DIY distressed wood frame

You can pick up a picture frame at any store at nearly any price point. But, when I was looking for something more personalized and something I could create myself I looked at a few places for inspiration.

I started with the bloggers from Shanty2Chic .  I’ve become endeared to these fellow Texas gals with eight kids between the two of them who still find time to craft and create decor for their homes on a budget.

The inspiration came from a magnetic recipe holde r.

But then I turned to my other love, Annie Sloan Paint!

I learned the possibilities of chalk paint and creating a distressed look from Patty Leon, owner of Green Table Gifts in Chandler.  

You can purchase the paint and waxes for this project there and view the DIY tutorials here.

This project can be modified in a variety of ways.  Add a metal siding shingle from the home improvement store and use magnets to attach your picture. Or use a wider scrap of wood and eliminate the base. 

These directions are in “pencil” and ready for you to make it your own!

Supply List:

Wood block for picture  (can use scrap wood or precut unfinished wood from craft store)

Circular unfinished wood

Fineal unfinished wood pieces (optional)

Unfinished wood candlesticks

Unfinished wood embellishment (optional)

Mini-clothes pins (available at Wal-mart and all craft stores)

Unfinished wood base for frame

Hot glue sticks for wood

High temperature glue gun

3 paint brushes (2 for wax and 1 for paint)

8.5 x 11 cut of  muslin

Chipboard or cardboard

Ribbon or twine

Annie Sloan Paint: Florence, Old White

Annie Sloan Wax: Clear, Dark

Wet cloth/washcloth/

Double-sided sticky tape

Directions for Frame:

1. Hot glue the candlestick to the wood base.

2. Hot glue the circular wood piece to the top of the candlestick.

3. Hot glue the wood embellishment to the wood block where your picture will be placed.

** do not attach the wood block for the picture to the candlestick yet!

4. Paint the basecoat on the unfinished wood pieces and allow to dry.

5. Paint the top color of paint and allow to dry.

TIP: If you want to speed the drying place in your oven on a LOW setting for a few minutes (175 degrees)   Annie Sloan paint dries fast on its own and doesn’t contain harmful vapors.

*In the case of the frame show in the Sonoran Living Live segment the stand of the picture frame only had 1 color of paint (Annie Sloan Florence) and the top portion had two colors.

To distress a single color portion of the frame brush with a clear wax and gently wipe off.  Follow with the dark wax and rub to create desired look.

TIP: Put the dark wax into textured areas for a richer look!

To distress a portion of the frame with 2 colors of paint:  Take a wet cloth and rub  OFF the top layer of paint to reveal the color on the bottom. Rub to the desired distressed look

6. When desired distressing is achieved, hot glue the top portion of the frame to the bottom, adding clothes pins to hold picture and enjoy!

Directions for fabric printed picture

1. Print out a picture on copy paper.
2. Cut muslin with a ½ or more edge around picture
3. Use double-sided tape to attach fabric to paper.
4. Run the fabric stuck to the paper through your ink jet printer.
5. Remove fabric and using hot glue adhere to the chip board.