Are you searching for a personalized, inexpensive, Christmas gift

that will thrill & impress pretty much anyone on your list?

Well, here it is!

I came up with a subway art idea, with a holiday twist.

It’s a gift idea that’s creative, customized, one-of-a-kind and

YES, you CAN do it yourself because it’s super-easy.

STEP 1

Purchase an artist’s canvas.

{I used a 16″ x 20″ on BOGO sale @ Michael’s Crafts for $6.00}

You will also need:

Self-adhesive alphabet letters and holiday shaped stickers…

3-4 packs of self-adhesive, yet removable, alpha letters, in different fonts (using 50% off coupons – apx. $10)

{I have a bunch of these because I pick them up at yard & tag sales,

but also ask friends & family because they usually have some lying around… to save $$}

Holiday shaped stickers (using 50% off coupon) – around $1.00

    

Can of spray paint ($1.00 – $4.00)

Iridescent glitter ($1.00-$2.00)

Paint Brush

STEP 2:

Using a pencil or something easy to remove or cover up,

draw a very faint tree shape (encompassing almost the entire canvas)

to guide the placement of your alphabet and holiday shape stickers

STEP 3

Beginning with the first letter of their last name,

create a line-by-line design, mixing holiday shapes & words as well as words, personalized to the recipient

{I used family & pet names, home address, etc.  Also consider home towns, hobbies, favorite vacation spots, etc.}

NOTE:  when adding holiday design stickers (i.e. Christmas Stockings), personalize those also (i.e. 5 kids – 5 stockings, etc.)

STEP 4

Make sure all of the stickers are secure, take the canvas outside (in a well-ventilated area)

and spray paint the entire canvas.  Allow to dry a minimum of 1 hour.

STEP 5

After the spray paint is completely dry, begin peeling off the stickers to reveal the holiday designs & words

STEP 6

Add small amounts of white paint to the inside of the letters & holiday shapes,

to clean them up & so the iridescent glitter will stick.

Also add any “color” details you wish… maybe paint one thing (like the gingerbread people brown, etc.)…  I striped the candy canes!

Add glitter as you go.

         

Gently pat the back of the canvas to remove excess glitter over a paper plate, newspaper or trash can.

STEP 7

Gift your family member, friend, neighbor, co-worker, etc. with their very own customized, one-of-a-kind holiday art

and be ready for a HUGE holiday hug!

It would look especially cute displayed next to a tree full of commemorative “family” ornaments.

ALSO CONSIDER… bell, ornament, snowman, etc. shapes!

And while you’re at it, why not make one for your own family?

After I made this, I found out a friend wanted to place a “Hot Cocoa” sign over the cocoa bar at her holiday party,

so I purchased an 8″ x 10″ canvas and adhered stickers as well as

a cup (I freehand-cut from cardboard) & used double-sided tape to (temporarily) adhere to the canvas

prior to spray painting it with red…

Once it was dry, I removed the stickers & my handmade cup shape,

added a little white paint & clear glitter to the interior of the shapes & letters for a little extra pop…

Check out how cute the sign looked in her kitchen…

ENJOY THE CREATIVITY!