How to Make a Penwork Frame

Create this elegant looking frame on your own and people won't believe you did it yourself.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Paintbrushes
• Acrylic gesso
• Wooden frame
• Sandpaper
• White acrylic paint
• Tracing paper
• Design
• Masking tape
• Hard and soft pencils
• Fine black marker
• Black latex paint
• Clear spray lacquer
• 1" flat lacquer brush
• Shellac

1. Apply four coats of acrylic gesso to the frame, letting it dry in between coats. Sand the frame and apply four coats of white paint, letting each coat dry for 5 to 10 minutes before adding the next one.
2. Place tracing paper of the design and secure it with masking tape and trace it with a soft pencil. Place the tracing, pencil side down, on the frame and secure with masking tape. Using a hard pencil, draw over the design to transfer the design to the frame.
3. Remove the tracing paper and ink over the design with a fine black marker pen. Paint the rebate with the balck latex paint. When the penwork is complete, spray clear lacquer over the frame to seal it. Allow to dry.
4. Apply four layers of shellac using the flat lacquer brush, allowing each coat to dry for 30 minutes before adding the next.

Tips & Warnings

• Use safety masks when using the lacquer and shellac.