One of the smartest way to paint a canvas bag so that it looks polished and finished is to use a stencil. Flip through your favorite magazines to find a motif that catches your fancy. Or you can draw your own stencil with any motif of your choice. Once you have selected the design for the stencil (or drawn it), transfer the design into stiff card paper. Now cut out the design of the stencil with a pair of sharp scissors and place it over the front side of the canvas bag. Slide a piece of wax paper on the inside of the bag to protect it. Pour some fabric paint or acrylic paint in a small saucer and dab a small sponge into the paint. Holding the stencil firmly on the bag, dab the sponge over the stencil carefully. Make sure that you don't go over the outline of the stencil or shift the stencil while you are sponge painting it. Allow the paint to dry, then lift the stencil off the bag. Voila! Your hand painted canvas bag is ready.
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