As Sherry mentioned in her Pinterest Challenge post this morning, we made simple DIY wood frames for her homemade artwork. We did it partly because we wanted to save money and partly to see how basic we could keep the project while still getting a clean result.
To keep the cost at zero, we used only materials we already had on hand:
- leftover scrap wood
- wood glue
- a staple gun
- a hammer
- sandpaper
- a miter saw (a miter box and hand saw work fine too)
- duct tape
- spray paint with primer included
We started by digging through the basement junk pile for suitable scrap wood and grabbed a spare canvas (still wrapped in plastic) to use as a template for the frame size. That kept our cost at “free” at this stage.
The process is straightforward: cut 45-degree miters on all four boards and join them. A power miter saw made the cuts quick, but if you don’t have one a simple miter box and hand saw will do the job; it just takes longer. I clamped boards together and cut two at a time to get equal lengths on opposite sides and to move more efficiently.
After making one miter cut, I rested the two-piece stack against the edge of the canvas and overlapped it slightly so the finished frame would have something to sit on. Then I marked and made the second miter cut, producing the first long side.
With the long sides done, I repeated the same steps for the two shorter boards: stack, cut a 45-degree angle on one end, fit to the canvas to mark the opposite cut, and finish the second miter. Before assembling, I dry-fit the pieces to ensure they aligned.
We made a second frame from a different piece of scrap wood for Sherry’s other canvas. The wood was a bit more rustic and knottier, but that gave the frames character and we didn’t mind the mismatch.
Before final assembly I sanded the edges to smooth any rough spots.
For fast, simple joinery I used wood glue. Normally I’d prefer screws, L-brackets, or pocket holes for a more permanent hold, but glue kept the build accessible to anyone without specialized tools. To help the glue hold while it set, Sherry suggested stapling the corners from the back. We used a staple gun (the kind we also use for upholstery) to clamp each corner temporarily, then hammered the staples flush so they sat securely in the wood.
After stapling I checked the frames and noticed a little misalignment on one corner. I reinforced the joint by adding more glue into the crack from the front and allowed both frames to set for a couple of hours. Once dry they felt solid and square.
Sherry sprayed both frames with Rust-Oleum paint-and-primer-in-one in satin white for a smooth finish and fast coverage. Spray painting sped up the process compared with brushing primer and paint, though either method works well.
For hanging, Sherry planned to add sawtooth hangers and we had some on hand, so we didn’t need to buy anything. When it came time to attach the canvases to the backs of the frames we used duct tape — not glamorous, but quick and reversible, which makes swapping art later easy.
In the end we didn’t use the sawtooth hangers for the piece that ended up over the stove; instead we mounted it with 3M velcro-style strips so it would sit flush and be easy to remove for cleaning. We had to buy those strips since we ran out, so the grand total for the project was about $3. We also purchased a sheet of plexiglass to protect the canvas over the stove from splatters — that cost was included in another part of the challenge.
All told, these frames are an easy, inexpensive way to finish canvases using basic tools and materials you may already have around the house. If you’ve made simple frames before, what tips or shortcuts did you use? Or have you tackled another project in the cheapest, simplest way possible lately?
Update: We created a “Shop Our House” page to help you find furniture, accessories, and paint colors featured in our home.