DIY frame for canvas painting from hardware store

Molding seen on edge. The thin
end will be the outside of the frame.

This project used:
-molding which can be purchased at a hardware store seen on end to the right.
-wood glue
-corner clamp
-cheap mitre box
-black stain
-gold acrylic paint.

1) Calculate the needed length of wood. To do this first measure the size of the object to be framed. In this case the painting was 24x4". Next measure the width of the molding being used. In this case it was ____. The sides of the frame will need to be the length of the object + 2 times the width of the molding. This length will be the outside length of your wood. The inner length will be the size of the object to be framed.

The frame being glued with
pony corner clamp 

2) Cut the frame with your mitre box. Make 110% sure you are cutting the correct way. It is easy to cut the angles in the reversedirectopn. Measure the inner length of the object and mark those cuts as that number is exact and the outer length is less accurate.

Painted Black

3) Glue it together with the corner clamps. Shown here with the Pony 9166 CORNER CLAMP . This has only OK reviews on amazon but I have had good luck with it at its price.

4) Hmm so pretty all glued together.

5) Paint it as desired. I used a black stain and then I painted highlights with gold acrylic paint from the art shop.

With trim added

how to build a cheap frame for a painting

So I start buy buying molding from the hardware store

measure (on the inside of the inner rim) and cut 45deg angles with a Mitre Box
After cutting I tape the inside, and open the outside and put in woodglue. 

Then clamp while the glue dries.

wow. done. that was quick.

Framed Twins Homer Hanky

This is not a twins blog but as the playoffs approach I need to show off how I am displaying my 1987 Homer Hanky.

custom pet portrait of my dog, framing a greeting card.

I know you all like seeing photos of other peoples pets right? you are the internet and all. This piece of course fits well with the theme of Mike is Bored...now with more black and white

In any event here is a portrait of my dog. Done by my brother. He has done a bunch of these and sells them with printed greeting cards and the original piece. This is one of the greeting cards framed in a cheap IKEA pine frame with a piece of heavy paper cut for the mat I am not using the acrylic it came with. To get a better sense of the quality of the portrait (and to poor quality of the matting) click on the image to enlarge. This is a very cheap way to fill lot of space and all you need is a box cutter.

It is just a word of mouth business at this point but if any loyal (or otherwise) reader is interested email me at: mikeisboredatblogspot@gmail.com and I can get you a quote... I think.

My dog of course is most famous for being featured in: my dog sings Werewolves of London but dog likers might also be interested in skunk costume for my dog.

how to use pegboard and molding to frame a huge poster cheap

Michael's wanted 200 or 300 to do this so i thought it was a DIY situation. This post is a work in progress so I will add as the project moves forward. I am framing my newly aquired copy of Barbara Remington's "wilderness" poster for Tolkins Lord of the Rings.
This is a simple frame that uses only molding, pegboard and some paint. I will not be using acrylic or glass because the glass would be super expensive (190) and the acrylic carried by Homedepot and Lowes comes at the largest in 37x72" sheets at about $45. in any event I can't trim the poster.

0) supplies: 3x8' crystal white OG cap molding. this one that will have a square grove for the board. 8x4' block board. Black paint in the smallest size. (this is what i used. if you are trying this I would consider using pine molding and maybe a lighter backing like a sheet of cardboard.)

1) Cut down Pegboard to the 37x72". I measured marked and then cut with a jigsaw. Should use a rotary saw but I don't have one. The pegboard does give you a nice sense of if you are cutting straight though.

2) Cut the "Crystal White Cap" to the desired lengths. This is some garbage molding that they sell for about $3 for 8'. In retrospect I should have dropped the extra $ to get pine because this is really lousy stuff. Sort of foam like.
This is a tricky cut because the length is a length in the middle of a 45degree cut. I needed to mark the backside of the molding. I made the cut with a hand Miter Box Saw.

3) Once the pieces were cut I stapled the back of the molding diagonally as shown with a hand Staple Gun. At this point only the frame is attached the pegboard is just there to hold the angle.

4) I then flipped it over and filled the cracks in the molding with wood glue. held in place with books and let dry overnight. unfortunately it is so cold the wood glue is taking longer then 8h to completely set. Wishing I had used pine so i could get more staples and less glue in.

5)I sanded the glued edges once dry.

6) I then painted the frame with black acrylic paint. Took about three coats to get a complete finish on the glossy molding. Did i mention the crystal white is terrible. I should mention that again.


7) looped some wire through a number of holes in the back of the sheet fro hanging.


8) carefully lined up the frame and taped it to the back of the block board.

Great hops(humulus lupulus) illustration plates from very old botany books

I plan eventually to make my own. until then here is the source material
i am accumulating. A great set of images to inspire your beer labels.

The first is from google books medical botany or illustrations and descriptions. The text of this book is quite interesting and worth reading. info on lupulin extraction and the role of hops in beer and other medical uses.


From a german botany book from 1885. Flora von Deutschland Österreich und der Schweiz by Otto Wilhelm Thomé









Kholer's Medizinal Pflanzen.
if you click around this place will sell prints of the images of all the medicinal plants. Tempting but not ready to drop the $40 yet.



Thanks to the help from ubc botanical forums peoples in finding these on the big web.

 Uncertain of the source of this one. Found it on this page.










"National Geographic Society, 1915-1924...elegant and articulate representations of 175 medicinal plants found in North America." Many more Scanned and posted here.

One more with unknown source. posted in Aaron Rossells flicker.

Make Your Own Beer - Shop equipment and ingredients and view helpful videos and tutorials at Northern Brewer - Click Here!