I’m happy to say that our new Ready-to-Go!® Blank Canvas Books are getting a lot of buzz. On this week’s episode of Fiskars TV, Fiskateer Cheryl Waters is doing a fun little project featuring a canvas book she’s called “Birds of a Feather.” Check it out here (then click on “This Week’s Episode – Birds of a Feather”). While you watch the video you can download the Instruction Sheet, which includes additional photos of the process.
The way she uses spray inks and acrylic paints with stamps on the book, make for a super easy project. This could be done with kids, and I’m always looking for fun stuff to do with mine.
Canvas books accept all kinds of media quite easily. Because the canvas isn’t primed (coated with gesso or other type of base product), acrylic paints and inks will slightly absorb into the weave giving the pages a nice textural feel. I love how the pages can be sewn, and I’ve been sewing like crazy onto the soft memory book I’ve been making for my daughter Emma.
Emma's Canvas Book
It’s all about her fourth year, and I’ve had fun printing photos on fabric and stitching them into the “story.” There are so many projects I have in mind for canvas books that it’s hard to pick which one to start next. I have to say, that this is one of the nicest things about these books—you can get started right away. There’s no need to take the time or figure out how to sew up a book yourself.
This week we’ll be giving away a Ready-to-Go!® Blank Canvas Book and a selection of fun paints and other products that will work great on a canvas book to one lucky blog reader. All you have to do is leave a comment below that briefly describes your idea for a canvas book project. On Monday morning (March 9), we’ll pick one commenter at random and announce the winner shortly afterward. Good luck!
*Note: Comments will be closed on Monday, March 9, at 9am PST
24 Comments
i love cheryls book!
With a new grandbaby within the city limits (finally), I think a book made with pix of the parents at different stages to coincide with new baby’s stages would make a great gift for the new parents….it will be an on going project though :)
How fun. I’d probably make a nice book from our honeymoon in Hawaii last year or a book for my sister, who’s graduating from college this year, with a lot of her memories of college and being an all-american diver at school (swimming and diving, not scuba diving).
I am saving up for some of these – I think they would be FABULOUS for gifts.
One for Mom with more grandchildren photos transferred on those pages, one for DH (hubby) for his birthday with his hobbies showcased – fishing, & golfing. One for our daughter and also our son, Artist & Creativity quotes with inspiration photos transferred.
One for myself – I LOVE quotes!!!
I think I would start by using some of Lynn Koolish’s techniques for dyeing fabrics on the canvas cover. Then I would create some embellishments I learned from Judith Baker Montano’s book combined with a piece I made fromviewing Mary Stori’s DVD. These embellishments can be easily attached to the cover of my now beautiful, mixed media journal!
Cheers,
Dionne
I would use it to release my arty ideas. I always procrastinate and this book would be ideal to stop that!
I love to make a canvas book for my husband for our 25th anniversary in May. I love to use images from our 25 year together, our homes, our kids, our pets, etc. I can’t think of a better or more personal gift for the occasion.
What a perfect gift for my 97 year old mother! I would make the canvas book into a ‘favorites’ book with photo transfer, stamps, mementos fastened to them, sayings, a few coffee grounds or a piece of candy tucked into and around her favorite scriptures since she seemed to always devour her bible at the kitchen table along with a little coffee and sweets. Maybe a pocket to keep my latest letter in since we live hundreds of miles apart. And textures, lots of textures of her favorite fabrics since she sewed and crocheted and quilted. Now that her eyesight isn’t quite what it used to be she can touch and remember. Definitely a 1930s flower garden pattern must be involved — her favorite quilt and pattern. How exciting, I felt the creativity flowing as soon as I saw the book. And maybe a second for a dear friend and coworker. Oh, oh, and one for each of my sons who also live hundreds of miles from us. And maybe one just for me!
What a great idea! I can even get out my paint brushes and have a go at backgrounds — my specialty since drawing seems to be beyond my ability. What a great product!
Dawn
I would make a book for my husband of his tear drop trailer that he made. He did a great job and made it all himself including cabinetry with dove tail joints.
what a great idea! oh the possiblities! I have a 4 year old grand niece whom I have started to introduce quilting to. This would make a great journal for her to record her progress’. Will have to look for this new product! thanks! (mauh) Liz
I am graduating in a month, and my idea is to collect yearbook pictures and make it into s scrapbook! That scrapbook would be this canvass book! *psyched*
I love those little books, I think I’d make mine into a quilt journal, what else would a quilter do. It would make a wonderful gift for my fellow quilting friends. Thanks for sharing. Carline of Lady of the Cloth
I think fish, turtles, marine life would be cute!!! An aquarium of sort! Get some of those green fibers floating up to look like sea weed! Little fish that are dressed with some rayon threads to look shiny as if the light were shining on them! What a darling little book to write what kids say, in there own words, when they see fish, or big turtles. Capture the fun and excitement of innocence telling us what they think. Oh what a day at the beach or just sitting in front of that fish tank would tell us! Now that is what life is all about.
I would love to make a book about my new rescue dog Ted. He is a basset/husky mix. He is very funny looking and I can see him on the pages, printed onto all different kinds of mediums surrounded by all kinds of really fun colors!
That is a cool book and I have to say I would love to do a canvas book of all of our favorite spots on our beach trips that would just be so cool.
These books look so fun. I think it would be great to have a page for each child–put their picture and handprint on it along with some journaling from the children about them, favorite toys, favorite activities, memories from the year. It would be a fun keepsake.
These are fantastic, my daughter would love this
yzgirl4[at]verizon[dot]net
Oh! I saw Cheryl make that cool book on FiskarsTV! love how she used the glimmer sprays to color the canvas. They look fun!
I saw Cheryl on Fiskars tv too and she did a great job! I am doing an 8 week Scripture scrapbook and I think this would be perfect!
sandyh502001 at yahoo dot com
I am going to use this idea for the next few weeks – my story
jenny
I would use the book to develop my ideas for my mixed media products. Just found your blog – great site!!!
My idea would be a book about my new grandson or a book about my daughter who is going to be a new mom.
Thanks
Debbie
I would make a journal of the ideas and inspiration leading up to an art quilt. I could include ink drawings, fabric swatches and embellishments.
I just love Cheryl’s book it is awesome.She really made the peacoke come to life.Such beautiful colors.I have watched the episode on Fiskars T.V. about 10 times.Cherly is so very talented.I just can’t wait to try it.She set the bar high that’s for sure.Thanks Sandy:0)