Fabric-Covered Frame

If you have some leftover fabric, say from the drawstring bags you recently made, use that fabric to cover an inexpensive frame. I used beaver-print fabric to make a frame for Steve to display a photo of his Wood Badge patrol, but I can think of a lot of other applications. Need to hem a prom dress or other special occasion fabric? Use the scraps to cover a frame that will hold a photo of the special event. Making a quilt or blanket for a new baby? Make a matching frame. Outgrown a Halloween costume? Use the fabric to make a frame to display Halloween photos.

Note that this project takes a LOT of drying time. Ideally, you'll let multiple layers of Mod Podge dry completely between applications, then let the whole project cure for 3+ weeks. In other words, don't get started on December 23 thinking you'll have Christmas gifts ready in time for family and friends.

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Fabric-Covered Frame

Materials:

• unfinished wood frame (affiliate link here and throughout post)
• fabric (bunnies!)
• scissors
• Fabric Mod Podge
• foam brush
• cardstock (optional)

Steps:

Remove the backing and the insert from the frame. If it has glass, remove that too. Place the fabric upside down on your work surface and lay the frame on top. Cut around the frame, allowing about 0.5" of extra fabric on all four sides.

Use the brush to apply a thin coat of Fabric Mod Podge to the front of the frame. Carefully set it facedown on the upside-down cut out piece of fabric.

Flip it so it is face up and let it dry for 15 minutes.

Working with one side at a time, apply Mod Podge to that side and back of the frame. Gently pull the fabric over smoothly and press it in place. Do the same thing on the opposite side. Now move on to the top and bottom sides. You'll do the same technique of Mod Podge and gently pulling and pressing the fabric into place, but you'll need to tuck any extra fabric at the corners underneath.

Cut an X in the fabric covering the opening from corner to corner. Trim the fabric so that there is enough to cover the inner edge of the frame when you wrap it toward the back but not so much that it gets in the way of the tabs that hold the photo. After trimming, apply Mod Podge to the wood and press the fabric into place.

At this stage, it will look something like this. As you can see, I didn't worry too much about making the back look good.

Let the frame dry overnight. At this point, you can either put a second coat of Mod Podge on to really seal it well, or leave it as is. Either way, now you need to let it cure for at least 3 weeks. 

After it is cured, add the photo, then cut a piece of cardstock to cover the back and glue it in place using craft glue. It protects the photo, but can be removed without harming the fabric if you ever want to switch out the photo. If you want to use the included dowel to prop up the frame, punch a hole in the cardstock before you glue it in place. 

Alternately, you could add a sawtooth hanger. Steve's frame will sit in a picture rail, so I didn't do either of those.

As long as you plan ahead to allow for the long curing time, these make very nice gifts. They take very little active time and cost very little to make. Give it a try!