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Framing Children's Memorabilia: Creating a Trio of Frames Make a frame gallery to inspire the very young artist. From "Get Framed" episode DGFR-102

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Do you have so many of your children's drawings on your refrigerator that you can't even see the door? Expert framer and host of DIY's Get Framed Shahnaz LaCaze has just the project for you. Working with student Julie Ward, Shahnaz demonstrates how to create a color-coordinated trio of frames that turns a blank wall into a junior art gallery for displaying the latest work from the little "Picasso" in the family.

The first frame will house and highlight a "picture of the week" that can easily be changed to showcase new pieces of your child's work. The second frame will feature a simple chalkboard using roll-on chalkboard paint and attaching a ledge for chalk and eraser. The third frame will surround a corkboard that is customized with a hand-painted airplane using a simple transfer technique with tracing paper and acrylic paints. Finally, embellishments are added for a personal touch.

If you'd like to take on this project yourself, the steps and materials list below will get you on your way.

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Materials:

3 unfinished wood frames (identical frames; dimensions determined by size of artwork)
strip of balsa wood that measures 1/4" thick x 3/4" wide x 8' long
(Again, determined by size of artwork. The molding will be used to create a spacer).
strip of wood molding (cut to size for use as a ledge to hold chalk).
acrylic paint in red, light blue and army green.
paint brushes
painters tape
butcher block paper or a drop cloth to cover your work surface
masking tape
1/2-inch thick foam core, cut to size of frames
glass jars to hold paint

	Figure A
	Figure B

Measuring, Creating Spacers and Painting

• Measure the size of your artwork to determine if a standard-size or custom-size frame is needed (figure A). Standard sizes can be found at any frame or department store. Custom sizes will be more costly as they will have to be specially made by a custom framer. In this particular project, our artwork measures 18x24 (a standard size), so we will want frames that accommodate that size. We also will require the frame to be 1-1/2 inches deep so that our artwork, chalkboard and corkboard will fit neatly inside.

• You'll first need to create spacers. These elements are important because they keep the artwork away from the glass. Artwork touching glass is a common made mistake in framing and can ruin your artwork.

• Measure the long side of frame, inside the frame. Ours is 24-1/8 inches.

• Cut two 24-1/8" lengths from balsa wood using a craft knife.

  Note: Protect your work surface from cutting using butcher block paper or a drop cloth.

  Tip: When cutting balsa wood, score the wood several times on all sides with your craft knife at the desired cutting point (figure B). The piece should then easily "snap" at the scored line.
  

  	Figure C
  	Figure D

  
  

• Place the cut pieces into the frame (figure C).

• Measure the short side (inside of frame, including spacers). Our side measures 17-7/8" because of the width of the spacers (figure D).

• Cut two 17-7/8" lengths from the balsa wood.

• Set aside all spacers for painting.

• Paint the three wood frames, spacers (one side only) and ledge (to be attached later).

• Paint the frames first, and while they are drying, work on elements that go inside the frame. Be sure to also paint the spacers for a finished look since the spacers will be visible in the finished piece. To match the decor of the child's room, we use three different colors on each frame.
  

  
  

• First, mix the three separate acrylic paint colors into three glass jars. That way you can preserve the colors you've created for any touch-ups you may need down the road.

• Using blue painter's tape, mask off the section to be painted first (figure E).

• Each section must dry completely before painting the new color so the edges are clean when the painters tape is removed (figure F).

  Tip: Don't cheat drying time and remove the tape earlier or you won't get a clean line. Drying time is usually about 20 minutes but you can speed up the process with a blow dryer.

  Figure E

  Figure F

  
  

  Figure G

  
  

• Use foam core backing. Ready-made frames often come with thin cardboard backing. To make our project look better and more substantial, we replaced the cardboard with 1/2" thick foam core to support the artwork (figure G).

  Less expensive option: Use two sheets of 1/4" thick foam core taped together on the sides with masking tape.
  

  
  

• Since the purpose is to replace the artwork frequently, create a pull tab for easy removal of the foam core from the frame. Simply take a 3" strip of tape, fold down one end of the strip to create a 1" pull tab and attach the remainder of the tape over the top edge of the foam core (figure H and I).

  Figure H

  Figure I

  
  

  RELATED PROJECTS: Framing and Hanging Techniques Photos and Frames Protecting and Displaying Collectibles

  
  

  ALSO IN THIS EPISODE:
  	Framing Children's Memorabilia: Creating a Trio of Frames
  	Framing Children's Memorabilia: Assembly
  	Framing Children's Memorabilia: Chalkboard and Corkboard Additions