This was such a fun project, and one that really scratched my itch for perfection. :) I loved the challenge of getting those corners just right...so satisfying! I decided to take on this project after receiving a $400 quote from Michael's Custom Framing Department. This DIY frame cost me about $100 to make, because the decorative trim moulding isn't cheap. I think it looks pretty great, don't you?!
What you'll need:
Baseboard Moulding The size you choose and how much you buy will depend on the look you want and the size of your canvas. I chose a 4 1/2" baseboard that was 1/2″ wide because I was looking to keep my frame relatively small (the canvas was already so big). To figure out how much you need to buy, measure your canvas, and add 16″ to each side (to account for the angles in the cuts). I determined that I needed (2) 8ft. pieces.
2-3″ Decorative Trim Moulding - Get any pattern that fits your style, and buy the same amount as you did the baseboard moulding. So, for me, (2) 8ft. pieces.
1″ Decorative Trim Moulding – (2) 8ft pieces for me!
Miter saw
Staple Gun
Measuring tape
Wood glue
Sponge brush for glue
Fine grit sandpaper
Clamps
8 corner braces and screws to attach
Caulk/ Stainable wood filler if you are staining and not painting.
Whatever paint or stain you want to use
Picture hanging kit: I got this one from Hangz.
Elastic - I got a (1" wide roll) of it from my local fabric store.
Instructions:
Step 1: Pick out your moulding from your local Big Box Retail store. I went with these three pieces from Lowe's.
Step 2: Mark your preferred placement of the decorative moulding on top of the baseboard with a pencil. You'll want the inside piece to hang over the baseboard about 1/4", so it hides the edge of the painting.
Step 3: Glue your moulding down where you marked it, careful to keep the two boards perfectly parallel. Clamp the two pieces and wait for the glue to dry. Do this for both sets of moulding.
Step 4: Set your miter saw to 45 degrees. Mark your cuts on the side where the decorative edge is, so that your frame will be just a little longer than your canvas. This will give you a bit of wiggle room. I made all of my sides 1/4" longer than the sides of the canvas. Once your are done with the cuts, make sure the frame fits perfectly around your canvas before doing anything else. You can make adjustments to the cuts if needed, and then assemble the frame.
Step 5: Sand your edges
Step 6: Read all of the instructions for this step before getting started. With the frame facing down, glue the four corners together and brace them with 2 corner braces at each corner. Make sure your screws are small enough that they don't go through the front of the baseboard! You will need to do all of this pretty quickly, so the glue doesn't dry. When all of the braces have been added, flip your frame back over (so the front of the frame is facing up). Add a little more glue in the cracks if you need to, and wipe off the excess with a paper towel. Make sure your corners are firmly pressed together while the glue dries. This is the tricky part. Because of the way the baseboard is shaped, I was having to stand on the corners to hold them together. That was just ridiculous! I got two wooden spoons and placed them on either side of the crack to lift up the frame, then placed a 20lb weight over the middle of the crack to press it down. See pictures of my handy work below... :)
Step 7: Caulk the corners if you are going to paint or use a stainable wood filler if you are going to stain. Just do your best to hide the crack.
Step 8: Paint or stain your frame! Let it dry completely.
Step 9: Put your canvas in your frame! YAY!!! Add your picture-hanging hardware. I used this kit by Hangz.
Step 10: Using a staple gun, staple a piece of elastic over the canvas in each corner to keep it from falling out. This is also a not-so-permanent way to secure the canvas in the frame.
That's a wrap! This project changed the look of my whole room for $100-ish. Well, that and a new bedspread. :) I love it! Please let me know if you have any questions when making your own frame and post your project pics in the comments!
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