CANVAS STRETCHING TOP Assemble the stretcher strips for the size of your finished canvas. Using a carpenter or dressmaker's square, make sure the assembled strips are "in square."   Staple each corner to secure the framework. Cut a piece of canvas 2" wider and longer than the finished size. Using your finger thumb and index finger as a guide, draw the canvas over the top of the stretcher bars, allowing about 1/4" to extend beyond the back edge of the strip. Visually check to see you have about 1" extension on each side. Hold the canvas in place on top of the stretcher bar and staple the canvas at center of the strip.   Use a tack hammer to be sure the staple is securely in place. Turn the canvas over so that the stapled edge is against the table. Grasp about 1/2" with the stretcher pliars and pull down against the stretcher bar until stretch marks appear vertically in the face of the canvas. Staple once to hold the canvas tightly in place. Turn the canvas 90 degrees and repeat the process for the unstapled ends. At the end you just stapled, grasp the left corner of the canvas at an angle and pull down and away. Staple the corner. Repeat the process on the right corner. Turn the canvas over and do the same at the other end. This step should ensure a smooth canvas face with no stretch marks. Turn the canvas 90 degrees to the point of beginning. Grasp the canvas about two inches at either side of center, pull down and staple.   Work outward at two inch intervals to the end of the stretcher bar. Returning to the center, work outward in the other direction until the whole edge has been stapled. Turn the canvas over until the stapled edge is down and repeat the process on the opposite edge.   Finish the ends in the same way. Fold each of the corners tightly and staple them to the stretcher bars. If longevity of the painting is a consideration, fold the remaining canvas over the back of the stretcher bars and staple in place. Otherwise, using a sharp knife, trim the edge of the canvas flush with the stretcher bars. Here are some helpful hints that I've picked up along the way. Small indentions in the canvas surface can be removed by using the heat of a hair dryer on the back side of the canvas.   Careful! Canvas is combustible! If there are small wrinkles in your stretched canvas, moistening the back with a fine mist and allowing it to dry may help.   Note: (This one is from a personal experience.) Don't try this with Linen canvas! TOP