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How to Cover Up the Staples on Unfinished Canvas

Staples showing on the edge of an unfinished canvas are unsightly, interfering with the visual presentation of your piece of art. When stretching your own canvas on artist stretcher bars, you can staple the fabric to the back of the frame to hide the staples from sight. However, if you are working with a canvas with staples down the side edges, there are ways to cover unsightly staples. Conceal the staples so they are not visible, or add a decorative, textural element that coordinates with your multi-media piece of art or decorative painting while concealing the staples.

Things You'll Need

  • Tape measure
  • Grosgrain ribbon
  • Decoupage glue
  • 2 foam paintbrushes
  • Piece of cardboard
  • Gesso
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Instructions

    • 1

      Measure the length around the four edges of the frame and the thickness of the frame in inches using a tape measure, and purchase this measurement of grosgrain ribbon, a thick sewing ribbon with a striped texture. Purchase a color to match your gesso color.

    • 2

      Apply decoupage glue to one shorter edge of the frame using a foam paintbrush. Place the grosgrain ribbon over the glue and swipe a piece of cardboard over the ribbon to press out air bubbles and ensure strong adhesion. Continue to apply decoupage glue around the other edges of the frame, and stretch the ribbon around each edge. Once you have covered the whole frame, cut the ribbon to meet with the first edge of ribbon. Allow drying for one hour.

    • 3

      Paint another layer of decoupage glue around the entire edge of the frame. This will set and seal the ribbon flush with the frame. Allow drying for one hour.

    • 4

      Paint the entire front and the edges of the canvas using the gesso with a foam paintbrush. Apply as many coats as desired, allowing drying for one hour in between.

Fine Art

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