Backlit Canvas Art

Can you believe this backlit canvas art is made with just plain cardstock and an X-acto knife?

Do you have a project that you’ve been longing to do, but just haven’t found the time yet?

I really seem to rack those up!

This project is one for me.

I call it my Backlit Canvas Art and the inspiration piece has been pinned in my “Crafts to try” Pinterest board for ages.

My “pin”speration is an artist’s piece made from metal that has hand cut flowers all over it.

It’s backlit by Christmas lights, and I pretty much love it!

So I decided to give it a go and create my version.

There are two main differences between the two: 

1. The scale. Mine is way smaller!

2. The media. The artist used metal while I used cardstock!

I’ve put together a video tutorial that quickly shows all the steps to make this piece of artwork.

But you can follow the step-by-step photos below as well.

Backlit Canvas Art: Day & Night

The idea of the canvas is that during the day (ie. with the Christmas light off) you have a beautiful sculpture while at night (you guessed it, with the Christmas lights on!) you have a fun and unique piece of art.

How about a tutorial?

Backlit Canvas Art Supplies:

Mounted canvas (mine is 10″x10″

cardstock to fit on your canvas (mine is 12″x12″)

stamps

ink pad

X-acto knife

light source*

*I wasn’t sure if I wanted to use a single bulb or Christmas lights so that is why both are in the above picture.

Ultimately I was worried that the single bulb could get too hot if left on too long so I went with the Christmas lights.

I decided to go with the same flower theme as my inspiration piece.

I randomly stamped various flowers across my cardstock.

I went with gray ink on the brown Kraft paper because I wanted it to be subtle during the daylight hours.

The main thing you want to take care of is not completely cut the flower off of the paper.

Take your time. Look at each flower individually and see what flows.

I cut some of my flowers very literally as they looked stamped.

For others I made different patterns with the petals.

For the butterfly I decided to completely cut out the thin swirls on his wings to let the light shine through.

After you’re done cutting (or while you’re cutting if you’re impatient like me!), from the back of your paper, gently push the paper out so that it “pops” from the front. Be gentle.

Time for the lights!

I took a scrap piece of cardboard and trimmed it down to fit the back of my canvas.

I also snagged a couple of spare Command strips I keep around for just such an occasion.

I cut the Command strips in half lengthwise to

1) make them go further, and