How to Make a Matching Frame for Your Picture

I want to match my picture and extend and complement its setting.
This picture is "Apple Blossom Fairies" by Cicely Mary Barker. So I am going to give it an apple blossom frame, (with material I cut off the bottom of a full length skirt to make it knee length). You can use matching fabric/pictures, colors, or complementary colors.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Frame
• Material about 70” long 8” to 10” wide, for 8”x10” frame
• Cardboard
• Rubber Cement Glue
• Sewing machine or by hand
• Matching thread
• Picture to mount
• Batting/ padding

1. 
    
   Ugly frame to start with.

   1. Trace around the outside square of your frame onto a cardboard. (I had to tape two cardboards together to get one big enough). Cut to exact outside measurements. Then put frame on top of cardboard and trace inside leaving ½” margin. Cut out center and now you have your new cardboard frame top.

2. 2. Select a soft or flimsy material to gather to match or complement your artwork.
   My frame is 10” X 8”. So I cut material 2 times circumference of frame, 70”, in this case, and 2 times the width plus an inch 8” in this case. Machine hem across bottom 8” or 10”.

3. 3. Use largest stitch on machine to make a large baste stitch 3” from the edge the entire length of material. Leaving large thread tail.

4. 4. Fold material in half right sides together lengthwise, sew a long 6’ seam, leaving both ends open. Turn right side back out.

5. 
    
   Batting sewn on cardboard with side cut as in step 6.

   5. Cut batting in strips (so you can sew flat on corners) wide enough to cover frame and make 1” thick. Machine sew with your biggest stitch 1" batting (or ½” batting folded) in center around front top of cardboard frame. If your machine does not want to do that, use double-sided tape, glue or string to tie so batting does not move.

6. 6. Cut across one side of your cardboard frame so you can thread your sleeve material, right side out, seam on back, onto your new frame cover. Thread material on frame as you would a sleeve or long sock. Overlap hemmed end on top of un- hemmed edge.

7. 7. Match basting to inside edge of frame. Pull all loose material forward to drape. Hold top string in right hand and slide material up, do again and again until up to the half way mark. Then hold top string of left side and push material up until gathered evenly all the way around inside of frame.

8. 8. Adjust gathering even all the way around frame. When everything is adjusted to your liking, with basting stitch even with inside rim of frame. Finish off the top hem of sleeve overlap bottom edge with hand stitches of matching thread, anchoring basting stitch also.

9. 
    
   Matching frame. See my Ehow article

   9. Glue new cardboard material covered frame to top of old frame. I used rubber cement. Putting glue just on top of old frame not glass and match outsides of new frame. Let dry 24 hours. To see other styles of frame covers see my article “How to make a Victorian Frame. . .”
   Picture of completed matching frame with completed stumpwork embroidery. Click picture to enlarge to see detail.

10. SECOND STYLE FRAME. Oval in Oval Matching Frame
    1. I purchased matching material for $1.50 1/3 yard.

11. 
     

    2. This is an 8” x 10” oval cut from thin cardboard with inner oval 1 ¾” smaller all the way around.

12. 3. Cut material to 4” x 60”.

13. 4. Machine hem one 4” edge. Fold the long strip right sides together lengthwise. Sew a tiny ¼ seam on machine along raw edge. Turn material back right side out.

14. 5. Cut a slot across oval cardboard. Thread sleeve on oval with seam in back. This is slow work and snug fitting. I had to trim 1/16” of inner circle cardboard. If material is too loose, gathering will not work, tighten sleeve seam. Gather evenly all the way around. Tape slit in cardboard frame.

15. 
     
    Shirred Oval in Oval Frame

    6. Place hem edge overlapping raw edge but not on slit in oval.
    This shirred oval/oval frame is perfectly satisfactory. You could just tape your picture to the back of this frame. Sew a loop on top and hang. I will add lace and a glass 5” x7” frame shadow box under frame, as I am going to do stumpwork embroidery on The Heliotrope Fairy by Cicely Mary Barker. (See my Ehow articles).

16. 
     
    My stumpwork embroidery of The Heliotrope Fairy by Cicely Mary Barker see My Ehow articles

    7. This is 60”wide of lace gathered, dyed purple. I used ¼ cup of hot water, ½ teaspoon of dye, Kool-Aid or couple drops of red & blue food coloring. I sewed lace on back of frame as close to outside edge as possible. I used sewing machine with largest possible stitch matching color thread. Alternately, you could hand sew it; or glue it using clothespins clamps to dry overnight.

17. 
     
    My stumpwork embroidery of Jack Go To Bed at Noon by Cicely Mary Barker see My Ehow articles

    To see how to make this frame see my Ehow article "How to Mount a Raised Picture on a Plaque or Flat Matching-background"

[karileighk]

on 7/5/2009 I love the pictures you took with this. You made it very detailed. Thanks :)