–What You’ll Need–

-Bare picture frame (no glass or mat)

-Aluminum foil

-Tacky glue

-Black acrylic paint

-Sponge brush

-Cup of water

-Dish or plastic plate for paint

Directions:

1. Find an open space you can use to lay out some newspaper, or cloth or something to work on.

2. Unroll about 2 or 2 1/2 feet of foil and tear it off with your hands, don’t use the serated edge on the box because you want to have uneven edges since they blend better.

3. Crumple up the foil into a loose ball. Don’t make it really tight.

4.  Uncrumple the foil ball, so you have a wrinkled looking sheet of foil.

5.  On the matte side of the foil, spread tacky glue.  Use the sponge brush to spread the glue all over the sheet.

6.  Drape it over the frame and press, making sure you’re pressing in any ridges from the frame and so the foil is as tightly pressed down as you can get it.  Do this over the entire frame.

7.  Here’s what your frame should be looking like… and if you need to, patch any necessary areas around the frame after you have the whole thing covered.

8.  Water down some black acrylic paint, and use the sponge brush to paint over the entire frame.

9.  If you painted it on a little too thick, you can use a rag to soak up any extra paint.

10.  Let dry, and you’re ready to frame your favorite photo!!

:) As always, let me know if you try it and show me how it turned out!

Cal

Wall Art DIY | How to turn an old window into a new picture frame.

Project Time: 30 minutes

Project Level: Easy.

Project Supplies: Old window, photographs (print according to your window size), tape/photo corners, paint, paintbrush, drop cloth.

Project steps:

1.) Clean your window, frame + glass, front + back.

2.) ‘Dry’ brush paint color of your choice on to the wood portion of the frame.  To dry brush means to have very little paint on your brush, if needed you may dip the tip of your brush into the paint can and dab onto a paper plate and then brush quickly and softly onto your window.

I suggest not being a perfectionist for this, and just going full force and getting it done at a quick speed, this allows for imperfections which creates a better vintage & eclectic look and feel.  Mistakes are OK!

3.) Once the paint is 100% dry, flip the window over and place all of your photographs in each paneled section.   Use photo corners or simply attach photos to the back of the window with tape.

4.)  Find the perfect spot to hang your new window frame and enjoy your new wall art!

Adding some color and a new conversation piece to your home is as simple as that!

Happy painting & thanks for reading,

~Kelly

~*~

Supplies I love that made this project possible:

*Clark & Kensington flat enamel paint.  You can see another project I created with this same paint, here.

*Tomboy Tools pink paintbrush.  Available for purchase, here. Or you may email Tracey at tomboytracey@aol.com , make sure to tell her Kelly from The Pink Hammer blog referred you!

Making frames at least the simple ones is pretty easy…. simple meaning no slot/groove where glass or matt normally will install (if you’ve inspected a picture frame before, you will know what I’m talking about ) So it`s pretty much four pieces of wood glued together. It’s real simple, no special skills are required. But then of course, you will need a few tools and some materials. I guess lucky me, I already have them on hand so this cost me close to nothing. Isn’t that great?

Of course some wood is required. Found these lying around at D’s parents’ attic

A mitersaw… handsaw and a miter box will also do the trick

So first, determine the size of your frame. Mine’s outer edge measures 25 X 50 cm and the inside 23 X 48 cm. Set your mitex box at 45° and carefully miter the corners. I guess  just try to be as precise as possible, else you’ll end up with a not-so-right-trapezoid. You should have two sets of sticks like these.

Then apply a thin coat of wood glue on one or both sides of the mitered corners that will be attached together. I used a fast-drying wood glue.

Once you’ve attached them like in above image, wipe off excess glue and let dry… making sure that all corners are pressed together. Actually, you’re supposed to use clamps to hold them together but since I don’t have them, I just alternately “pinched” the corners until glue dried. Took five minutes.

Now take 2 pieces of sticks (they call it cleats in carpentry patter)…think these are half cm square and cut 2 pieces to measure the length of inside edge and another 2 for the shorter leg. They don’t need to be mitered.

Apply glue on one edge like so

And press on the inside edge…flat on bottom part of frame

Do all four sides, flip over and secure with clamps till dry… here I used clothespin

You must be wondering what these cleats are for. This will serve as the groove where you will mount your picture or poster. OK so once dry, I just sanded it a bit.

Then stained with my left-over stain from a previous project

Applied 2 coats and let dry overnight

The following day, I was able to use it for my Eyechart art! Just to recap, here’s the final product

It’s fairly easy right? If you’re at all persuaded to make your own frame, just pay your local builder’s shop a visit, you will find everything you need there and making it will be a lot of fun. I know I had fun!

Oh btw, this kind of frame is not suitable for anything heavy so don’t attempt to put glass or heavy matting. I am planning, however to do a proper frame that’s not just glued together so maybe watch out for that. It’s another first so let’s see how that will turn out.

Have a happy week everyone!

Tschüss! 

Wahoo! I made my first picture frame project!  Instead of 1 picture, I’m able to see many pictures of friends.  Check it out!

Hanging Frame Project I

Items:

• heavy duty staple gun
• large or medium frame
• picture frame wire
• frame hook
• little clips
• spray paint

Directions:

1. Take off everything the picture frame came with… mine was on clearance at Ross for under $15.

2. Lay down newspapers, cardboard, or in my case, my roommates spray paint blanket.  Spray paint the frame any color you’d like.  I debated between white and gray… I went with gray.  Let it dry.

3. Staple strips of wire across the back of the frame.  I didn’t measure, because I don’t care, but you’re more than welcome to measure.

4. Add a zigzag picture hook to the top center of your frame back and hang.

Ta-Da!

My mom and I are spending the day together Monday so we thought it might be nice to do some of the crafts we never get around to.

I picked out some of the crafts I seem to gravitate to since there’s multiple ideas on the same craft.

Here’s what I’ve got so far … we’ll see how much we actually get around to!

Hanger

Make a coat hanger for the bathroom! You can use door knobs to make it extra special.

Coasters

Grab some cork board and a paint pen, chalkboard paint or just some normal paint to make this mundane item your own.

Glassware

Use a sharpie to mark up a plain piece of glassware. Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees and the paint will set.

Matches

Who knew you could make something as simple as matches cute!?! Two ideas for this: One, decorate the box with scrapbook paper or use a mason jar with sandpaper on the lid.

Picture Frames

You can do something as simple as using Mod Podge on a wooden frame with scrapbook paper, or come up with your own designs and color pallet.

Materials needed:

Ceiling tile (you can find these at Lowes or Home Depot)

Razor blade

Piece of scrape-booking Paper

An 8 by 10 picture (cut down)

Piece of ribbon (about 30 inches long)

Step 1: Cut out the middle of the ceiling tile with the razor blade.

Step 2: Flip the ceiling tile to the back. Tape the scrap-booking paper to the back of the frame.

Step 3: Tie knots on both ends of the ribbon. Tape the ribbon onto the frame appox. 9 1/2 inches from the top.

Step 2-3

Step 4: Attach your picture to the front and hang on the wall

I thought this was such a neat idea. I have gotten so many compliments as people come over to my house. How did you do that? WOW!That is so pretty! They great thing about the frame is that the frame is really light. I am hanging my picture frame on the wall right now with only a thumbtack.

Simple. Joyfilled. Life.

Karisa

We’re back for more videos! We took a little break for the holiday’s but were back on schedule bringing you a new DIY Project every week. Be sure to check out our DIY Videos Page to see a new video every week. 

This week I’m showing you how to revamp your old and outdated picture frame with Buttons! Lots and lots of Buttons! With heart attached, give this gift to your special Valentine’s this year.

Click here for the list of materials

Happy DIY’s, Blerona

It’s been a while since I last wrote an Arts & Crafts blog.  So here I am today, finally updating after so long.

 I’ve been contemplating on getting a puppy lately.  Can you guess what kind of puppy?  Yes, I want a bull dog.  They’re just so adorable.  I know a lot of people think they’re ugly, but they just make me so happy whenever I see one.

Well, I haven’t gotten one yet, but I did get a poster with three cute puppies on them.  The wall in my office is kind of dull right now, so I decided to place the small poster in a picture frame.  It’s not just any picture frame.  It’s one that I handcrafted myself and is pretty proud of it.  The best part is that it was fun and anyone can do it. 

If you want to make one similar to mine, you’ll need is a small foam core board (you get this at an arts and crafts store.  You’ll only need one small enough to fit your picture with an extra inch around all corners of the picture.  You’ll also need one weight sheet protector, cords, sequins, sew-on jewels, glue-gun, double sided tape and a pair of scissors.

Using the double sided tape, attach your picture of the center of the form core board.  Trim the weight sheet protector to fit over the board.  You can tape down along the edges.  Use the glue-gun for attachment, start decorating the frame according to your style.  It’s really that simple.