DIY Upcycled Photo Frame

Happy Sunday folks!..

So today's post is a little 'DIY' project for those of you who love to "craft"!
With Christmas coming up, I thought it would also be a great idea for a handmade gift. Its so simple to do, doesn't take up too much time and I (personally) think it makes such a transformation, from an old frame. If you think this is something you would be interested in doing, read on and find out how i did it. Enjoy..:)

So these are all the materials that i used to transform my frame:

  • Photo Frame
  • Furniture/Chalk Paint
  • Paint Brush
  • Wax or Finishing Coat
  • Wax Brush/Cloth
  • Masking Tape
  • Sanding Block or Damp Cloth (if using chalk paint)
Before you do anything, use a damp cloth to wipe down your frame from any dust that may be on it. If your frame has marks that need a bit more cleaning, the best option would be to grab some sugar soap from your local DIY store.


Now before you start painting, using your masking tape, place it around the glass to make for less clean up after. Either that, or remove the glass completely.


Apply your first coat of paint. The paint I am using for this project is my trusty chalk paint. If you've never used it before, I am sure you will love it and the results you can get from it. It is a furniture paint and I do use it on all my furniture upcycles and basically, it pretty much works on (most) types of materials. I won't go into too much detail in this post, but if it is something you would like to hear more about in a future post, be sure to let me know in the comments :) BUT i will leave a link to the website at the end of this post, to the particular brand I am using and you're welcome to take a look for yourself. 


The beauty with chalk paint, is you don't need to wait hours in-between coats. When doing this frame, it only took around 20 minutes for the first coat to dry and i was then able to apply the second. you can see in the photo what a difference the second coat makes.



When your second coat has completely dried (another 20 minutes), grab your sandpaper/sanding block/damp cloth and rub down any parts on the edges, that would have naturally "aged" over time. This creates that "shabby chic" look that everyone is going crazy for at the moment! As chalk paint is a water based paint, the paint comes away with the damp cloth with ease.


Once you're happy with how your frame is looking and you have rubbed down all the areas you want rubbed down, its now time to seal it. I used wax for my frame, but a finishing coat or varnish can also be used. Be sure to read instructions on the back of the finish you use. But for the wax; apply using a brush or cloth (i prefer a wax brush), cover all the areas that you have painted/sanded down.


As i used wax, i waited around 30-40 mins for the wax to dry and then grabbed a clean cloth (kitchen towels also work) and buffed all over the frame. This removes any excess wax and leaves a nice "gleam" on the finished item. 


Peel off your making tape, or if you decided to remove the glass, now's the time to put it all back together again..


..And you're finished!! You should now be left with a totally transformed photo frame? I'll pop a before and after picture below for you to see side by side. If you decide to give it a go yourself, I would love to see your photos. Either leave a picture in the comments below, or tag me on Twitter or Instagram@Hannah24310 or with #HannahDIY and I'll be sure to take a look :)

Hope you've all had a fab weekend, have a brilliant week and I shall see you next Sunday..

Love Hannah xx




Brand of paint used: Frenchic
www.frenchicpaint.co.uk

4 comments

  1. Such a good idea! There's often a lot of old frames in charity shops, so this would be great to liven those up!

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    1. You're so right there Katie. In fact I (think) that's where this one might have come from. Thanks for popping by and leaving a comment :) Hannah xx

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  2. This is amazing! I had no idea it was so easy to upcycle a photo frame!!! You're giving me lots of inspiration tonight Hannah!

    Jodie @ Jodetopia x

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    1. It sure is :) glad I could be of help Jodie! Of course you can use your bog standard acrylic paint too, but I really prefer the finish and working with chalk paint. Love Hannah xx

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