DIY Painting photo frames

It is safe to say that over the last few weeks I have been doing a lot of painting – although one person I live with (who shall remain nameless) thinks I should have been doing a whole lot more. Unfortunately for him…I’m not the Queen of Consistency – I’ll do masses one day, then I won’t pick up a paintbrush for a few days. I’m not always in the mood to get covered in paint and painting is something you have to be in the mood for otherwise it won’t look good. I do however enjoy doing fun painting or ‘my painting’ as I call it (ie. non essential) and have managed to fit some in whilst Winston has been having his naps. So far –  a stool, a shelf and a heap of photo frames.

This pine shelf was just a basic buy from Homebase. I think it cost around £7. I’ve painted it white then sanded and waxed it.

I’ve been buying old photograph frames from charity shops (I refuse to pay more than £1.50 per frame which I realise is quite uncharitable of me). I’ve got quite a collection going on.

Very soon, they will all be ready to house pictures I’ve cut from magazines (mostly Pretty Nostalgic which I love but can’t afford on a monthly basis!). Here are are some finished ones, but I have about six more that I’m working on:

This wooden stool made a lucky arrival as my father-in-law on his last visit tried ‘fobbing it off’ (unbeknown to me) to my husband (an unwilling customer) so it nearly didn’t make it into my life, but I’m very glad it did.

I’ve used a mixture of chalk paints and standard emulsion. The frames aren’t waxed but the shelf and stool mostly certainly are to resist frequent handling. I love this collection of 1829 chalk furniture paints – the colours are spot on. They were purchased from B&Q but I’m sure you can get them at most DIY shops. For wax I’ve used Ronseal Brushing Wax in Neutral. Wax on. Wax off. It’s so easy!

E xx