Pallet for Home

custom frames, dittle dattle, DIY frames, frame tutorial

When I posted my gallery wall frames, many of you requested a tutorial.  Well, it took me a little while to get back into the workshop but here it is! 

Warning:  Lots and Lots of photographs!  I’m a visual type person and I assume if you are a reader of Dittle Dattle then you are too! 

Here is the frame that I will showing you how to build today.  The one’s hanging on the wall are 8x10 photos with an over~all size of  14”x16”.

For this tutorial I will be using a 4”x6” glass taken from a dollar store frame.   I will be working through the layers starting with the glass size first.

For the second layer, choose some thin boards.  I have a verity of boards that I used.  It really doesn’t matter as long as it is thin and when everything gets painted you won’t notice if you do use two different materials for the next layer either.  I did and you can’t notice. 

Let’s get going….

Starting with your glass size, make the next layer 3/4” to 1” larger all the way around.  In my sample 4x6 glass, my next layer will be 5x7.

I used a band saw to cut my thin boards.  Don’t be intimidated!  This tool cuts like butter.  If you’ve used a electric knife in the kitchen you can handle a band saw.  Promise.

**I do use the guide (gray bar that the board is push up to) to keep my cuts straight.

Repeat the same step for the the third layer making it 3/4” to and 1” inch larger.  My third board measures 6”x8”ish.

Now for the fourth and final layer.

Because this is a smaller photograph, I am only going to go about an inch bigger over~all.  However, on my gallery wall, I wanted to make them larger so I went 3”-4” inches larger all the way around.

The overall height for this sample will be 9” inches.

The overall width of this sample will be 11” inches.

I scratched out a rectangle with my overall dimensions and knew that I wanted 5 boards, three wide and two narrow.  Then I figured out the size of each board.  I will cut the boards just a smidge narrower to allow the gap between each board.

Thought I share with you a quick pick of my Dad working on the other side of the workshop on a hand-turned wooden bowl.  I love the shape of that bowl!  Check out his Etsy shop:  Woodexpressions

For the final layer, I’m using pallet/rough sawn lumber. 

**Just make sure the thickness of the boards are the same!  It will make your life easier!!!

Cut the rough sawn boards and lay them out alternating wide and then narrow.  Use a square to make sure everything is straight. 

**I place a piece of tape on the square so I know my overall height.

***Lay the pieces upside down.

Cut two small strips of rough sawn wood SMALLER than your overall height.  Mine measured at 8” inches.

Glue and nail strips to the back of the boards.

Lightly sand and round corners.

STOP HERE!  I like to paint all my pieces first before final assembly.

Once the pieces are painted and sprayed with poly, glue and nail everything together except the glass.  I nail through all three pieces of wood under where the glass is.  The photo will cover any nail holes. 

**Just make sure your nail heads are just under the surface of the wood so that it doesn’t puncture a hole in your photograph.

These are the pieces you will need to mount the glass to the frame.

Drill a small hole next to the glass on center of all four sides.  Be careful NOT to over tighten the screw as it will crack the glass.  You might be able to put a rubber washer between the glass and the speed nut.  I haven’t tried it myself.  

I cut my own glass, that’s why it’s not straight! 

Check out more photos at the Wall Gallery post.   I’ll be back tomorrow to share why I haven’t been around lately.

I know I should be working on Christmas projects but I am in full swing with this Teen Lounge.  The room is surprising coming together quickly (at least by my standards).  And I have to admit, it’s a pretty cool space to hang out in.   I just finished up a few large painting projects and hope to get on to my Christmas decorations later today.

A few weeks back I posted a gallery wall collage of some ideas that I came up with in Photoshop.  I invited you to “LIKE” your favorite and leave a comment.  Thank you to everyone that voted and shared your ideas!  I really appreciate you taking the time out of your day.

I was thrilled that #6 was the most “LIKE”ed option!  Why?  because it was my favorite too!!  That really shows me that the readers of Dittle Dattle get me!  ha ha     I guess us like-minded people gravitate to one another.

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But Wait!!!!

So why did I choose #4?

Well, I have a couple of reasons. 

• First my teenage son thought the room was getting too “busy” looking.
• Secondly, I have a little something up my sleeve for the adjacent wall and if he thinks it busy now he might be completely overwhelmed if I over do the gallery wall.
• Thirdly, my kids liked #4 the best and ultimately it is their room. 

I purchased a whole group of frames at Ikea.  you know the ones?? basic black with white mats.  As I was laying them out on the floor it just seemed boooooorrrrrring!  With the oversized clock in black,  those black frames weren’t working for me. 

Well, I remembered seeing some really awesome frames in a boutique during our summer vacation in Upstate NY, and then I also remember I bought a quart of ASCP (Annie Sloan Chalk Paint)  in Providence that I hadn’t even popped the lid to yet.  So before I knew it, I had a project in the making.

Just using scrap wood, glass, and paint, I have four amazing frames for FREE!  yeah!

The glass and photographs are held by simple square nuts and screws.  Look closely…… my glass cutting is not square!  LOL  That just adds to the charm!

The ASCP Providence was a bit bright for me at first so on the second coat I mixed in a little ASCP Old White.  With the sanding and distressing it really gives the frame another dimension. 

Don’t you just love them?

Would you like a tutorial?

Honestly they were easy to make and I’m sure I will be making more.

I still may do idea #6 but I’m waiting to see how the other wall comes out first. 

And one last update I wanted to show you… the new rug.  I showed you an Ikea one that I purchased a month ago that was made of natural fibers, but that had to be returned!  You could not walk across it with out it feeling like thousands of needles were poking your feet! ouch!!  I have seen the same rug all over the internet and NO ONE mentioned how uncomfortable it was.  That’s not me.  That’s not this blog.  I will always give you my honest opinion.  And I always have an opinion!!! he he

While browsing around Ikea, again, I spotted this colorful one, and with my mother’s confidence, I brought it home and was completely delighted!  The kids like too, which is also a bonus.  The coffee table is something that the Hubs and I had in one of our first apartments.  It was actually sitting at the backdoor waiting to go to Goodwill when I thought….. “what if….. I sprayed it black?”  It’s not the look I’m going for but it will do for now.