How to Make a Cardboard Victorian Frame

Victorian picture frames are distinctive because of the ornamentation that exists on the border of the frame. Commonly made of wood, with carving, you can make Victorian-looking picture frames at home with cardboard and your creative skills. Gather photos of Victorian style frames that you like and use them as a guide in your construction process, as needed. The project requires only a few supplies and about an afternoon of your time.

Things You'll Need

• Ruler
• Picture
• Cardboard
• Pencil
• Utility knife
• Tape
• Craft glue
• Acrylic paints
• Paintbrush

Instructions

Picture Inset

1. Measure the picture that you want to frame, width and length.

2. Draw those measurements on a piece of cardboard using a ruler and pencil. You may want to decrease the measurement by a quarter-inch so that the frame does not expose the picture border, if there is one.

3. Cut out the lines for the picture inset with a utility knife. Cutting out this section first will give you a better idea of how large you want the overall frame.

Frame Border and Sides

1. Draw the lines for the outside border of the frame on the cardboard, width and length, using the ruler and a pencil. How wide the border of the frame is will depend on your preferences.

2. Draw the depth lines for the frame outside of the border lines, about one-half to 1 inch with the ruler and pencil. Draw around the width and length of the border lines.

3. Cut the cardboard all the way around the depth lines with a utility knife.

4. Cut the cardboard at each corner of the depth lines to the corners of the border lines in a diagonal line with the utility knife.

5. Fold the cardboard down along the border lines, making sides for the frame with the depth sections of cardboard. Tape or glue the corner edges of the depth sections of cardboard together. You should now have the sides for your frame.

Back and Ornamentation

1. Lay the frame on another sheet of cardboard and make a complete outline of the frame on the cardboard with a pencil. Remove the frame from the cardboard.

2. Cut out the outline on the cardboard with a utility knife and set the cut out aside.

3. Draw ornamentation for your frame on cardboard, making sure that it is no larger than the width and length of the border for your frame. Draw vines, floral arrangements and/or decorative patterns for the frame.

4. Cut out your cardboard ornamentation with a utility knife and glue it on the border of your frame with craft glue. Different sections of ornamentation glued to the border will give the ornamentation a raised effect on the frame. Allow the glue to completely dry.

5. Paint the front and sides of your frame with acrylic paints and a paintbrush. Gold was a common color for a Victorian style frame. However, use colors that work with your décor. Allow the paint to completely dry.

Complete

1. Turn the frame upside down and insert the picture you need framed into the back of the frame, centering it, facing out, on the frame opening and taping the picture in place.

2. Glue the cut out outline of cardboard to the back of the frame with craft glue. Allow the glue to completely dry.

3. Cut a triangular notch in the center back of the cardboard backing for the frame with a utility knife to hang your picture and frame.