You will need

• length of crown moulding
• mitre box
• saw
• paint in a colour of your choice
• paintbrush, paint tray and dropsheet
• sanding block
• epoxy glue
• tongue depressors or ice-cream sticks
• pencil
• tape measure
• mirror tape or adhesive

 

 

 

When choosing crown moulding, make sure it fits in your mitre box. The crown moulding we used was a bit too wide for our mitre box, but we were able to tilt it slightly.

To make
1 Determine the size of the frame you want to make based on the picture you’ll be framing. Make a sketch of the four sections of the frame (see the middle photo above) and write the inside measurements on the drawing. Remember to allow extra for the mitred corner (45°angle) that must be cut at both ends of each section. Mark the first section on the back of your frame moulding at the routered edge. You can also cut a slit in the routered edge to make the marks more obvious. NOTE Remember to take the routered edge into account when working out the size of your frame. Our frame moulding had a 5mm routered edge.

2 Place the crown moulding in the mitre box (refer to the top right photo) with your pencil mark directly opposite the outward 45o slot, then saw off the first corner with smooth backward-and- forward movements.

3 Move the crown moulding so the second pencil mark is now directly opposite the inward 45o slot. Saw off the second corner in the opposite direction to the first.

4 Repeat to complete the remaining three sections of your frame.

5 Use a sanding block to sand each corner lightly. Make sure the four parts fit together snugly to ensure a neat finish.

6 Assemble the frame by glueing the four pieces together with epoxy glue. Mix only as much glue as you need for the first two parts. Apply the epoxy glue with a tongue depressor or an ice-cream stick. Smear the glue along the corners’ sides and press the two pieces together until the glue has set – this may take a few minutes. Ensure that you hold it very still so that the corners don’t move.

7 Mix a little more epoxy glue and repeat with the other two parts, then leave to dry completely.

8 Mix some more epoxy glue and use it to glue the two L-shaped pieces together. Ask someone to help you hold the frame until the glue has set. Leave to dry properly.

9 The frame is now ready to be painted in a colour of your choice. We used Dulux PVA in Flamingo Fun1 (pink) and Plascon Polvin in Ocean Jewel (turquoise) for our two frames. Apply two to three coats of paint to the frame, allowing each coat to dry before painting the next.

10 Attach the frame to the wall with mirror tape, a suitable adhesive like Pattex No More Nails or any other method you prefer.

Text and images: Ideas magazine