How to Make a DIY Picture Frame – Step-by-Step Guide

11 months ago

Beautiful paintings and memorable pictures can be a great addition to the interior of any apartment or house. For decoration, you can use a DIY Picture Frame made with your own hands. They should emphasize the dignity of the canvas and the photograph set them off and become a continuation of the composition. Further, we will tell you in detail how to make a frame for a picture or pictures with your own hands.

How to Make a DIY Picture Frame – Step-by-Step Guide -- Making picture  frames is an exciting activity
Making picture frames is an exciting activity

If you want to see more woodworking and crafting wizardry — check out our Woodworking and Crafting eBook! 🙂

Design features and aspects

The main aspect required to comply with the making of the DIY picture frame is the design and purpose of the room where it will be placed. In the process of choosing a color scheme, it is important not to overdo it. Since too bright and saturated shades will be uncomfortable for visual perception, also the finished photo frame might not be able to fit into the interior.

How to Make a DIY Picture Frame – Step-by-Step Guide -- For small images and photos, there are many interesting ideas for using different materials
For small images and photos, there are many interesting ideas for using different materials

Another method is to place the canvas at a non-standard angle while changing the lighting, or near certain furniture to create a single picture. By making and correcting mistakes or trying different placements, you will achieve an excellent effect.

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What materials can be used to make a DIY Picture Frame?

A photo frame can be made from the following materials:

  • Wood
  • Cloth
  • Thick paper or various types of cardboard
  • Spare plastic-stuff
  • Gypsum/Rubber/Macaroni/Old-legos/etc. (literally, anything you have lying around the house would do)
How to Make a DIY Picture Frame – Step-by-Step Guide -- Before making a photo frame with your own hands, you should have a clear design concept.
Before making a photo frame with your own hands, you should have a clear design

The materials presented are not the entire list of resources that can be used in the design of the DIY frame and the stand for it with your own hands.

Based on the selected resource, you may need the following tools:

  • Jigsaw, Hacksaw, Scissors
  • Ruler
  • Markers, Pens, Pencils
  • Some fasteners: small Nails, Glue, Parker-screws
  • Miter box (you most probably won’t, but just in case)
  • Varnish, Paint
  • Some accessories for decoration
How to Make a DIY Picture Frame – Step-by-Step Guide -- It is important to remember the purpose to frame the image and serve only as a background (not to overshadow the actual photo)
It is important to remember the purpose to frame the image and serve only as a background (not to overshadow the actual photo)

If you want to see more woodworking and crafting wizardry — check out our Woodworking and Crafting eBook! 🙂

Below is more detailed information on the manufacturing process, depending on the selected base material.

Wooden picture frames

This material is rightfully considered a traditional option for decorating the artwork. In most cases, wooden frames are made in neutral colors. The form is simple, without complex additional structures, but all the same, for this process it is necessary to possess certain knowledge and skills.

The easiest way is to use wooden slats of the required dimensions. According to the dimensions of the picture/photo, four slats are prepared: 2 smaller ones and 2 a bit larger (unless you want a square-frame, then all 4 should be the same length).

Check out how last week we made a DIY Dining Farmhouse Table and a Wooden Coffee Table — they could make a perfect wooden ensemble!

How to Make a DIY Picture Frame – Step-by-Step Guide -- Vintage wooden picture frame. To fix the canvas, the frame must overlap the inner part of the picture by 5 millimeters
Vintage wooden picture frame. To fix the canvas, the frame must overlap the inner part of the picture by 5 millimeters

A more time-consuming project is a do-it-yourself photo or canvas frame, which is equipped with glass. For this option, you will additionally need to make the back wall using thin plywood.

The outer dimensions of the finished frame must necessarily be slightly larger than the glass and the photo itself. If you do not have the necessary knowledge to work with glass elements, we advise you to order a finished sheet from the workshop.

If you want to see more woodworking and crafting wizardry — check out our Woodworking and Crafting eBook! 🙂

Having calculated the thickness of the glass and the picture, you should deepen the inside of the blanks by this value. Most often, this figure is 2-5 millimeters. Next, you need to cut the planks at the correct angle, for this use a square and a miter box.

Be sure to sand the resulting sections with sandpaper, then connect them with glue in the form of a square or rectangle. The glue will take about 4-5 hours to dry completely.

After the drying period, you can start decorating. For this, you can paint or varnish the photo frame.

How to Make a DIY Picture Frame – Step-by-Step Guide -- Apply subsequent layers of varnish only after letting the previous one dry
Apply subsequent layers of varnish only after letting the previous one dry

In a handmade wooden frame, glass is first placed, then it is turned over with the main part down and after that, the canvas is laid out on the glass. Thick cardboard and plywood are necessarily superimposed on top of the picture.

If you want to see more woodworking and crafting wizardry — check out our Woodworking and Crafting eBook! 🙂

If the calculations were made correctly, then the backdrop is glued along the entire perimeter of the product. To improve the connection, small nails can be nailed in the corners of the framing element.

Using an old ceiling plinth as our frame material

If you have a polyurethane skirting board available for the ceiling, then you are able to make a white frame with your own hands from these materials at hand. First of all, measure workpieces. Next, cut the plinth into 4 parts with a hacksaw at a ‘diagonal’ angle (45 degrees).

How to Make a DIY Picture Frame – Step-by-Step Guide -- Ceiling plinth picture frame. It is important to make the cuts perfectly straight
Ceiling plinth picture frame. It is important to make the cuts perfectly straight

Place special glue on each side of the cut and then connect. The clamp will help make the connection stronger and sturdier. Cover the upper surface of the joint with acrylic paint.

Cardboard Picture Frame

The most affordable and budget material for framing is cardboard (sometimes referred to as Carton). The process with such a basis takes a little time and effort. It’s perfect for fun children’s evening activities.

(If you have several kinds — we also have a good DIY Bunk Bed designs from last month!)

How to Make a DIY Picture Frame – Step-by-Step Guide -- You can use a piece from a packaging box, that is, corrugated cardboard (carton)
You can use a piece from a packaging box, that is, corrugated cardboard (carton)

If you want to see more woodworking and crafting wizardry — check out our Woodworking and Crafting eBook! 🙂

First, cut out a cardboard base (rectangular or square), inside which there should be a window for a picture. Dimensions are determined based on the size of the photo or painting.

In most cases, the frame is over 4 centimeters wide (1-2 inches). Next, we prepare the back element of the product, which is similar in parameters to the base.

Additionally, you will need a stand if it was planned that the do-it-yourself frame made of cardboard for the picture would be placed on a bookshelf. To do this, cut out a rectangular leg with dimensions of 7 * 17 centimeters, sharpen it from the end, and on the other side bend about 2 centimeters.

How to Make a DIY Picture Frame – Step-by-Step Guide -- Simple paper frame. Glue the elements one by one with paper-glue and then proceed to the decor
Simple paper frame. Glue the elements one by one with paper-glue and then proceed to the décor

Paper Picture Frame

If you have wallpaper scraps or plain colored sheets, you can make a frame of paper or cardboard with your own hands. The process is the same as when using corrugated cardboard.

If you want to see more woodworking and crafting wizardry — check out our Woodworking and Crafting eBook! 🙂

How to Make a DIY Picture Frame – Step-by-Step Guide -- Be sure to use thick paper, so the framing product will last even longer
Be sure to use thick paper, so the frame will last even longer

How to make a picture frame yourself from improvised materials?

Making home decor is not a simple process, but exciting and allows you to add your own unique flavor to the interior of any room. After the first successful experiment, any craftsman will not want to stop there.

How to Make a DIY Picture Frame – Step-by-Step Guide -- A frame for a picture on the wall made with your own hands from scrap materials can emphasize the content, and also make your room comfortable and cozy
A frame for a picture on the wall made with your own hands from scrap materials can emphasize the content, and also make your room comfortable and cozy

DIY Photo Frame garnished with spare buttons

Many people are interested in how to make handmade frames for old photographs using ordinary buttons. These accessories add brightness and a certain flavor to the finished product.

You can decorate with buttons a base made of paper or cardboard; for this, they need to be additionally covered with cloth or applied with paint. Then proceed to glue the multi-colored mosaic.

If you want to see more woodworking and crafting wizardry — check out our Woodworking and Crafting eBook! 🙂

How to Make a DIY Picture Frame – Step-by-Step Guide -- Button frame: we advise you to first place larger buttons, and then fill the space between them with small ones
Button frame: we advise you to first place larger buttons, and then fill the space between them with small ones

Vintage Picture Frame made from old newspapers

Newspaper baguettes are used for the base. Color newspaper-prints are ideal for adding color.

How to Make a DIY Picture Frame – Step-by-Step Guide -- To arrange the parts, the sheets of newspaper should be laid out on the table, rolled up into a tight tube, gluing all the paper layers
To arrange the parts, the sheets of newspaper should be laid out on the table, rolled up into a tight tube, gluing all the paper layers

For each side of the frame, you need to prepare about nine blanks. The number depends on the chosen width of the baguette. After 24 hours, the glue will dry out and you can start trimming at the correct angle (45 degrees) on both sides. For a more correct procedure, use a protractor or miter box.

The parts should be connected at right angles using glue. Use toothpicks for the thorn, the groove can be made with an awl.

How to Make a DIY Picture Frame – Step-by-Step Guide -- Use a putty to cover the cracks in the corners
Use a putty to cover the cracks in the corners.

The finished DIY picture frame must be primed with a mixture that consists of 1 part of water and 2 parts of glue and white paint (water-based or acrylic). All components are gently mixed with the gradual addition of water. Ultimately, you should get a mixture with the consistency of liquid sour cream. This solution is applied in 2-4 layers and dried afterward.

If you want to see more woodworking and crafting wizardry — check out our Woodworking and Crafting eBook! 🙂

How to Make a DIY Picture Frame – Step-by-Step Guide -- To fix a photo or canvas in handmade newsprint frames, use small carnations or duct tape
To fix a photo or canvas in handmade newsprint frames, use small carnations or duct tape

Photo Frame Made from Natural Materials

An excellent result will turn out if you use twigs or thin twigs of a tree. Not too thick rope can be is used for secure fixation.

How to Make a DIY Picture Frame – Step-by-Step Guide -- You can combine several of different material-strategies
You can combine several of different material-strategies

First of all, take 4 bundles of twigs with about the same thickness, place them perpendicularly and tie them up with an rope. You can preserve the natural texture of twigs by covering all elements with colorless varnish.

Another way is to arrange the basis of diy wood picture frames, namely with dry wooden branches. To do this, take a wide-brimmed frame, well-dried sticks and a hot glue gun.

Pre-break the branches into elements with a length equal to the width of the base. Next, grease the frame with hot glue and place wooden blanks over its entire area.

If you want to see more woodworking and crafting wizardry — check out our Woodworking and Crafting eBook! 🙂

How to Make a DIY Picture Frame – Step-by-Step Guide -- You can add some flowers for a spring-looking result
You can add some flowers for a spring-looking result

For green décor lovers, dry moss is ideal. The process of decorating them will take a little time, and the result will please with its colorfulness. The moss is placed over the entire area with glue, so you can give a new life to the old base for pictures and canvas.

Using Decorative Tape

Decorative tape is an easy and affordable method to modify an old frame or one that is made with your own hands from cardboard parts. To do this, you should gradually apply strips of adhesive tape in the sequence that your imagination suggested. Excess elements are cut off with scissors.

How to Make a DIY Picture Frame – Step-by-Step Guide -- The process only takes a few minutes, but the result will bring any room to life
The process only takes a few minutes, but the result will light up any room

3D Picture Frame Made of Yarn

To decorate with your own hands frames on the wall from improvised material, for example, yarn, you will need a base with smooth edges, glue, multi-colored threads and scissors.

If you want to see more woodworking and crafting wizardry — check out our Woodworking and Crafting eBook! 🙂

How to Make a DIY Picture Frame – Step-by-Step Guide -- During the design process , it is necessary to apply glue and wind the yarn in stages, that is, in small sections
During the design process , it is necessary to apply glue and wind the yarn in stages, that is, in small sections

Gradual decoration will ultimately result in a better product.

QUICK-TIP! For a more creative approach, you can string beads and rhinestones on the thread.

DIY Photo Frame from Pallets

Wooden pallets are the easiest method to make a frame with your own hands. All parts are widely available, regardless of income. The number of pallets is calculated based on the required frame size. The elements can be fastened with small nails, a wood-stapler or special glue.

How to Make a DIY Picture Frame – Step-by-Step Guide -- Picture frame from pallets. Be sure to use two pieces for horizontal stripes, so that the frame will become even more cozy
Picture frame from pallets. Be sure to use two pieces for horizontal stripes, so that the frame will become even more cozy

These would look even more awesome if you put them alongside a DIY Floating Shelf or the Key Holder with shelf!

DIY Wine-Corks Picture Frame

How to decorate picture frames with wine corks? It’s pretty simple. The material must be cut into small rings up to a centimeter (1/2 inch) in height, then paint them in any shades and attach them to the base with a glue gun.

How to Make a DIY Picture Frame – Step-by-Step Guide -- Picture frame from wine-corks. You're not drinking too much wine -- you're just preparing the material for a nice picture frame
You’re not drinking too much wine — you’re just preparing the raw materials for a nice picture frame

If you want to see more woodworking and crafting wizardry — check out our Woodworking and Crafting eBook! 🙂

Eco-friendly Picture Frame Made of Cereals and Grains

Numerous eco-friendly-elements are used to decorate frame-bases – cereals, grains, shells, sea stones, etc.

How to Make a DIY Picture Frame – Step-by-Step Guide -- Such accessories can be left in their natural form or painted to match the interior
Such accessories can be left in their natural form or painted to match the interior

All elements are placed on the glue base in random order, sorting in a certain way or creating a picture.

Photo Frame Made From Old Magazines and Newspapers

Multi-colored clippings from magazines and newspapers can be used as ingredients for quilling. Small pieces are glued and twisted in a circle.

If you want to see more woodworking and crafting wizardry — check out our Woodworking and Crafting eBook! 🙂

How to Make a DIY Picture Frame – Step-by-Step Guide -- Such blanks can be fixed on a cardboard or paper base
Such blanks can be fixed on a cardboard or paper base

With their help, it is possible to make a stand for frames. Let’s see how you can make this frame stand? It is important to choose a thicker magazine sheet and cut a rectangular leg. On one side, it is sharpened for placement on a flat surface. The second part is rolled up for glue application and connection to the frame.

Summary

Making a frame for photography and canvases with your own hands from cardboard, as well as other improvised means, is an exciting and exciting process.

Here we have described in detail how to make a frame and stand for pictures and pictures with your own hands from cardboard, ceiling plinth, wooden parts and popular methods for improving such projects.

If you want to see more woodworking and crafting wizardry — check out our Woodworking and Crafting eBook! 🙂


P.S. Bonus 25 Ideas for making DIY Picture Frame and using them in the interior of the house and outdoors:

If you want to see more woodworking and crafting wizardry — check out our Woodworking and Crafting eBook! 🙂


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