Framing children's art work is one of the best ways to personalize a home, and by transforming second-hand frames with Amy Howard at Home One Step Paint, you can decorate your walls for very little money.
Step One: Gather your child's artwork
Step Two: Head to your local thrift store
Bring your selection of artwork with you to find the correct size picture frame. Most thrift stores have a large selection of discarded picture frames. As you will be painting the frames, it does not matter if the frames match each other.
Most thrift stores have half off days. Wait until your local thrift store does. These three frames cost a total of $5.50 on a half off day, or $1.84 each.
Tip: See how easy it is easy to remove the back. The easier it is now, the easier it will be when your project is finished, and you want to put in your artwork. If the backing was professionally done, you may want to pass on the frame as it will be more difficult to reassemble.
Most thrift stores have half off days. Wait until your local thrift store does. These three frames cost a total of $5.50 on a half off day, or $1.84 each.
Tip: See how easy it is easy to remove the back. The easier it is now, the easier it will be when your project is finished, and you want to put in your artwork. If the backing was professionally done, you may want to pass on the frame as it will be more difficult to reassemble.
Step Three: Remove the backing and the glass
Once you are back home and ready to start, take everything out of the frame. Set aside until you have finished the project.
Once you are back home and ready to start, take everything out of the frame. Set aside until you have finished the project.
Step Four: Start painting
What is so great about Amy Howard at Home One Step Paint is that it does not require priming or sanding. You just paint, and it applies to almost anything. Before you start, shake the paint, then using an inexpensive China bristle brush, start painting.
Tips: If you are going to paint the back of the frame, start on that area first, then flip after it is dry and paint the front. Also, it is easiest to paint on a square of cardboard, so you can rotate the frame using the cardboard (rather than picking it up and moving it) to ensure you have painted all sides.
What is so great about Amy Howard at Home One Step Paint is that it does not require priming or sanding. You just paint, and it applies to almost anything. Before you start, shake the paint, then using an inexpensive China bristle brush, start painting.
Tips: If you are going to paint the back of the frame, start on that area first, then flip after it is dry and paint the front. Also, it is easiest to paint on a square of cardboard, so you can rotate the frame using the cardboard (rather than picking it up and moving it) to ensure you have painted all sides.
Step Five: Wax
After the paint is dry, after about twenty minutes, you'll need to wax the frame using Amy Howard at Home Light Antique Wax. (If you want the paint to dry faster, use a hair dryer.)
After the paint is dry, after about twenty minutes, you'll need to wax the frame using Amy Howard at Home Light Antique Wax. (If you want the paint to dry faster, use a hair dryer.)
Lightly coat the brush with wax and then brush the majority of it off on to a piece of cardboard. This will ensure you apply only a thin layer of wax. Remember, less is more, and it definitely is when waxing. Feather the wax on in quick crisscrossing strokes.
Step Six: Place your artwork in the frame
You are done! This whole project takes about a half hour, with most of the time being spent waiting for the paint to dry.
You are done! This whole project takes about a half hour, with most of the time being spent waiting for the paint to dry.
Remember that old, yellow picture frame?
It has been transformed to hold our little artist's self portrait.