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DIY: Making Picture Frames

Displaying and hanging your favorite photos is great way to share your pictures with friends and family when they visit. It is also a great way to create a wall of memories from past vacations. While you can buy your own frames and mats, if you are comfortable using some basic woodworking tools you can build your own photo frames out of a variety of different types of wood. Pick wood that matches the picture. If you have print of a rustic setting, using old barn board for your frame may be a good choice.

Things You'll Need

Miter box or saw
Router
Wood glue
Corner vice
Photo mat (optional)
Glass for frame
Staples and heavy duty stable gun
Poster board
Masking tape

Instructions

- 1
  Decide if you will be matting your picture before you put it into your frame. Using a mat will increase the size of the frame you need to build. An 8-by-10 print would traditionally go into an 11-by-14 frame when placed in a mat first.
- 2
  Measure the inside edge of a length of board to match one dimension of the print. If you have matted a print as suggested in step one, measure 14 inches on the inside of the board. Repeat the same process on the other end. Place the board into a miter box or miter saw and cut the board at a 45-degree angle. This will give you the correct angle that will create a corner when glued together. Cut the second matching side to the same dimensions. Repeat the process for the other two sides of the frame. Sand the cuts so they are smooth.
- 3
  Create a small recessed ledge where the glass will rest in the frame using a router. By running the router along the back of the inside edge of each side of the frame. The recessed ledge should be equal to have the thickness of the piece of wood you are using.
- 4
  Run a bead of glue along the cuts of the frame, assemble the frame and put the frame into a corner vice. Allow the glue to dry, remove the frame from the vice.
- 5
  Lay the glass into the frame. Lay the matted picture into the frame. Cut a piece of heavy poster board to cover the rear of the frame. Staple the board in place and run a length of masking tape over the staples to protect the wall from them.

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