Mini canvases | How About Orange

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:

claire said...

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 :)

Pintoo said...

great idea. love them

Michelle said...

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

Euni said...

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

Rachel@oneprettything.com said...

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

bhumika said...

Small is indeed beautiful :)

Sew Create It - Jane said...

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

A Spoonful Of Sugar said...

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

Anonymous said...

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

Gauri Gharpure said...

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

Anonymous said...

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!

Grandma G said...

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

Mum

ames said...

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

Annie Scarlett said...

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

Obsessedwithlife said...

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

Rach

Darci said...

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.

HannahNSulley said...

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.

Anonymous said...

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!

Anonymous said...

so nice !!!

Mollie said...

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

Teresa said...

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!

jen said...

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

FancyPants-design said...

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

Fifi Flowers said...

Aren't those cute!

Kendra@My Insanity said...

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

joscelyne cutchens said...

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

Cafe Artiste said...

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!

Nevis said...

Cool beans!

Anonymous said...

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

Blogger said...

Neat, I have never seen those before!

Bella

Anonymous said...

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

Dande said...

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

Claire said...

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.

Bee said...

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

Anonymous said...

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

Unknown said...

thats sooooooooo cute!

dee said...

Completely adorable. Love 'em!

Anonymous said...

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!

Melissa said...

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

Anonymous said...

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 :)

Rowena said...

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.

Anonymous said...

Those are *so* cute! I covet them.

Jessica Jones said...

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

Anonymous said...

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

Nathalanes Place said...

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.

Betz White said...

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!

Kim said...

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

east4thstreet said...

what an incredibly fantastic idea!

Anonymous said...

I so need about 600 of these immediately.

hungry little bird said...

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."

Regina said...

So wonderful!

Jessica Jones said...

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

Anonymous said...

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

Mona said...

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

Anonymous said...

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

Anonymous said...

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

Anonymous said...

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

Lisa, F is for Fischer said...

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

Brie said...

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

Anonymous said...

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

Anonymous said...

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

Brittany | the Home Ground said...

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

Shelly G said...

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:)

Anonymous said...

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

Anonymous said...

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

Priyanka Dalal said...

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.