How about up cycling some old sheets or other linen like material into very useful and cost effective art canvases! If you like to practice your painting a lot, but worry about the expense of store bought canvas, here's a fun and frugal alternative.

Step 1: Getting Started

To make the canvases gather up these materials:

Wood of your choice, I used pine I had on hand. To be cut for stretchers.
A Nail gun or finish nails or screws.
White glue.
Some cotton sheet or linen material.
Chipboard, available at art stores or online.

Step 2: Cut Wood to Size

Pine is ripped to 1 inch width on table saw.

Step 3: Join Stretchers

Simply butt wood together with fasteners of choice. Pieces are glued as well.

Step 4: Cut Chipboard

From large piece of chipboard, cut pieces to 11 x 14 inches.

Step 5: Assemble Pieces and Glue

Apply ample glue to stretchers to cover all wood. Then lay chipboard on this glue to assemble canvas.

Step 6: Cut Material to Size

I used scissors but a fabric cutter would be more efficient.

Step 7: Stretch and Glue Material to Chipboard

Glue is spread onto chipboard with a brush. It helps to slightly dilute glue with water but don't overdo it.

Step 8: Make Canvas Boards As Well

A simpler but effective canvas can be made by cutting chosen chipboard to size, covering with glue and attaching material to this surface. These are sold as canvas boards by art suppliers.