Guys! For a while I’ve been considering making some art for our lounge room because I could create something unique AND save a few dollars in the process.
And while I wanted to use a large canvas for this, I couldn’t help but feel like canvas art can sometimes feel a little outdated.
Does anyone remember back in the late 90s – early 00’s when it seemed like ONLY canvas prints were cool, and frames were out?! Today I feel like it’s switched again, and framed art is back in, in a BIG way.
So I decided to have a go at putting a frame on my own canvas! In my opinion it just lifts the canvas and brings it into 2020. You could use this tutorial for a fresh canvas you want to paint, a photograph printed on canvas or even a bought piece of canvas art.
Read on for how to add a wooden frame to a canvas print!
You Will Need:
Canvas Artwork
Hammer & Small Nails
Wood Glue (PVA)
Wooden Trim
Hand-saw or electric saw
For a video run-through of this project, check it out in my Instagram Highlights.
The main material in this project is the wooden trim. Fortunately, there’s a whole aisle to choose from at Bunnings (or whatever your local hardware store is)!
To start, measure the width of your canvas. Mine was around 38mm wide, which meant that the 40mm widths of trim were the perfect size for this project. Your hardware store should have a range of trim so you can find the perfect width if your canvas size is different.
I went with Tasmanian Oak trim which is a lighter yet warm textured wood.
Measure the perimeter of your canvas so you know how much wooden trim you’ll need, and add a few extra centimetres to cover the ends.
To cut the lengths, I found it was best to measure and mark them using the canvas itself, rather than a ruler. Keep in mind that the canvas may be a little shorter or longer than the advertised length, and each side may have a little more or less than the other. I found the bottom of mine was slightly longer than the top edge, so its definitely best to measure out each side individually!
Measure and mark on the trim the lengths of the top and bottom of the canvas (or shorter sides). I wanted the outside, vertical pieces to cover the ends of the shorter pieces.
Cut these two pieces and place them on the edge of the canvas, so you can mark the longer sides out to cover the ends of the shorter pieces.
Cut these pieces out too. I used a handsaw to cut, so its definitely possible to do this project without any power tools!
When you’re ready to put the pieces together, run a line of wood glue along the shorter end and then nail the longer edge on at the 90 degree angle.
Once you have three sides glued & nailed together, run some glue around the inner edges of the wooden frame and place it onto the canvas.
It’s easier to then run some glue along the final edge and nail this fourth side on.
Allow the glue to dry for 24 hours, and you’re done!
As a side note, if you wanted to make your frame really finished, you could sand it smooth before nailing together and add a finish like a wax, oil or lacquer. I prefer a more natural look so opted to keep the wood raw and unfinished.
You could also get a white trim or paint the wooden trim white, black or whatever you like! Would you add a wooden frame to a canvas print? I love how it turned out and would love to do some more canvases around the house now!
