Canvas https://amzn.to/2RzdRgf
Acrylic paint https://amzn.to/2UcVlfD
Stencil brush (or foam brush in a pinch) https://amzn.to/2rnZ3Wq
Oracal 651 https://amzn.to/2Uk07aU or Oramask https://amzn.to/2QCKa0H
Transfer tape
A way to cut and score your vinyl (I used the amazing Cricut)
My free SVG/DXF/PDF cut files/patterns (Design #117) (available in my free resource library at https://jennifermaker.com/resource-li... )

UPDATES/CHANGES: Check for any updates, changes, or additional videos for this project at https://jennifermaker.com/updates

Today we’re making a hot mess canvas! If you haven’t heard of these, hot mess canvases have been taking the Internet by storm the past year or so. Basically, it’s a reverse stencil where the base layer is a crazy mishmash of colors. Hence, a “hot mess.”

One of the biggest issues I see with hot mess canvases is paint quality. So I tested two different paints. I also tested a foam brush vs. a stencil brush to see which one worked better!

HOW TO MAKE A HOT MESS CANVAS WITH A CRICUT

First, paint your canvas using acrylic paints. It doesn’t matter what colors you use, but do try to keep the paint flat on the surface — that will help your vinyl stick better.

Allow your canvas to completely dry. I waited 12 hours for both of mine.

Next, pick out a design. You can find one in Cricut Design Space or just download my hot mess design stencils from my free resource library. If you’re going to cut the stencil out on your cutting machine, upload the file to your design software. If you’re not sure how to upload an SVG cut file to Cricut Design Space, watch this helpful video training series I made. If you’re on an iPhone or iPad, here’s how to download and upload SVG files to the Cricut Design Space app.

Measure your canvas and resize the design in Cricut Design Space as necessary, then cut it out in vinyl (I recommend Oracal 651 or Oramask).

Weed your vinyl so only the design remains for your hot mess canvas.

Transfer the vinyl design to a sheet of transfer tape.

Place the transfer tape and the vinyl onto your dry, painted canvas (sticky side down) and burnish well. I used both a burnisher and a scraper. If your canvas is in a frame, turn it over so the canvas is against a surface and burnish from the back. It may be difficult to get your vinyl to stick to the canvas — just be patient and work slowly.

Remove the transfer tape so only the vinyl remains on your hot mess canvas.

Using just a little paint, gently dab around the edges of your vinyl design. It’s important you not use too much paint or its more likely to seep under your design.

Cover the rest of the painted surface with your paint. Always brush away from the vinyl.

Allow your canvas to dry at least 4 hours.

Gently remove the vinyl using a weeding tool. Underneath is the pretty “hot mess” you created with your paints at the start of this project!

I think they’re really called Hot Mess Canvases because you kinda feel like a hot mess while you’re making them. I’m not even kidding. The base painting was fun, if a little weird. But the weeding and sticking the vinyl to the canvas… that was a challenge. And it sure seems like both the type of paint you use and the brush makes a difference. You’re going to need a little patience.

Still, my hot mess canvases came out fine I think! The Christmas tree one is my favorite. And what I love about them is no vinyl left on them — it’s just canvas and paint. Now that they’re done, one will go in our entry way for the holidays and the other is going up in my craft room! And I think these would make great gifts, too.

NOTE: Cricut Design Space updated shortly after I made this video. To see those updates and make the necessary changes for this tutorial, please watch    • Cricut Design Space Updates & Changes...  

#cricut #cricutmade #designspace

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Credits:
Introduction: PixelBytes (my child!)
Music: Cute by Bensound (licensed, royalty and copyright free)
Videography: Jennifer Marx on a Panasonic Lumix FZ-1000 DSLR 4K camera
Design: A Jennifer Maker original!