Wood picture frame

Woodworking: How to make a picture frame

First you should decide whether you want to frame your picture/ image as it is or want to add a border. Borders are useful if your artwork is small or if you want to frame an image in order to create a focal point. Use a mount that complements or contrasts the artwork. You can either buy a suitable ready-cut mount or make your own by cutting piece of  mounting card to the required size and cutting out a window to fit your image. Attach the image to the mount with masking tape..

Making the picture frame is an easy DIY job. Choose a suitable piece of wood and, using a mitre saw, cut it to sections to fit around your (mounted or not) picture. Allow for external mitres at the end of each piece in your calculations. Then glue and pin the four pieces together – use special corner-angled staples.

Now decorate your frame – use some filler at the corners if your cut isn’t perfect, then paint or varnish the frame to the desired finish.

Get a piece of glass cut – this should be slightly wider than the "window" in the frame. Then cut a piece of hardboard of the same size for the backing. Position the glass, the mounted (or not) image and the backing in place. Hold them there using strong tape or frame clips. Then attach two eyelets about two thirds up the sides of the back of the frame and connect a piece of wire or string through them and tie firmly.

You are now ready to hang your picture! If your picture is not too heavy, just use a picture hook which can be easily tapped into the wall with a hammer.

Tips for Interesting picture frames

Instead of the 45 degree mitre corners go for plain right-angles
Make a frame from raw or irregular pieces of wood
Play with proportions – add a thick frame or wide mounts to small images
Use unusual shapes – frame many images into one long, horizontal frame
Decorate your frame with objects that complement your image (for example a picture of the sea – decorate with some shells)
Give some glamour to your artwork – add some mirror pieces to the frame or paint it with pearly, glittery or metallic paint
Make your frames look timeless – limewash, age or gild them

You can also make funky picture frames out of paper. Read more about it!