Make-Over Recycled Picture Frames

Frames are one of the easiest things to make-over when redecorating a room. You can use the existing frames or recycle inexpensive finds at yard sales. I get a thrill when I find an ugly painting being sold for a quarter and the frame is beautiful or has great potential. The seller's tunnel vision is always a good omen for a buyer.

I decided my pile of frames was ready for a little reincarnation. I chose a simple country cottage, country, shabby chic..., well you get the idea. I wanted a basic idea that would allow the frame to compliment the art in the frame and also the decor in the room. Paint. That's the key for many decorating projects and it was perfect for this one. The frames I used were all ordinary brown wood. Some had no special decoration, while others had interesting router and carved designs.

I used different combinations of scrapbook papers, wallpaper, sheet music, an old cutter quilt, and various other odds and ends to create the "art" in the frames. I also used a Cricut Expression machine to cut some of my die cut designs.

This project is a simple one and offers cheap, fast results for decorating your home and also creates budget-friendly gifts for family and friends.

Things Needed:

Frames
Medium grit sandpaper
Rag
Paint
Paintbrush
Paper towel
Recycled shirt gift boxes
Desired art
Window cleaner
Hanging hardware and tools

Step 1
Remove the backing and the glass from the frames. Set these aside to work with later.

Step 2
Lightly sand the front and back of the frames, using medium grit sandpaper. This will give the frames a tooth for the paint to adhere to. Use a rag to clean off the sanding dust.

Step 3
Paint the frames using any color you desire. I chose light pastel colors to go with the country cottage, country, shabby chic decor idea. Use acrylic paints or leftover wall or house paint. Paint with a flat finish is best. Allow the paint to dry and use additional coats, if needed.

Step 4
Choose a complimentary paint color for dry brushing over the base color. White works well, but if the base paint is white, you are going to need a different color. Dip your paint brush in the paint. Scrub the bristles into a paper towel to remove most of the paint. Lightly stroke the brush over the length of each side of the frame. For each side, stroke in the same direction. It should look like the paint has faded and weathered with age. Note: A little goes a long way.

Step 5
Place the cardboard backing from the frame, on a recycled shirt gift box. Trace around the shape and cut it out. Build your art on the shape. You do not need to use glue. The glass will hold the art in place. Use window cleaner to clean the frame's glass. Place the glass over the art. Insert the art in the frame. Reattach the frame's cardboard backing. Add hanging hardware, if needed.