How to make a simple, economical strip frame :

A simple and inexpensive way to give your painting the professional look of a frame is by making a strip frame.

I use lattice strips from Home Depot. Make sure they're squared off on all four corners, some have rounded edges. You'll also need some 1/2" brads, a hammer, saw and any paint, stain or varnish you'd like to use.

Painting, staining and varnishing is best done first, then touch up after.

• Lay a strip across the top edge of the canvas and mark the strip flush to each edge, then cut 2 that size. (Straight 90 degree cuts work best, just to the outside of your line - a miter box is helpful to make sure your cuts are VERY straight.)

• Lay the top strip in place (I like flush to front but it's up to you) and gently nail through the strip and into the stretcher frame. Repeat a few times with more nails along the top depending on the size of the canvas (yes, you'll nail through the canvas in a couple places on the side, it's okay all the kids are doing it! Some very famous and expensive paintings were framed this way - Mondrian comes to mind). Repeat on the bottom edge.

• For the sides: Lay a piece of lattice along one side and measure the same way you did with the top (you do the sides last so that the butt joints are at the top and bottom where they won't show when the painting is hanging). Try to measure and cut precisely, it can be a bit dicey! Nail in the sides. Touch up the paint, attach some picture hanging hardware to the back and you're ready to hang.

These pictures are the only ones I have of a frame I made recently for a piece that's hanging in a Santa Fe restaurant. I decided to continue the painting around onto the frame but black or stained looks nice, too. It'll give you the idea anyway. I circled the nails in red so you can see how well they're hidden once you paint over them.

HOME