How to Decoupage a Poster to a Canvas

Lay down newspapers to protect your work area.

Prepare the decoupage mixture as well as the sponge brushes. Get out bowls for the decoupage glue (modge podge) and gesso as well as several sponge brushes. You'll also need paper towels to wipe your hands.

Treat the canvas with gesso. You do this by pouring a bit of the gesso into a dish and dipping a sponge brush into the mixture. Add two coats to the canvas. This step is only necessary if you're starting with an untreated canvas. If you've purchased a ready-to-use canvas from the arts and crafts store, then it will come with a coat of gesso already on it.

Allow the gesso to dry. Follow the instructions that came with the gesso bottle.

Prepare the decoupage by mixing modge podge with water. Follow the instructions on the bottle for the measurements.

Cut out any decorative elements you'd like to see on your craft project and glue them onto the canvas. Although the poster will be your main piece of art on this, you can add a decorative border by pasting newspaper, wallpaper, pretty stationery or other types of decorative papers to the edges of the canvas. For this to work, make sure that you purchase a canvas that's slightly larger than the poster. This leaves room for the decorative border. For this to look clean, make sure you glue down the paper for the border first.

Let the decoupage border dry.

Treat the canvas with a thick layer of the modge podge and water mixture.

Position the poster so that it's centered on the canvas. You may need an extra pair of hands for this. If so, have your partner hold one side while you hold the other. This will ensure that the poster will remain intact while you get it into position.

Smooth down any wrinkles that might have formed under the poster.

Allow the modge podge mixture to dry.

Coat the poster with two coats of the modge podge mixture, allowing each coat of the decoupage glue to dry before you put down another coat.

Spray a coat of shellac on the canvas to treat it.