Upcycling an old frame
You need
· a photograph · a second-hand picture frame that includes an outer frame, firm backing board and a mat or mounting board · glazier points or tiny nails · masking tape · wide brown picture framing tape · small pliers · hammer · nylon line · D-ring or small screws · small paintbrush · dropcloth · Resene Enamacryl enamel for the frame (I used Resene Breathless) and Resene SpaceCote Flat for the mat (I used Resene Black White).
Step 1: Disassemble frame
Lay the frame front side down and remove the back tape and any pins. Notice how the frame has been put together. Remove any brown framing paper used to cover up the inner workings. Often the stiff backing board is held in place with staples, tiny nails or glazier points. Use pliers to gently remove or bend these out of the way. Step 2: Clean glass Carefully take out the glass, wash it using warm soapy water and lay it on a tea towel to dry. Polish dry. Step 3: Paint frame and mount Wipe the frame free of dust. Lay the frame on the dropcloth and coat with paint, making sure you cover all edges that will be visible when hung. Many old frames have mats that are good enough to reuse. Give it a fresh look with a coat of matt white Resene SpaceCote Flat paint. Allow to fully dry.
Step 4: Reassemble frame Lay the frame face down on a clean, flat surface. Carefully place glass back into the frame and check the surface facing you is lint-free. Place the photo behind the mat and secure using a strip of masking tape along the top. Lay the mount face down on the glass. Before taping everything up, turn the frame over and check the photo is positioned correctly and that no lint is trapped behind the glass. Return any glazier points or tiny nails back into the frame to hold the backing board and glass in place, using new ones if neccessary. Tape all around the edge using wide brown picture tape.
On the back of the frame, screw in two small screws or D-ring hangers on either side, an equal distance from the top. Firmly tie the nylon line between rings. Clean any stray fingerprints off the front glass and your picture is ready to hang.