Layered Striped Picture Frame {tutorial}

Oooooo, I had been waiting for THIS package for a few days in eager anticipation! I was beyond giddy when I pulled this in the backdoor after it'd been dropped off! {the things a mom get's her kicks from...}

I was scheming up a new look for my mantle this fall and decided I wanted a little more color than your typical autumn palette. I used this abnormal frame combination to add a little funk and an uncommon color.

Today I wanna tell you how I made it. It was a fun process!

Matrials Needed:

Poppy Seed Projects frames: the Carson 11x14 with the Eleanor Trim Piece 11x14 {or your chose of frame}
NOTE: these kits do not come with glass, only backing for the frame, not trim piece

• Black & Turquoise Acrylic Paint {you choice of color} ~2 fl oz
• Paint Brush {almost any size will work, I recommend avoiding sponge brushes}
• Palm Sander {small light weight sander or just a couple pieces of sand paper}
• Painter's Tape
• Krylon Clear Coat Spray Paint
• Elmo's Wood Glue
• A Bunch of Heavy Stuff
• Some kind of Hooks for hanging {if you chose to hang} OR a Big Easel {if you chose to display on a stand}

We'll jump past the unwrapping-the-box-and-packing-materials-like-a-small-child-on-Christmas step and get to the the break-out-your-cheap-acrylic-paints-and-go-to-town step.

I chose black because it's neutral and I had a lot of it. If you have a small bottle of acrylic paint, it will take nearly the entire bottle. I used a rolling sponge brush for the 1st coat but I don't recommend it. It soaked up all the paint and made streaks as I tried to squeeze the paint out as I was going. I would do at least 2 even, thin coats. Make sure the back and front are covered. If you're a little impatient like me with projects {due to the limited time for crafting that mothers have}, paint the back 1st. Then put 4 push pins in the 4 corners of the back of the frame. Flip the frame over, resting on the push pins. No you can paint the top. You don't have to have the back coated overly well.

When it's dry, use a light weight sander and buff up the trim. I think this gives it a more layered look and some depth. Then measure and add painters tape the width you want the FLAT paint stripes to be. I used the 1/4 inch tape {I think} and did 2 strips wide. HINT: the black showing will be the glossy stripe.

Take the frame outside and spray an even coat of the CLEAR spray paint over the frame. You might want to do 2 thin coats but I just did one.

After that dried {super fast}, I buffed up the trim again. I think it was super cute with just the stripes before the laying but LOVE the layering even more.

Next, I painted my smaller, trim piece with the turquoise paint. Again, same painting "process". {You can so do this at the beginning when you're painting the other frame OR while the other frame's clear coat is drying. I just didn't have that much available space.}

After the blue is dried, sand the edges, wash off, and do your clear coat, buffing after just like the black frame.

After everything is dry, lay your trim piece on top CENTERED, where you want it. Then, hold it in place and trace lightly with a pencil so you can see where to add the glue and put the trim back. Squeeze a thin layer of glue inside your pencil line and the inside of the frame. Don't get it too close to the pencil marking or too thick or it will ooze out. Gross. I forgot but they recommend doing a layer of glue on both pieces of the wood. Ooops. Mine hasn't fallen apart yet ;o)

After adding glue and placing the trim piece back on top, add something HEAVY on top. I don't own clamps but if you do, that would be perfect. I used tons of Matt's giant books, hehe. Over night would be a great idea, but again...my kids would attack this in the morning. So, after several hours, I gently removed the books {and DVD sets of TV series'} and did the scientific test: tipped it up right and shook gently watching to see if it moved at all. NOPE! We're good to go.

Here's the result:

You can go to the Poppy Seed Projects blog to read my guest post about this addition to this "Photo Fanatic's Home" AND to the Homemaker's Challenge where I shared about creating "A Year-round Frame for a Seasonal Mantel"!!!