How To Make A DIY Light Up Canvas Art

Share it with others!

Learn how to make a DIY light up canvas art for your kids, or as a gift for Christmas, or birthdays. It’s an easy craft project, and really fun to make.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Click here for my disclosure policy

light up canvas art marvel with text overlay

I had some fun making DIY light up canvas art for my kids, and I love how they turned out! What’s even better, is they loved them even more! I started with a simple white canvas that you can find at any craft store. Keep an eye out at thrift stores, or even the dollar store, as you can sometimes find them there for cheap.

white canvas on gray background

SUPPLIES needed FOR LIGHT UP CANVAS ART:

  • 1 canvas – I scored mine at Big Lots for $2.50
  • Acrylic Paint of your choice
  • Mod Podge
  • Paint brush
  • Image printed out – mine was printed on a laser printer so the ink wouldn’t run.
  • Ice Pick
  • 1 pack battery operated lights
  • Tape
INSTRUCTIONS FOR LIGHT UP CANVAS ART:

INSTRUCTIONS FOR LIGHT UP CANVAS ART:

  1. Paint the canvas with acrylic paint of your choice. My son’s favorite color is red and my daughter’s is blue so those are the colors I went with. Once done, let dry.
  2. For my daughter’s I wanted some clouds so I painted some white clouds on her canvas with acrylic paint and let dry.
  3. Print out your image. I’m sure you could used photo paper too, but I printed out the images I wanted on good old paper using a laser printer.
  4. Cut your image and space out how you would like it to look on your canvas.
  5. Mod Podge the back of the image(s) and stick to the canvas. You might have to hold them in place a bit to make sure they’ll stick as paper tends to curl. After they were staying in place I Mod Podged over the top of the images and onto the canvas. Again holding them down to make sure they sticked. Once that had settled I decided to Mod Podge lightly over the whole canvas and images again. Let this dry well.
I took out my battery-operated lights (mine came from Dollar Tree). I roughly planned out where I wanted my lights to be measuring them out on the front of the canvas. I used the ice pick to poke holes through the canvas where the lights would go.
  1. I took out my battery-operated lights (mine came from Dollar Tree). I roughly planned out where I wanted my lights to be measuring them out on the front of the canvas. I used the ice pick to poke holes through the canvas where the lights would go.
I turned the picture over and taped the base to the back of the frame inside the wood setting. You could hot glue it as well. I just wanted the flexibility to change my lights in and out if they die. I pushed the lights in the holes.
  1. I turned the picture over and taped the base to the back of the frame inside the wood setting. You could hot glue it as well. I just wanted the flexibility to change my lights in and out if they die. I pushed the lights in the holes.

*The only thing I would change is that I didn’t realize how long each LED light truly was. I ended up pushing them through a little more than I wanted to because the bulb was so long it pushed against the wall when I hung them not letting them hang flush. I might change them to regular lights… we’ll see.

Learn how to make a DIY light up canvas art for your kids, or as a gift for Christmas, or birthdays. It's an easy craft project, and really fun to make.

My son loves superheroes.

Learn how to make a DIY light up canvas art for your kids, or as a gift for Christmas, or birthdays. It's an easy craft project, and really fun to make.
Learn how to make a DIY light up canvas art for your kids, or as a gift for Christmas, or birthdays. It's an easy craft project, and really fun to make.

My daughter loves Night Fury – Toothless

Learn how to make a DIY light up canvas art for your kids, or as a gift for Christmas, or birthdays. It's an easy craft project, and really fun to make.
I had fun doing theirs so I made one for myself. I painted my picture and then just added the lights to it.

I had fun doing theirs so I made one for myself. I painted my picture and then just added the lights to it.

Learn how to make a DIY light up canvas art for your kids, or as a gift for Christmas, or birthdays. It's an easy craft project, and really fun to make.

PLEASE PIN FOR LATER:

Learn how to make a DIY light up canvas art for your kids, or as a gift for Christmas, or birthdays. It's an easy craft project, and really fun to make.

Find out “What Exactly Does It Mean To Repurpose Or Upcycle“, save money, and create the most amazing things.

How To Make A DIY Light Up Canvas Art

Learn how to make a really fun and easy DIY light up canvas art. You can use your favorite image, or your kids favorite. It really makes a statement when it's lit up.
Course Decor and Decorating
Keyword diy canvas art, diy light up canvas art, diy wall decor, light up canvas art
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Author Chas
Cost $5-10

Equipment

  • Ice Pick

Ingredients

  • 1 canvas
  • Acrylic Paint
  • Mod Podge
  • Paint brush
  • Image printed out
  • 1 pack battery operated lights
  • Tape

Instructions

  • Paint the canvas with acrylic paint of your choice.
  • Let dry.
  • Print out your image.
  • Mod podge the back of the image and stick it to the canvas.
  • Smooth it out and make sure it is secure.
  • Add additional mod podge to the top of the image as well.
  • Let dry.
  • Use the ice pick to poke holes in the canvas for the lights.
  • Push the lights through the holes.
  • Add tape to hold the lights in place.

Shop any of these stores and I receive a small commission at no cost to you.

Darice Cotton Stretched Can...Shop on Amazon Color Technik Acrylic Paint...Shop on Amazon Mod Podge Gloss Waterbase S...Shop on Amazon Krylon K03804A00 Glitter Bl...Shop on Amazon ROYAL BRUSH RFOMW-3P Foam B...Shop on Amazon Clever Creations 16 x 12 In...Shop on Amazon Clever Creations Moon Light...Shop on Amazon Infinity Necklace with Cros...Shop on Amazon

EASY & AWESOME DIY GIFTS ON A BUDGET TO MAKE AND SELL Ebook

Do you love to make gifts for friends and family members? Would you like to personalize your gifts too? This book is for you! Over 30 DIYs gifts on a budget plus extra tips, tricks, eco-friendly gift wrapping ideas, and more!

So what are you waiting for?!!! Get your copy today and start creating!

Check out some of my other canvas art projects!

Share it with others!

Similar Posts

42 Comments

  1. Love the joyful snowman under the sparkling starry sky. Super cute! Thanks for sharing the idea and tutorial.

    1. Thank you Lisa, and thanks for stopping by 🙂

  2. I am in love with your snowman. Such a cute idea. Perfect for the mantel. Now if only I can learn to paint some beautiful art.

    1. Thank you Marsha, you are so sweet. Thanks for stopping by.

  3. Love your twinkling snowman!

    1. Thank you Jess and I’d love to share – thanks for the invitation.

  4. I love this! Such a fantastic idea! It makes me want to make one… thank you for the instructions and for linking up at Party in Your PJ’s! Pinned to my Christmas board and shared.

    1. Thank you so much Teresa. Thank you for the Pin and sharing 🙂

  5. So cute! My grandboys would love these! Thanks for sharing the idea!

    1. Thank you so much and if you make some – please send me pictures. I’d love to see what you create 🙂

  6. Such a cute and fun idea. I love the snowman. I think I’ll do this as a craft with my boys this holiday season!

    1. Thank you and I love that you want to do this with your boys! Please send me pictures, I’d love to see what you make. 🙂

  7. I think every kid would enjoy having something like that in their room. Thanks so much for sharing at the #happynowlinkup!

    1. Thank you Leslie, and thanks for stopping by 🙂

    1. Thank you and I love that you want to do this with your girl scout troup! Please send me pictures when you all are done, I’d love to see what they make!

  8. I love your snowman! So cute. 🙂 #weekendbloghop

  9. Dorothy Boucher says:

    What a fun project this is, I love that painting with the snowman , it came out so good.
    @tisonlyme143

    1. Thank you so much Dorothy, and thanks for stopping by

    1. Thanks Donna and thank you for stopping by.

  10. This is such a fabulous idea! I can see brand new avenues for holiday gifting opening up because of your post 🙂 #HappyNowLinkUp

    1. Thank you Jen, I truly enjoyed making these for my kids and giving it to them for Christmas. They have been enjoying them ever since. 🙂

  11. What a lovely decoration, and even though I’m not very good at crafts or DIY, I think I could do this! The snowman is my favourite too. Thank you so much for sharing, and for being a part of The Hearth and Soul Link Party!

    1. Thank you April, and if you give it a try please send me pictures 🙂 Thank you for having a place for all of us to share ideas.

  12. These are lovely. The snowman is my favourite too.

    1. Thank you Julie. I’m making more this season 🙂

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating