Transform Those Dated Picture Frames & Wall Art into Something Beautiful!
Are you tired of looking at those old picture frames? Are you looking for a change but you don't want to break the bank by buying all new frames? I have a simple project that can give life to any of your old picture frames. For this project I actually used some old wall art that I had stored in the garage. Updating your picture frames can really bring life into a room, and when you paint them yourself you can bring in your own unique style and tie in your overall theme well.
All you need for this project is:
1. Spray Paint (Pick any two colors that work well with your design elements)
2. Sandpaper
3. An old picture frame or wall art
4. Painters Tape (optional)
......and that's it!
After I got through the first layer of brown paper, I had to pry up the nails located on the edges behind the cardboard. These nails hold the artwork and picture firmly in place. I just used a pair of scissors, however you can use a flat head screwdriver, even pliers. Typically these little nails or pins aren't hard to pry up. I angled mine up all the way around the frame, just enough so that I would be able to maneuver the cardboard and glass out of the back of the frame.
GLASS REMOVAL HACK
Every once and a while, depending on the size and style of the frame, even with prying the nails up, it is still hard to angle the glass enough to remove it from the frame. When this happens, I just use whatever picture came with the frame as a painting barrier. I simply place the picture on the outside of the frame in order to protect the glass. Since I am going to add my own picture later, I don't care if I get paint on it. You just have to make sure your press the edges down, and tuck them under the frame, in order to make sure all the glass is covered. Me personally, I am not a fan of painters tape. Over the years of doing different projects, I have developed a sort of steady hand when it comes to these kinds of things. However, if you want to be extra careful not to get paint on the glass, I would recommend taping the gap between the edge of the paper and the edge of the frame.
Once you have your picture frame all prepped and ready to go, ITS TIME TO PAINT!! YAY!
WHICH PAINT TO CHOSE?
BEFORE YOU PAINT
Before I paint I always shake the paint can well and I do a couple of test sprays on the carboard I am working on. Spray paint can be a little tricky, if you get to close to the object that you are spraying, you can potentially spray too much paint and it can come out runny. If you are too far you may not get enough coverage on the item that you are painting. A couple test sprays help me to make sure the paint is coming out well and that I have a comfortable feel for the distance.
STARTING TO PAINT
I start off with my yellow paint, since that is the color that I am accenting with. I always follow the directions on the can for application and drying times. Depending on the style or look you are going for will depend on how much coverage you will want to apply with this coat. I am trying to achieve a farmhouse + shabby chic look. So a lot of times I may let some of the brown underneath peek through in order to give the illusion of aging. However you may choose to go with a more cleaner look, in that case you may prefer to do a nice even coat with your first color. The choice is up to you! Let your creative juices flow! I always make sure the front side is completely dry first, then I flip the frame over to do the backside, making sure all the edges around the frame has good coverage. I will admit though, in times past I have painted only the front of frames because that is all you can see. lol Don't judge me : )
After my first coat is dry, I go ahead and apply the second coat. This coat is NOT an even coat. I very lightly spray the frame, purposely skipping over some areas as I spray. I am intentionally trying to allow some of that yellow (or whatever color you chose) to come through. Again, I let this second coat completely dry before I go to the next step. Be sure to always read the directions on the back of the can. This is especially important because you don't want to sand wet or partially dried paint.
Once the coat of white dries I like to take a low grade sand paper and hit the edges and corners. Again, I am aiming for a shabby-chic look, so the sand paper really helps the frames achieve this look. For this project I just used what I had laying around the house, 3M advanced abrasives 220 for fine finishes. You want to make sure that what ever sand paper you use isn't too rough because you can sometimes leave scratches. You don't want that. You just want to give that aged illusion on the edges and sides of the frame.
And that's it! You are now ready to add your pictures and hang your frames. If you are using an old piece of art work like I did, replace the cardboard backing you took out and bend the nails or pins back into place. I did a few of these frames since I am remodeling my dining room and that included adding a gallery wall. I wanted the wall to have a bit of character, so I used frames that were different in style and size, and also sanded them slightly different. I was very pleased with the results.
I still have a ways to go on my dining room make over, as you can see its still incomplete, but as I finish a little here and a littler there, I will be sure to update you on the progress and share all of my DIY tutorials along the way. As always, thankyou for tuning into the blog! Please be sure to comment below and share your pictures if you tried this tutorial : )
1 comments
Your dining room looks really nice and what a great tutorial! I'm not the handiest, but this seems very doable for me.
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