Project Design Team Wednesday ~ DIY Fabric Canvas with Applique

I have had this idea of covering an old canvas with fabric for a long time now and finally made the time to make it. This is a great way to perfectly coordinate the nursery decor and add a personal touch. I am going to show you how I made this canvas for a little boy, but really you can take the concept and do ANYTHING you want.

Supply List:
Old Canvas (or new if you want)
(9) 2.5 inch strips of fabric (I used an ON THE GO Rolie Polie from Riley Blake)
Clear thread
Bright Blue fat quarter
White fat quarter
Bright Yellow fat quarter
Cricut Expression 2 digital cutter
Other sewing essentials
Upholstery Staple and staples

Sew the Canvas Cover:

Lay the fabric out in the order you like best. {I swear this is the longest process for me.}

Thread your sewing machine with clear thread and a white bobbin. Sew the strips together by overlapping them about 1/4 inch on top of each other. I sewed all 9 pieces together and ironed it.
Applique with Cricut Expression 2:

I cut CALEB & all three pieces of the truck using my Cricut Expression 2 with the Cricut Craft Room program. I used wonder under to stiffen the fabric, set the blade to 4, pressure and speed to max.

Once my pieces were all cut, I took off the wonder under backing on the yellow, white and CALEB.

Then I ironed them all together. I left the wonder under on the very back blue piece because I wanted to add some stitching to the truck before I ironed it on.

I did a blue straight stitch all around the truck, the windows, and the tires. {NOTE: sewing around the circles of the tires was NOT fun, don’t judge.}

I took the wonder under off the back blue piece and ironed it right in the middle of my sewn strips. Then I did a yellow zigzag stitch around the whole thing. {NOTE: Zigzag stitching the circles is also NOT fun. UGH!}
Covering the Canvas: