If you’re looking for a unique and inexpensive way to display your favorite photos or artwork, a hanging half frame may be just what you need. This DIY project is easy to make and can add a touch of personality to any room in your home. Here’s how to make your own hanging half frame.
Materials
- Print / photograph in your chosen size
- 2 pieces of lightweight wooden strips (e.g. Balsa wood)
- Wood stain and cloth
- Natural rope
- 2 eye screws large enough to fit the rope through
- 56g/2oz. polymer clay block
- Stapler / staple gun
- All purpose glue
- Scissors
- Ruler
- Pencil
- X-acto knife
Step 1
Follow the recommended temperature to preheat your oven for the polymer clay. Use the X-acto knife to cut two even blocks of clay. Roll these in the palm of your hand until round and smooth. Use a pencil to make a hole all the way through. You can then use something wider to make the hole larger until your rope fits through the middle. Place on a baking tray and bake for the recommended time.
Step 2
While the clay is baking, use a cloth to rub the stain into the wood, giving a richer, deeper tone. It’s a good idea to put some old sheets down or do this outside so as not to ruin a home surface. Leave the wood to dry completely.
Step 3
Take one of the wood strips and measure about an inch in from either end and mark with a pencil.
Step 4
Then twist both eye screws into these points, until fully in and secure.
Step 5
Then lay the top of your print facedown over what will be the top wooden strip (with the eye screws in). This will be the back of the picture. Align the paper carefully so that it’s placed centrally and straight. Then staple either end and go along the wooden strip, stapling to secure. I used an ordinary stapler opened up for this, as the wood was so soft, but harder woods may require a staple gun. Do the same with the bottom of the print to attach to the other wooden strip. For extra hold you could use the all purpose glue to fix the print to the wood before stapling.
Step 6
Thread both of your clay beads onto the rope and thread a rope end through one of the eye screws. Tie a tight single knot and then do the same on the other side. Trim the excess and use the all purpose glue to seal the raw edges. This will stop them from fraying and the knot from untying.
Source: Design Sponge
