How to Attach a Rolled Canvas With Sticky Board

An advesive board stabilizes flimsy canvas for certain uses without messy glues.

Adhesive mounting boards, sometimes called sticky boards, are quick and affordable ways to achieve a sturdy backing to canvas. Canvas for artwork is generally sold in rolls and adhesive poster boards are readily available at craft and paper stores. The boards make craft or informative posters ready to hang or frame. These boards allow for purchased artwork, prints or photos on rolled canvas to be ready for hanging or for mounting art canvas to a sturdy surface for personal craft use.

Things You'll Need

• Utility knife
• T-square or long ruler

Instructions

1. Place the sticky board on a stable cutting surface without exposing the adhesive surface.

2. Measure the desired size and cut the sticky board with a utility knife. Stabilize the knife by guiding it with a metal ruler.

3. Unroll the canvas on a flat cutting surface. Tape the corners of the canvas to the surface for stability. Measure the desired size and cut with a utility knife or scissors.

4. Place the sticky board on a flat sturdy desk or table. Remove the protective cover from the sticky board to expose the adhesive surface.

5. Fold the canvas in half for easier handling. Line up one edge of the canvas to the top of the sticky board and carefully unfold the canvas over the rest of the board. Starting in the center, smooth out the canvas by gently drawing the ruler or a similar object over its top.

Tips & Warnings

• "Sticky Board" is a registered trademark for a bulletin board product sold by the 3M company.

• Any art or craft adhesive mounting board will work. Archival qualities are stated by the manufacturer.

• If priming the canvas for painting, do so before mounting or else purchase pre-primed canvas. Prime the canvas by painting on gesso to prevent oil or acrylic paint from degrading the canvas and the sticky board.

• Use caution with utility knives and do not allow children to use them.

• Use acid free/archival sticky board for fine artwork, valuable photographs, antiques or anything desired to have longevity as non-archival sticky boards will degrade and destroy artwork.

References

• "Frame it Yourself"; Creative Publishing International; 1999
• "Home Book of Picture Framing"; Kenn Oberrecht; 1998
• "Picture Perfect Framing"; Katie DuMont; 2002