Crafty Friday: Decorated Frames

Since last week’s Father’s Day frame project was cancelled thanks to a virus that affected two-thirds of our craft team, I moved the craft to this week, with a few little changes. Instead of frames specifically for the dads, we’re decorating frames just for the fun of it!

Here’s what you need:

*unfinished wood frame (found at any craft store for cheap)
*paint/paintbrushes
*decorative papers
*decoupage glue
optional-
*embellishments (buttons, washers, stickers, ribbon)

The first step in decorating a frame is to cover it with paint or some decoupage action. If you choose the painting route, and the frame has any knots in the wood, I would suggest priming it first, to cover them. Otherwise, the knots will show through the paint over time. If you want to skip having to prime the frame, you can decoupage it with decorative papers or book pages. Decoupage a fun way to embellish frames, or paintings (see my etsy shop) and it’s super easy. All you need is some handy dandy decoupage glue (Mod Podge is my weapon of choice), a paintbrush and some paper. You can cut the paper into nice shapes, or just tear it into pieces and start putting them on the frame. You do this by first adding enough glue to the back of the paper or the area you want to attach the paper.

Then, stick the paper onto the frame and paint right over it with the decoupage glue. The glue will dry clear and it will also seal the paper for extra protection. Continue this process until the entire frame is covered.

After your paint or decoupage glue is dry, you can start embellishing the frame with stuff. Your child can glue ribbon, make a button caterpillar, or decoupage fun shapes to the frame. Stickers are an easy way for the younger kids to decorate the frame. Audrie wanted to add dragonflies to her frame.

She decided to decoupage the dragonfly wings, and used buttons and washers to add an extra touch. Choosing the buttons, though, proved to be a bit involved.

Once she finally chose the right ones, she attached them with regular old glue and she was done.

Finn decided that he was too grumpy to participate in Crafty Friday, so his frame is still unfinished. Maybe next week he’ll wake up from his nap in a good humor and have some crafty fun.

Happy Crafting!

Nessa Dee