DIY Embellished Frames

It’s beginning to look a lot like………..BOO!

If I could transform all my indoor decor into Halloween for the month of October, I would.  Pillows, curtains, frames, candles: all would be switched out for their spookier counterparts.

But I can’t.  First of all, I don’t have the storage space.  Second of all, have you seen the prices of all those holiday decor items?

Regular frame= $2.99.

Frame with a crow painted on it=  $10.99.

I decided this year to make my own Halloween inspired frames.

You can use any of these techniques with whatever colors, papers, and stencils.  They would be a perfect baby or wedding gift.  They could also be customized for any holiday.

I started with these unfinished wood frames from Michael’s craft store. They ranged in price from $1.00- $3.99.

 

 

 

I wanted to make them Halloween inspired without screaming Halloween.

And this is how they turned out:

These frames might look fancy, but I swear to hot glue that they were super easy to do.

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DIY Frame Index:

Crackle Frame in this post

Lace Stencil Frame

Paper Punch Frame

Stainess Steel Frame

 

 

Supplies for Crackle Frame:

You can find all products here

Oval Frame

Martha Stewart’s crafters clay nature starter kit

M.S. paint- Beetle Black in High Gloss

M.S. paint- Arrowhead

M.S. Weather Crackle

M.S. Onyx glitter (optional)

Paint Brush

Black and White photo

 

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Crackle Frame How To:

1)  Take out middle insert of frame and put aside.  Decide what color you want the cracks to be.  That is the first coat you put on. (I used black)

 

2)   Paint a base coat of black. I used high gloss, but any black will work. Don’t forget to do the inner ring and the outer parts.  Wash brush, which may be obvious to you but I have 143 dead hardened paint brush heads that say otherwise.

 

 

 

 

 

 

3)   While the black paint is drying.  Start smooshing the clay into the mold.

This is actually the first time I’ve ever dealt with this “clay.”  I find it more like foam than clay.  It’s almost like an updated version of plaster that I used to set in molds.  The benefit of this new clay is that it is more flexible and less likely to break when you get it out of the mold.

It takes 24 hours to set in the mold.  You can just leave it there. Or, I suppose make the rose the day before, which I didn’t do.

 

 

 

 

 

4)   Honestly, I’m a little impatient so I have a craft hairdryer that I use to speed up drying times.  Right about now is when I’m doing that on the black paint if it’s not already dry.

(And if I’m being completely honest, once the rose was firm but not completely set, I took it out of the mold and hair dried it too)

 

 

 

 

 

5)    Next put on a layer of “weather crackle” on top of the black paint.  It’s clear but will go on very glossy.  Put on an even layer covering entire surface.   Wash brush.

 

6)   Don’t use a hairdryer on this step.  It ruins the crackle effect.  I know this from past experience.   BE PATIENT.   And since I’m not, I just started making another frame during this time.

 

7)    Look to see if the shiny has dulled some.  I usually touch a corner ever so lightly.  The weather crackle stays tacky, so if it’s tacky and not wet?  You’re good.

 

 

 

 

 

8)   Top coat.  Now, this part is a little tricky.  I’ve seen many a crack job gone wrong.

First, pour the paint you think you’ll need on a paper plate.  The key to good crack is keeping a wet edge.  You have about 3-4 seconds from the point you touch that paint to the frame before it cracks.  And don’t rebrush the part where you just painted.  You’ll smear the crack job.   The lighter the coat, the smaller the cracks.  The heaver the paint goes on, the bigger the cracks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9)   Now sit back and admire the cracks.  It’s like magic.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next day,  take your flower out from the mold.

I painted mine black and then sprinkled it lightly with some black glitter.

Then I hot glued it to top of my frame.

 

 

Voila.

 

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Disclaimer:  I was sent Martha Stewart crafts.  I’m not going to lie, it was a box of awesome.  I may have already framed the box in a gilded frame.    I used the mold clay kit they gave me on this project.  The rest of the items I already had or purchased with my own money.  I wasn’t told what to craft or what to use.   I didn’t have to write four different craft posts but let’s be honest, who could get through one post with all of that?  Also?  Overachiever.   And I don’t think I expressed any opinions, but if I did, I think we know they’re mine.    So there.

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Oh!  And this was my 100th post!