- 1). Purchase wooden stretcher bars from an art supply store. You need two pairs of the same length. Connect them at their corners to make a square or rectangular frame. Reinforce the corners by inserting three staples on the back of each corner perpendicularly over the seam.
- 2). Lay your canvas on the floor and place the wooden frame on top of it, face down. Cut the canvas leaving a 3-inch margin all the way around. It's similar to wrapping a gift --- you'll need extra canvas to wrap and fasten on the back of the frame. Make your cuts as straight as possible so the edges are parallel to the edges of the frame. Set aside the extra canvas.
- 3). Beginning with one of the long sides, take the edge of the canvas and wrap around to the back of the frame. Staple it to the back of the frame. Place the staple in the mid-point of the frame. If you insert the staple too close to the edge of the wood, it might split. Rotate the frame or move to the opposite side and pull the canvas taut. Place a staple in the frame opposite the first staple.
- 4). Now move to one of the short sides. Repeat the process: Wrap the edge of the canvas over the back of the frame, pulling it taut and put a staple in the back of the frame. Move to the opposite short side and repeat the process.
- 5). Your canvas should now be pulling toward the center of each wooden stretcher bar. Return to the first staple. Pull the canvas toward one corner and place a staple 2 inches to one side of the center staple. Place another staple 2 inches to the other side of the first staple. Rotate to the opposite sides around the canvas like you did when you inserted the first four staples, pulling and stapling as you go.
- 6). You will eventually have a frame with sides that are stapled but corners are sticking out like wings. Fold the corners in 45-degree angles pulling tightly to the back of the frame and staple. There should be as little bump as possible on the corners.
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