Picture Frame Valentine | Love
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If you have an old picture frame hiding in a closet (or stacked in the garage), this is the perfect excuse to pull it out. This little Valentine “Love” project is part décor, part keepsake, and it comes together with a few simple layers that make the details pop. It’s a sweet way to decorate for the season, and it also makes a thoughtful gift for a wedding or Valentine’s Day.
So, it’s time for our Thrift Store Decor project, and we all know that you can always find a picture frame at the local thrift store. I bet you already have one on hand you can use for this Valentine | Love project.
Picture Frame Valentine | Love Project
Step #1 was to find a good picture frame. It was cold in the garage; I was not going to dig too far. Luckily, this fabulous specimen was right on top of the stack!
This is our Thrift Store Day. Be sure to check out all the projects below.
Oh, look how much sawdust the picture frame has collected. I’m not sure why Lulu was attracted to it.
Clean & Paint Picture Frame
Because the frame was so dusty, I took it to the sink and washed it with warm water. After that, I dried it with a soft cloth.
I just got four quarts of All In One Paint by Heirloom Traditions. I used the color Bone with a small chip brush. Instead of dipping the brush in the quart, I poured a little into a plastic bowl.
As always, I started with the back of my project. I do that because if something gets scuffed as I turn it over, it will be the back, not the front.
Do You Use a Hair Dryer When Painting?
Do you ever get so impatient that you reach for your hair dryer to help paint dry? Oh, wait, that’s me! While I work on projects, I may do several at a time, allowing me to do something while the paint dries. For this project, I wanted to get on with it, and not wait for the paint to dry. 🙂
Why Do I Use Wax Paper?
I often use wax paper to keep paint from sticking while I wait days for my projects to cure. But because I was rushing this one, I pulled out the wax paper when it was time to flip my picture frame over.
It kept the back of the frame from sticking and made it easier to rotate the frame while painting.
Although this picture frame is a Valentine’s project or a way to express love, I didn’t want it to be red. But I did want the pretty details to show up. I found that wiping the paint away with my finger gave me the best result.
Picture Frame Valentine Ephemera Page
I wanted a nice handwritten image as a background. I am so happy I found this Power of Song from the Graphics Fairy
After printing the page, I added it to the freshly painted picture frame.
These are the embellishments I gathered from my stash for the picture frame Valentine | Love project. On the left is how they were in their original state. On the right is what it looks like after I added some paint to the key and lock, and distressed the paint on the heart.
Did you see my article, Five Techniques for Distressing DIY Projects? An emery board is my preferred method for distressing. Look closely at the side-by-side image; you’ll see the difference after using the emery board.
This is where I’m deciding the placement of the items on the ephemera page within the picture frame. Initially, I couldn’t decide whether to cut a large piece of cardboard and rest it on the back of the picture frame — sort of a shadowbox style. Or if I wanted to place the easel where it should go, let the Valentine Love items POP off the page.
Valentine Picture Frame with Ephemera Page
I think the Valentine Picture Frame with just the ephemera page looks great, right?
Hot Glue Items
I used a hot glue gun to place the embellishments onto the ephemera page in the picture frame.
Valentine Picture Frame Project
Do you love this easy thrift store picture frame project as much as I do? Once I started working on it, I couldn’t stop.
See other Valentine projects from My Repurposed Life.
But before you go, check out all the fabulous projects from the Thrift Store Team below!
- Picture Frame Valentine | Love from My Repurposed Life
- Tin Heart Valentines Day Project from House of Hawthornes
- DIY Nautical Trash Can from My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
- $2 Restore Chair from Domestically Speaking
- Thrift Store Trash Can Makeover from Our Southern Home
- Winter Makeover from Sadie Seasongoods
- Upcycle Thrift Store Finds Into A Candle Holder from Petticoat Junktion
What a lovely and special project!!!! I might have to do something like that with the love letters that my husband wrote to me when we were in 9th grade….we’ve been married 50 years:) So many great projects can be done with frames. I even have a Pinterest board where I keep up with them.
Oh my gosh, that’s such a sweet idea! I would copy the letters, not use the original ones. 🙂
Love how the frame turned out. Question though, did you paint the floral on the frame black 1st?
I have an antique oval frame with my Grandmother in it but its goldish. I’d like to modernize it like this.
No, I didn’t paint the detail on the frame, it was already very dark.
If your frame is goldish, I would paint it black first. Make sure you let the paint cure before you paint the lighter color. Otherwise when you wipe it back, you’ll see the gold again.
Or, you can paint the parts you want black, then apply a little vaseline, paint the topcoat. The topcoat won’t stick where the vaseline is.
I hope that makes sense. 🙂
gail
What a sweet art piece!
Thank you Maryann
It was a fun project!
gail
Such a pretty makeover, thanks for the wax paper tip!!!
I LOVE the wax paper trick. It works really great if you paint a small project and don’t want to wait for the paint to cure. Or, if you paint a table, and want to place something like a cable box on it. You know, how those things stick to painted projects!
gail
Again, I like your makeover best. I love that you could make it all out of your stash. It’s been a year at least since I was in a thrift store. I really miss going to stores. And my stash, except for fabric, is running really low. I guess I’m making more quilts. I do have an outdoor small round pub height table. I want to get glass for a mosaic at the stained glass shop. Then I think a couple of metal stools will be cute. Hopefully I’ll get out of the house soon.
Jennie,
I haven’t been to any thrift stores since Covid either. I do miss going. It’s always been my boredom beater. Browse when it’s too hot to work outside, etc. But I’m still basically not going anywhere.
Good luck with your project, I know how it is when you’re wanting to get things moving along…..
gail
love how it turned out. great job!
Thanks friend!!!
It’s always so nice to see you stop by!
gail
So Cute!
Thank you! wouldn’t it be cute as a wedding gift, using the scrabble tiles to personalize the gift?
gail