Guest Post DIY Frame by 504 Main

This morning we have a great crafty project from another one of my DIY Club friends!  Holly @ 504 Main is very crafty!  She does a lot of stuff online, in blogland, and in real life. She is also a published writer, currently working on another book.  I’ve often told her I don’t know HOW she does it all!



Hey there! I am Holly and I typically can be found hanging out on Main Street - 504 Main that is...and I also hang out at The DIY Club. BUT, today, I am beyond excited to be visiting here at My Repurposed Life and helping Gail take a break for such an exciting event! I do all kinds of crafting and DIYing over there (I also cook, bake, and chat about other fun stuff). I love to work with unusual objects and that is where this project comes from...

One day, way back when, I went to the hardware store with the intention of buying some sort of tool...I cannot even remember exactly what now, because just like shiny, sparkly things distract me, so do tile and wood and glue and paint... and then I saw it {or them}...biscuits! I have never used them...for what they are intended,
but I {heart} their wooden petal shaped goodness.

I added a vintage egg print from The Graphics Fairy.

As thus these lovely little biscuits were my inspiration for this little picture frame...OK, they were the inspiration for a tray but along the way the decoupage, paint and ink pad got in a fight and the frame won!

I went for a worn vintagey look with my project, but I could totally see this project clean and simple with a smooth biscuit surface, painted in a creamy white, or a slick black {with a few more steps - see note below}. Scrapbook paper would also work very well.

Supplies
-Picture Frame - I used the $1 unfinished wooden frame from the craft store
-#20 Biscuits
-Decoupage medium
-Paint
-Brushes or sponge brushes
-Exacto knife or scissors {small pair}
-Decorative Paper, i.e., Scrapbook paper {I used the book pages left from the Birthday Chandelier}
-Sandpaper
-Ink pad {pigment ink..I used black)


DIY it!
FRAME:
-Paint picture frame, let dry
-Dip paper towel in ink and rub it on edges of frame. I also rubbed mine lightly all over.


BISCUITS:*
-Paint biscuits {one side}, let dry. (NOTE: You could get away without painting the back of the biscuits...the tips slightly stick out over the top of the frame...a quick rub in the ink would work too)
-Gather your decorative paper.
-Apply decoupage to the unpainted side, and lay "decoupaged" side down on the paper.
-Let dry.
-Use Exacto to cut around biscuits - it does not have to be perfect...we'll be sanding the edges and the rough edges of the paper will "disappear."
-When dry, sand edges of each biscuit.
-Rub edges of biscuit in the ink pad {or use a tool to apply ink - this is where you can also rub the back in the ink quickly, if you choose not to paint the biscuits}.


ASSEMBLY:
-Layout your biscuits on your frame so you know how to place them {after this, you will need to take them off, you can place them along side the frame on the table for reference}. I chose to have the edges hang off the edge of the frame, but you could have the points of the biscuit flush with the edge of the frame and the points "over" the photo area.
-You must have painted and inked frame and paints/sanded/decoupaged biscuits ready.
-Apply a layer of decoupage to the top of the frame, let dry slightly, apply another thin layer.
-Apply layer of decoupage to the painted side of the biscuit and place on frame, as per layout.
-Continue this process until complete, let dry.
-When dry apply a layer {or two, your preference} to the entire frame and biscuits, getting into the grooves with a smaller brush.
-Let dry...TA DA!

*Biscuit Notes:
Biscuits come in a few different sizes, so you can pick smaller ones too. They also have {or at least the ones I purchased} a texture and the size number stamped on them. I played around by sanding a few down, and by also applying a layer of wood compound/filler. Doing these steps definitely adds some time and extra steps to the project...It really depends on the look you are going for.

Have fun!





Thanks so much Holly for a great tute!  My guest bloggers are really showing ya’ll some great tutorials. Stop back later today for a great tutorial on how to make treats for your doggies!
gail