August 04, 2008

Mini canvases

Impulse purchase from the checkout counter at Blick: a pack of teensy little 2" x 2" canvases. Why is everything that's miniaturized so irresistible? Anyhow, I made them into magnets.

See? Aren't they cute?

After painting, I covered the back with self-adhesive paper and glued on magnets. These things weigh practically nothing, so they'd be easy to mail to someone. Or keep them and turn your fridge into a Smurf-sized art gallery. Dick Blick even sells tiny easels for them.

66 comments:

  1. i almost bought some at our local craft store, too! they really are just too adorable! i love what you did with them, great idea :)

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  2. love the magnet idea! making things into magnets is just wonderful.

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  3. these are precious. i love them and will have to get some the next time i make an order from DB.

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  4. Oh my gosh I *LOVE* these! I'm totally linking them into the Daily DIY!

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  5. Clever idea! I love the stuff you come up with.

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  6. Brilliant idea !!! This is one project that I have to try.

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  7. So cute. I know Christmas is ages away but how cute would they be as little tree decorations?

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  8. a friend recently introduced me to your site.. I really love the creative stuff you put in here...

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  9. i used those exact things for yearly art awards when i taught middle and high school art. i bought those canvases and painted the award on them. i i did make little easels because the blick ones were too expensive for my meager budget. i bought square dowels and hot glued a little tri-pod easel together. the kids loved it! oh, and the year before i bought some of those wooden spools and beads and stacked them up and made little trophy bases and then stuck cheapy paint brushes in the spool holes and painted them gold, silver, and bronze. those were fun too!

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  10. Very cute! Too bad little magnets like those would be irresistible and would end up with teeth marks on 'em around here. ;-)

    Mum

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  11. uhm, hello adorable yule tree decoration ideas! so cute. love your little paintings on them.

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  12. Love that idea! I've been wanting to get magnets that are all in a similar style for my fridge. Thanks for sharing.

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  13. That's a fabulous idea! I used to work at Blick and have a whole stack of those little canvases-they ARE irresistible!

    Rach

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  14. How cute would these be with the alphabet on them...or making them into push pins...you can glue tacks along the bottom and but taglines on the canvas. Damn and I have a ban on new projects until after Ravelympics.

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  15. We sold similar canvases and easels at a local store i work at, and almost everyone who saw them at the counter would ask "what the heck do people do with these?!" First of all, i don't know why such unimaginative people were shopping in an art store, and second i wish i could have directed them to your post! We used to suggest people use them as place-settings, or make table numbers out of them for a reception.

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  16. The first time I saw these in the store I was enamored, but somehow talked myself out of them. I kept thinking about them and went back and bought three, still not knowing what to do with them. Months later I made these:
    http://katieann.deviantart.com/art/Snailios-50383104
    But I *love* the magnet idea!! Mine are currently stacked on a bookshelf because they kept falling over when I tried to prop them up. Awesome idea!

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  17. I was drooling over those at Blick too! Now I'm sorry I didn't buy them...

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  18. Very creative idea. My daughter would love to help make these...and she woul have a blast knowing that she helped make a present for someone! Thanks for the good idea!

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  19. those are great! i think i'll make some today.

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  20. Oh I love these!! You are right..everything that is miniturized is really irresistible..don't know what it is...?

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  21. Those are fantastic! They would make great gifts! You could do monograms on them, or I like the Christmas ornament idea someone else mentioned!

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  22. I saw those in the catalog! Love love love them! Your take is super cute! :)

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  23. I'm imagining these in bold primary colors for a child's room, spelling out his/her name...

    Thanks for getting the creative juices flowing. I love these miniature canvases!

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  24. Tiny easels! That's too funny! Those are really cute and I love what you did with them.

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  25. Neat, I have never seen those before!

    Bella

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  26. So cute! And a great idea for holiday presents, too!

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  27. Oh now these are cute! And a great excuse for 'quickie' paintings. I'm going to have to start looking around for those.

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  28. I see these all the time at the Utrecht (DC doesn't have a brick-and-mortar Dick Blick, more's the pity), but I've resisted them...until now. I think I'll pick some up next time I'm there, because I love the magnet idea (and the Christmas tree ornament idea). Plus I have a weakness for all things miniature.

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  29. Oh my they are so way cute! I have never seen such small canvases. What a great gift idea:)

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  30. Very nice! I thought they were prettily wrapped chocolates at first.

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  31. Completely adorable. Love 'em!

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  32. I came here by way of One Pretty Thing, and I just love your blog! I've added you to my feeddemon, and watch out...because I'm a daily commentor! Thanks for posting a great tutorial. I really love it, and plan to use it with my kiddos!

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  33. those are amazing. great find! i would get out the craft box for those.

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  34. precious. i would buy these things in bulk...if only i had a genius idea about what to do with them. i like yours mighty well :)

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  35. I love everything miniature, too. People keep telling me to paint bigger, but I love the intimacy of tiny.

    Someone above suggested these would be good for place cards. I just thought they would be good for place card/favors at a wedding. Tiny little paintings for the guests to take home. I like the DIY aspect.

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  36. Those are *so* cute! I covet them.

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  37. Thanks, guys. I love the alphabet idea some of you suggested. Hmm... do I need to go get some more???

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  38. What a great idea. I think those would dress up my fridge nicely.

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  39. Too grand It is so true The tiny things are the cutest. It's true with puppies, kittens and babies. Everythings tiny has something about it that makes it adorable. And your designs makes them look artistic and that you are.. By the way I'm having a GIVEAWAY gor my 1st year blogoversary, why don't you come by with some friends. Thanks Have anice day.

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  40. cute! Too funny, I just picked up some mini canvases at Michaels yesterday for $1 each! They had goofy blk and wht line art for kids to paint but I plan on covering that up!

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  41. Love these!!
    I hope I can find these little guys in California somewhere!!

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  42. what an incredibly fantastic idea!

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  43. I so need about 600 of these immediately.

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  44. I'm a big fan of these little canvases. I like you're magnet idea, you're paintings are so cute. This just confirms our saying "anything small is cute."

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  45. I know Jennie--Matt would be laughing at us!

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  46. awww those are soo cute :) *sigh* i wishhh i could get a few..
    and your idea of a mini-magnet art gallery is soo cool :D

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  47. I've seen these..now I want to get some to play with

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  48. I love these! I will definitely be looking for these the next time I visit the craft store!

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  49. those are stinkin cute. Hhmm, may have to make ornaments for Christmas....

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  50. This is the best idea I've seen all day! How awesome, and what a great little gift.

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  51. These would be perfect for a two-year-old to make gifts for his grandmas! thanks for another inspiring idea!

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  52. These are so adorable... Hehe you had to make one of them orange of course. :)

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  53. I love them - great idea! Thanks for sharing! :)

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  54. I love your magnets! What a great idea. I'm all over Dick Blick so I can play with them too...thanks for sharing!

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  55. I have an impulse button in my brain and small things are one of the things that push it. I have three 4" canvases waiting to be made into something. Thanks for inspiring me!

    Brittany

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  56. I have picked these up in my craft store... and put them back down a few times. I just couldn't figure out what I might do with them... Great idea:)

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  57. These are too cool. I love minis too.
    Thanks for sharing.

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  58. These are too cool. I love minis too.
    Thanks for sharing.

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  59. I have been thinking of getting some minis from a long time but I dont get them locally here, so plan to make some soon. Will have to buy a canvas roll!
    Great idea bout the magnets.

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