Ideas for Making Picture Frames

Start with a plain frame and adorn it.

Woods, metals and plastics are not the only materials suitable for creating a picture frame. Let your creative genius run wild and make a picture frame from materials found around the house, or venture outside and use natural materials to construct a frame. Recycle old or broken jewelry to add pizazz to your frames. If the actual construction of the frame is giving you pause, refinish an old unused frame or purchase an unfinished frame from the craft store to save time and money.

Beaded Frame

Beading adds a little sparkle.

There are many ways to make a beaded picture frame. The painstaking way is to glue the beads one by one to the picture frame. Strung beads are another option, but still require time to place the beads on the frame. Beaded fabric is the fastest way to get the beads on the frame. Measure the frame and cut the fabric accordingly. Glue the fabric to the frame and add trim to the edges to finish.

Embelished Frame

Ues your favorites to embellish a frame.

According to the craft book, "Fantastic Frames: Over 60 Unique Framing Ideas," all you need to create an embellished frame is a frame, wire cutter and embellishments. Use charms, shells, beads and buttons as embellishments. You can even use broken jewelry. Start the project by removing clasps and backings from the embellishments. Before gluing or attaching the embellishments to the frame, lay them out on the frame to get a visual of the finished frame. Glue the items to the frame and allow to dry. Spray the frame with clear glaze to insure the embellishments stay on the frame. The gloss also adds a nice sheen to the frame.

Rustic Frames

You may prefer a rustic look.

Collect items from outdoors, such as twigs and pinecones. You can also purchase wood veneer pieces for a "rustic" look. Before applying the pieces to the frame, lightly sand the surface. Use wood glue, if the frame itself is wood. For all other materials use a glue gun or durable craft adhesive. Allow the glue to dry completely then spray it with clear gloss, or leave the frame with its natural finish.

Leather Frames

Leather appeals to men and women.

Use leather scraps or strips of leather to make the frame. Lay the leather out and cut pieces to fit the frame. You can use wood, metal or plastic frames for this project. Glue the strips to the frame and trim away the excess leather. Decorate the frame with paint or glue on embellishments. For the distressed leather look, beat the leather with a hammer or the heel of a boot before cutting and applying to the frame.

Nature Frame

Bring a little nature indoors with a natural frame.

Start construction with an unfinished frame. Attach leaves, flowers or even shells to the frame. Use craft glue to avoid the heat from the hot glue process. Once the attached items are dry, spray at least one coat of clear gloss, drying between each coat. The gloss will seal the fragile embellishments and provide a nice sheen.

Fabric Covered Frame

Don't throw away fabric that you can use to cover a frame.

Choose your favorite fabric; you can even use thinly quilted fabric. Lay the fabric over the frame to get an idea of how large the piece should be and allow extra fabric to cover the sides of the frame. Paint the frame first when using sheer fabrics or lace. Use spray adhesive for this craft project, other glues may leave air bubbles. Once the fabric has been measured and cut, lightly spray the frame with adhesive and smooth on the fabric. Cover the sides and back. if the frame will hang on a wall it is not necessary to cover the back entirely.

References

• Fantastic Frames: Over 60 Unique Framing Ideas: The Editors of Creative Publishing International: 1999

Resources

• Read this Article in UK English
• Frame It!: Tonia Davenport: 2005
• How to Make and Decorate 30 Fabulous Picture Frames: Simona Hill: 2008