Category: DIY

Fun Framed Valentine’s Day DIYs

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, there’s always a bit of a scurry as we try to find gifts that are just perfect for our loved ones, whether you’re looking for your significant other, a parent, friend, or a child. There’s a lot of pressure to get it right this time of year, but you really can’t go wrong with a handmade gift that comes from that heart. It won’t hurt a bit if that gift will make an attractive addition to the recipient’s décor, either.

Here are some ideas for simple DIY projects that you can frame so your loved one can display them for all to see.

Use Scrabble tiles to create a custom message board, with a sentimental note acting as a constant symbol of your love and a classy piece of décor. Use a thin canvas in the color of your choice and frame and glue down your message, then frame the canvas sans glass

You can use buttons and other notions in the same way to create a lovely heart mosaic. This is a great project for kiddos to do, and the end result is something any mother would be proud of!

Create a custom wall hanging with the important dates in your relationship by either using stencils and paint or use a vinyl cutting machine to put the decoration directly on the glass.

A beautiful, ornate frame can hang all on its own with a cute little banner that declares a simple phrase like “Love” or “Kiss Me” on it.

There are lots of more ideas for using frames in gifts and DIY projects on our Frame Warehouse Facebook page.

How To Create a Heartfelt Housewarming Gift from a Frame

Moving is a time of new beginnings. It’s a chance to start fresh and aim to make your life just a little more ideal. If you know someone who has moved recently or is getting ready to move, you might be looking for a great housewarming present. It can be tough because oftentimes, people already have much of what they need to make their house a home. So, what kind of gift could add a little joy to their life without being superfluous? A personalized one!

You can create a personalized housewarming gift pretty simply with a frame. Here are a couple ideas for how to do just that:

Print off a map of their neighborhood and add a marker to their new address. Add ‘Home Sweet Home’ in either hand lettering or scrapbooking stickers if you’re not much of a penman.
If they’re making a big cross-country move or going from one country to another and away from you, a printed map with both their current home and their new destination is great. Add a little heart at each location, and connect them with a curly, swirly line to let them know that no matter how far they roam, they’re always in your heart.
Use stencils and paint over thin burlap or canvas covered boards in a frame to create a custom wall-hanging. You can use their name, address, and symbols like keys or stylized houses to add a special touch.

Whether they’re moving near or far, you can give your loved one the gift of knowing you care. For more personal gift ideas, check out the Frame Warehouse Facebook page!

Store Your Make-Up on the Wall

As much as we absolutely adore all our beauty products and love having easy access to them, they can be real mess. Even when you organize your products and aim for some semblance of order, it only takes one session of full-face make-up to send it spiraling into disaster.

If you’re working with a small space, or you just don’t have a nice designated area for your make-up, it’d help your bathroom or vanity look much neater if your products were up off the counter. Here’s our frame-y idea for accomplishing just that!

Here’s what you’ll need:

A large frame that will fit your space and match your décor
Aluminum sheeting primed with magnetic primer and finished with paint of your choice, cut to size of frame (you can sometimes talk the hardware store into cutting it to size for you)
Drill and bits for pilot holes and driving
Short screws (8 at minimum, more for larger frames)
Strong magnets
Adhesive of your choice

You’ll attach the magnetic sheeting to the back side of the frame with screws using the drill. You may need to drill pilot holes in your sheeting if it’s particularly sturdy; just make sure the holes are smaller than your screw heads. Then, you’ll hang the frame on the wall.

Now you’re ready to start sticking your make-up to it. Stick magnets to the backs of your various products with the adhesive. You can add a magnet to a little cup for brushes, as well. Be sure you test out the magnets’ hold for each product and make sure it’ll stay put before you let it go.

For more unique frame ideas like this one, check out Frame Warehouse on Facebook and follow along with our blog.

Bedroom Reno on a Dime: Make a Frame Headboard

If you have a family or roommates, it’s likely that your bedroom is your sanctuary. It’s the place you go when you need to relax and unwind, and it’s where you get the ever-important good night’s sleep. When you live with other people, it’s often the only space that you have total control over (well, maybe you and your significant other share control).

If your sanctuary has been feeling a little drab or you’re just sick of the current vibe in there, it may be time to do a little remodeling. That doesn’t mean you have to buy all new furniture, though. By updating one key item and shifting things around a little, you can give your bedroom a whole new feel. What item do we recommend you change? The headboard! It doesn’t have to be an expensive of daunting prospect to change out your headboard. In fact, you can make one from a custom frame.

First, you’ll need to ponder the style you’re going for. You’ll want to choose a style of frame that suits the room’s intended new vibe. You’ll need to order a frame at least as wide as your bed and a couple feet tall, minimum, but bigger works great, too.

Now, you’ll need to pick out an interior. In some cases, you can simply paint the wall inside the frame to either match or add contrast. If painting isn’t an option, you can fill the frame itself. You can use aluminum sheeting (which comes in cool cut-out patterns and textures these days). You can also use fabric and thin batting stretched over a thin board. Use a peg board if you want to create a tufted look!

For more ideas for how to incorporate Frame Warehouse frames into your décor, check us out on Facebook!

Creating an Easel Sign from Frames

If you have a business that relies on foot traffic, you’ve probably considered an easel sign. However, they can be expensive!! Learn how to make your own easel sign from frames and a few other basic DIY materials for much less dough!

First, you’ll need to gather materials. Here’s what you’ll need:

Two 24×36 frames of the same size in the style of your choice
Four 36 in. “leg” boards, 2×1 pine works great because it’s lightweight
Four 2×1 cross boards, 20 in. each
Two 2 in. hinges and appropriate screws for applying said hinges
4 small screw-in hooks
Two lengths of light-weight chain
Chalkboards to fit in each frame
Paint to match frames
1 1/2 in. wood screws

Here’s how to put it together:

Put chalkboards in frames.
Lay out leg boards (vertically) and cross boards (horizontally) with outside edges lined up on each frame, use wood screws to secure in place. You can use wood glue before screwing into place for a tougher-duty easel sign.
Carefully paint the boards on the backside of each frame so that they blend better.
Screw one hook into each vertical board, 12 in. from the bottom.
Screw hinges to each frame to create the easel effect.
Cut chains to hold the sign’s “V” up at an appropriate angle and slip onto hooks. This keeps the sign from sliding out from under itself.
Add a catchy message and display outside your business for maximum foot traffic!

These signs are super trendy, and businesses everywhere are using them to display their specials or clever sayings to draw in their ideal customer base right off the sidewalk.

For more frame ideas for your business, follow our Frame Warehouse Facebook page and stop by the blog frequently for our newest featured projects!

Create Vendor Displays from Frames

Have you been looking for a unique new way to display your products at craft shows, trade fairs, or other vendor events? Look no further! There’s a framed answer to that question.

Whether you’re operating solely with tables at your events or you’re able to put up “walls” from which you can hang your displays, frames can provide a beautiful way to showcase your products.

There are several ways you can hang your products in frames. Here are a few ideas.

Glue a dowel rod to the back side of a frame, going across it near the top. You can use this sort of display to hang necklaces, scarves, or other small products that you can tie to the dowel with ribbon scraps. You can use multiple rows of dowels to display shorter items like bracelets or earrings.
Staple chicken wire to the back of a rustic frame, like our Light Brown Rustic standard frames. Clip any product you like to this display, from knitwear to stationery.
Drill small holes in the foam backing of one of our frame kits and cover the board with a pretty fabric with a loose weave. Stick brooches, pins, or earrings through the holes.
Use a framed chalkboard to make sure customers know about your best deals. This is perfect for advertising a flash sale to get rid of inventory that isn’t moving very well.
Frame your logo. This is a classy, unobtrusive way to make sure potential customers see your company name. You can also include your website or social media info on this sign to make sure they can follow up after the event.

For more ways you can incorporate frames into your business, follow Frame Warehouse on Facebook or visit us in person at one our many conveniently located stores

Create a DIY Frame Mail Organizer

Mail! Despite our best efforts to curb the number of trees that are slain fated to be delivered to our mailboxes, it seems like an excruciating amount of mail makes its way into our homes every week. Because it just keeps on coming, it’s one of the toughest clutter issues most people tackle in their homes.

So, what do we do with it all? First off, shred unneeded mail with personal information on it, or just toss “Current Resident” mail directly into the recycling bin. Once you’re down to mailers you actually need, it’s time to organize it!

Here’s how you can create a custom mail organizer to hang over your mail drop zone so that it’s easy to keep mail up until you toss it or file it away.

Pick out a frame that suits your décor. You’ll need one that’s fairly large for this project, say 18×24 or larger. I’ll be basing measurements upon standard-sized 18×24 Frame Warehouse frames, but you can absolutely adjust this to suit your space!
Next, you’ll need to prepare your fabric pockets. A heavier fabric is ideal; nothing sheer or too gauzy. Burlap or canvas, both of which are available in many colors and prints, are inexpensive and popular choices. You’ll need six pieces of fabric, each piece 13 inches long by about 22 inches across (half the width of a normal roll of fabric). Use 3/8 in. iron on hem tape to create neat edges at either end of each piece. To do this, simply fold over ½ inch of the fabric with the wrong sides together, right sides out, iron to create a neat fold, and then follow the directions on the hem tape to stick down the folds. Fold each hemmed piece in half, right sides out, and iron for a neat pocket bottom. Repeat with each of the six pieces of fabric.
Now you’ll need to attach the pockets to a board. You can use sturdy foam board, scrap paneling, or tough cardboard cut to the size of the frame. Glue down your first pocket with the open end at the top of the board, centered, using a hot glue gun or other craft adhesive. Wrap the extra length around the back of the board and glue it down as well. Be careful that it’s not too tight! Measure three inches down from the top and set up the next pocket, taking care to make sure it’s level all the way across. Repeat with the next four pockets, making sure the bottom pocket fold sits right along the bottom of the board.
Place the board in the frame and hang however you choose. A wire hanging kit will help ensure that your frame mail organizer stays straight.

Label each pocket with a family member’s name, the day of the week, or based on the type of mail you would like the pocket to hold. This organizer keeps mail off surfaces to reduce clutter. For more frame projects, watch Frame Warehouse’s Facebook page!

Creating a Family Tree with Frames

Whether you’re a curious genealogist or simply live far away from family and want to keep them close, creating a beautiful family tree can bring your extended family into your home without the need to make up the hide-a-bed.

Finding the Right Place for Your Family Tree

You’ll want to choose an open wall in your home that is cleared of other decorations. This sort of project generally takes up a large amount of space, so find an area at least eight feet across to provide ample room for your tree to grow.

Choose a Tree

You can use either vinyl cutouts that stick to the wall or stencils and paint to create your tree. If you’re particularly artistic, you might even consider attempting a free-hand tree in pencil and then painting it. Search for a tree design that works well with your décor, whether that is a more modern, rounded design or a spiky, gnarled traditional tree.

Adding Photos

There’s a lot of room for customization in the photo part of this project, too. Choose frames in colors and styles that match your décor and blend well with your tree design. Use color photos for a brighter effect or black and white photos to lend a more muted tone.

You can add as many or as few family members as you like to your family tree. Use this wall décor project to show your kids family they missed the chance to meet or to keep loved ones close to your heart. For more unique frame ideas, check us out on Pinterest!

Use Frames to Make Your Restaurant’s Specials Eye-Catching

Specials have the power to make or break a restaurant’s bottom line. They allow for careful ordering and give you the opportunity to make the most of what you’ve already got on hand. They’re frequently overlooked by clientele, though.

This could happen because the server skims over them, or the guest is hard of hearing, or they’re trying to reign in an unruly child and paying little attention. You can eliminate those barriers to customer’s ordering of specials by placing them directly on each table.

You can do just that by using frames. Here are two ways you can create a special board on each individual table so that guests have easy access to the specials in writing.

First, create a printable template that matches your restaurant’s theme seamlessly. You’ll input the daily specials and print them off. Use a heavier cardstock or linen paper to create a classier feel. Place them in stand-up frames on each table. You don’t even need to glass over the paper in this method, the frame and heavier paper will keep the print-outs in place.

The second option is place a background paper in a frame with glass. Hang the frame on the wall above each table to prevent guests from touching and smearing the writing. Write the specials neatly with a dry erase marker each day. The looks you could create with this method are limited only by your imagination. Use black paper and neon or white dry-erase markers to create a put-together style, or use a lightly patterned paper and a complementary shade of marker.

For more ideas for using frames in your home or business, check Frame Warehouse out on Pinterest or Facebook!

Using Frames in the Garden

You’ve seen plenty of clever uses of frames on the blog here at Frame Warehouse, but there’s not much on using frames outside. When you think of frames, you probably think of pictures, which are not a very weather-proof décor item, but there are plenty of non-photo ways to use frames. They can even create the same classy, well-rounded effect they have inside the home outside. Use frames to jazz up your garden with these ideas:

Garden table: Create a simple but beautiful table or plant stand in your garden with a frame. Simply follow the directions in this custom frame serving tray blog, then screw on four prefabricated legs from a hardware store following the instructions provided. If you use a large frame, you can even create a little potting bench.
Framed wall pots: Hang pots on a fence, trellis, or the side of the garden shed and then add frames around them as a finishing touch. Be sure to purchase frames that are larger than the pots you’re using by a couple inches on each side to leave room for the plant to grow.
Outdoor Chalkboards: Add pizzazz to an outdoor chalkboard so your littles can get creative outside. Hang a chalkboard that’s ready to be used in the elements or add chalkboard paint to an existing smooth surface and frame it to create a beautiful chalk art display or custom chalk sign.

Weatherproofing

Frames, generally speaking, aren’t up to surviving intact in the elements. If you plan on doing one of these projects in an area that’s exposed, you’ll want to weatherproof your frame (and other materials) first. You can do this by spray painting the items with an outdoor-worthy clear coat.

Follow Frame Warehouse’s Facebook page for more framing advice and ideas!