large DIY bracket frame

Hello! My name is Mindi and I share my projects over at MyLove2Create. It is such a pleasure for me to be guest posting at My Repurposed Life! Gail is one of my favorite people and I am happy to help her out as she recovers so she can get back to inspiring all of us!

Today I am sharing a fun cut out frame! I am sure you have seen these cute frames all over the internet, I am going to show you how I made my own.

A few weeks back my friend asked if I could help her make a large cut out frame and of course I said yes! My husband is a teacher and so I borrowed his projector. I searched "svg label shapes" on google and found a ton of cute shapes. I printed mine on transparency paper and then we set up the wood on the wall and traced the image right onto the wood. The best part is you can make it any size you want!

Then we simply cut out the shape with a jigsaw and sanded the edges smooth. Super easy, right? My friend took hers home and finished it there. Mine sat in my living room waiting for inspiration.

Inspiration finally came when I got my family pictures back. I had a 16 x 20 canvas print that needed some pizazz!

First I painted the cut out frame blue, to match my kitchen colors, but it needed something....a pattern.

Since I didn't have a stencil, I decided to make my own. I picked a shape, one with four sides, because I knew it would be easy to line up into a pattern. I cut out the shape, using a cutting machine, several times onto contact paper.

I wanted my blue to be the dominate color, so I had to paint the board white. Once painted, I placed on my homemade stencil. I started by putting my first shape in the center at the bottom of the board and then worked out from there. It took a little time, but not much...and, it was totally worth it.

Then I painted it blue (again) right over the stencil. I had to do two coats because the paint I used was thinned out from spraying my Narrow Cottage End Tables. You can see in the right picture I easily peeled off the stencil. This is my favorite part and it gets me so excited!!

I didn't do the inside because my canvas picture was going to cover it up. Why do more work than needed! I simply added a screw right into the middle of the board to hang my canvas on. I used d-ring hooks on the back and hung it on nails in the wall.

And, I was done!! It makes such a great statement and makes me happy!

I did some distressing on the edges and over the whole board. This board by the way is MDF, I had gotten it free off craigslist a long time ago, and it has patiently been waiting to be used.

Not bad for a free project right?!! I am a lover of free and repurposed items! Of course, that is why I love Gail's blog so much!

I am so pleased with how it turned out! Have you done anything with cut out shaped frames?

Thanks so much for reading! I hope you come and pay me a visit, I would love to have you!!

Hugs,

Mindi

Mindi—I love the bracket picture frame you made for your family canvas portrait! The stenciling is perfect. (I use that same contact paper for my stencils.) The color looks great with the canvas. Thanks so much for sharing your project today!

Gail Wilson

Website

Hi, there! I’m Gail, the author and mastermind behind My Repurposed Life. I’m obsessed with finding potential in unexpected places and believe that with a little hard work and imagination, any old thing can be made useful again—myself included! I hope you’ll enjoy the journey and pick up a few tools along the way… literally!

Comments

See comments Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

nicole

November 08, 2013 at 11:34 pm

This is so beautiful Mindi! WOW! I really love the detail you added to the frame! The color is amazing!!! Another 10 friend!!!

erin @house envy

November 08, 2013 at 9:46 pm

What a great DIY and tutorial. Love the frame. Thanks for sharing Mindi!

girlfromwva

November 08, 2013 at 1:24 pm

looks lovely!!!

Julie @ follow your heart woodworking

November 08, 2013 at 9:04 am

I love bracket shaped items, and this is no exception... plus what a beautiful family!

- Mindi
  
  November 08, 2013 at 9:35 am
  
  You are so sweet Julie!! Thanks!
cassie

November 08, 2013 at 6:53 am

i love this! it looks amazing!

- Mindi
  
  November 08, 2013 at 9:34 am
  
  Thank you so much Cassie!

Gail Wilson

About Gail Wilson

Reader Interactions

Comments

See comments Cancel reply