Fifty Posts Later & How to Make A Simple Frame Using Molding

Yesterday was my fiftieth post and as I reflect on my blogging experience thus far I'd like to share a funny story with you. Let me back up a little. When I was in the research phase of starting a blog I read about a hundred articles (posts) on the ProBlogger blog. One thing that struck me is when I read "there are no original ideas"...huh??? It didn't take long for me to realize that statement had a lot of truth to it. At first I found it discouraging but then I realized not having the pressure 3-4 times a week of having to come up with an entirely original idea was a bit liberating. Every time I come up with an idea for a post I can find several others who have already done it, so I do it anyway and try to put my own style and personality into it and hope that my readers will find it inspiring. The funny story is that yesterday a gal sent me an email to tell me that she found my blog and saw the mural I did in our nursery HERE  (inspired by a picture in a Ballard catalog). She did the same thing!  It just drove the point home but it also illustrates how much we all have in common. She is now my latest follower and I'm following her blog as well. I'm loving the blogging community and look forward to the connections that will be made with the next fifty posts!

Now back to blogging :)  Want to learn how to make an easy frame out of molding?

I bought these architectural drawings years ago from Ballard Designs. Yesterday, on The Mustard Ceiling blog I learned of Wikimedia Commons where you can download all sorts of prints- including architectural prints like these for free! Of course, you're limited by the size of your printer if you want to do it yourself or I've had blueprints (36x24) printed from a file (put it on a flash drive) at print shops and office supply stores like Staples for just a few dollars. You may want to use this option for color prints too if you don't have a good quality printer to use.

I used pine corner molding but there are many others, including actual picture frame molding, that are sold at  Lowes, Home Depot and many hometown lumber yards. It just needs an "L" shaped profile of at least 1/4" to hold the glass and print. Figure out how big you want your frame, add up the sides. Mine were 14x23 and 23x29 so I needed at least 74" and 104" respectively, of molding. 

Using a miter box cut your side and top pieces to size at a 45 degree angle.

Besides the molding you'll need:

1.) brads (very small nails)

2.) v-nails or corner nails (I used the corrugated fasteners above because I had them)

3.) wood glue

4.) 2 eye screws

5.) picture hanging wire 

6.) glass cut to size (see my note at the end of this post)

All of the hardware above is available at hardware and large craft supply stores. 

Glue and fasten your corners. Like I previously mentioned, I used these corrugated fasteners to hold the corners together and even though they're not the best choice they have worked for over twenty years! Be sure to wipe off any excess glue that squeezes out of the joints because paint will not adhere to it. Let the glue dry and go ahead and paint!

I had to clip the corners of the glass. The v-nails would eliminate this because they would be flush. 

Assemble! Glass, then mat if you're using one, art print and a piece of cardboard backing.

Use the brads to hold it all together. They are very sharp and push quite easily into the pine molding, just a couple of taps with a hammer. Put your eye screws in to hold the picture framing wire. That's it!

 Now, I'm sure if a professional picture framer reads this, they are cringing but I'm just telling you how I did it. I have this kind of stuff around my house so it didn't cost me anything. If you had to go out and buy all of it,  it probably wouldn't be cheaper than buying a frame although it may still be worth it! I get great satisfaction out of making my own things!
Note about the glass: Garage sales are coming soon to the northeast. I am constantly picking up framed pictures for ridiculously low prices. Sometimes I buy them just for the glass. I've got quite a collection and it comes in so handy.  It's very easy to cut glass- it really is! You can get a glass cutter at a craft store. Maybe that's what I should do a tutorial on!

Wow, I think this is officially my longest post! Let me know what you think- you know I love your comments!
Michelle

PS I realized why some people were having trouble leaving a comment (settings, ugh!) please give it another shot!