As with the majority of my projects, this is one simple, pretty and adaptable. Use whatever lace and fabric scraps you have or, because you’ll need such small pieces, indulge yourself and buy a few special pieces for your lace picture which would usually be too expensive to use on a larger project. A selection of ornate ribbon could work equally as well.

1. Measure and cut your card to the same size as the back of the frame. Measure and cut your fabric to be around 1cm larger all around than the back of your frame.
2. Place your fabric, right side down, on a flat surface. Place your card centrally then apply a strip (or two if the tape is narrow) of double-sided tape along all sides of the card. Use this to stick the ‘flaps’ of fabric to the reverse of the card. You may need to cut the corners of the fabric off to prevent it being too bulky. Turn right-side up again.
3. Cut your pieces of lace and/or ribbon to be 1cm wider than the fabric (2cm wider each side than the back of the frame) and place them on the fabric. Try them in different orders until you achieve your preferred look, using pins to keep them temporarily in place.
4. Turn the whole piece over and use more tape to stick the lace permanently, as you did with the fabric. Turn right-side up again and re-assemble the whole frame (adding a picture hook if needed).

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Is the board showing off the jewellery or the jewellery showing off the board?! I had been saving this fabric (a favourite shirt which I had torn) for something special – with its floaty/romantic feel I think it looks great in the worn-look frame, propped up against a white wall.

Painting the frame

1. Take out the backing board and glass and, after washing the frame thoroughly, sand the frame lightly to give a key for the paint to adhere to and wipe with a clean cloth.
2. Paint at least 2 coats of undercoat, leaving to dry as per the manufacturer’s instructions on the tin. The first coat will probably look very patchy and the second should give a better coverage. Try to ensure you get your paint in all the nooks and crannies as they are the places that wouldn’t naturally incur much wear.
3. Apply 2 top coats, allowing more time than the manufacturer recommends – if you don’t allow adequate time for the paint to harden properly, the paint will ‘drag’ when you start to sand it.
4. Start sanding the edges and protruding parts of the frame, paying most attention to those parts which would naturally incur the most wear, like the corners. Leave the deeper crevices un-sanded and try not to be too symmetrical with the ‘wear’.

Wipe the whole frame with a clean damp cloth to remove the loose paint & sandpaper. Apply a coat of wax, leaving it to harden before ‘buffing’ with a clean cloth.

Adding your fabric

1. Measure and cut your card to the same size as the backing board of the frame. Measure and cut your fabric to be around 3cm larger all around than the board and cut your cotton (if using) slightly smaller. Also cut your wadding to the same size as the backing board or just slightly smaller.
2. Place your board, right side up, on a flat surface. Stick your wadding centrally on top using double-sided tape along all sides of the card. Place your cotton fabric on top of the wadding (if using), using staples to stick the ‘flaps’ of fabric to the reverse of the board. Repeat with your pretty fabric. Because your fabric pieces are different size, you should avoid problems with trying to staple in the same area. OR if you prefer, pin this into place for the moment. Turn right-side up again.
3. I chose fabric which already had lace and beads attached. If you are using separate lace, you can place it horizontally or vertically – if using ribbon it will need to be horizontal to allow you to ‘hook’ your jewellery between the ribbon and the fabric. Cut it to be 1cm wider/longer than the fabric and place it on the fabric. If you are using lace, sew it all the way along by hand. Because it is padded this should be relatively straight forward, however you may find it easier to detach the fabric from the board first, as already suggested, then secure afterwards. If you are using ribbon, you will need to place it horizontally and stitch it at the sides plus a couple of other places midway to enable your jewellery to slip between the ribbon and fabric. Stitch on the buttons to act at hooks. The buttons I used came from the same original shirt.

Re-assemble the whole frame, adding a picture hook if necessary.

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Shabby-chic, shabby-vintage, anything but plain shabby! The most difficult decision for me, was what not to do with it. I made this Painted Picture Frame into a chalk board and it was just so quick and easy! It’s so versatile that I’m sure if you could use the same turotial to make lots of frames – all different, but great.

1. Take out the backing board and glass and, after washing the frame thoroughly (and glass, if using), sand the frame lightly to give a key for the paint to adhere to and wipe with a clean cloth.
2. Paint at least 2 coats of undercoat, leaving to dry as per the manufacturer’s instructions on the tin. If your frame is plastic, like this one, be careful not to ‘overbrush’ the first coat as this can sometimes wipe the wet paint off again. The first coat will probably look very patchy and the second should give a better coverage. Try to ensure you get your paint in all the nooks and crannies.
3. Apply 2 top coats, allowing more time than the manufacturer recommends. If you do not allow adequate time for the paint to harden properly, the paint will ‘drag’ when you start to sand it.
4. Start sanding the edges and protruding parts of the frame, paying most attention to those parts which would naturally incur the most wear (like the corners) and leaving the deeper crevices un-sanded. The overall effect your are aiming for is natural but not too symmetrical.
5. When you are happy with the overall look, wipe the whole piece with a clean damp cloth to remove the loose paint & sandpaper. Apply a coat of wax, leaving it to harden before ‘buffing’ with a clean cloth.

The post Painted Picture Frame into a chalk board, a Quick and easy Tutorial appeared first on At Home In Cornwall.