How to Frame a Canvas Without Powertools

Learn how to frame a canvas WITHOUT using power tools!  Now you can get the polished, finished look of a framed canvas without worrying about using power tools.

I am so excited to be participating in my first Create with Me DIY Challenge!  It’s the neatest idea – you all (my fabulous readers) get to choose from 4 materials and I/we have to make something, ANYTHING out of that supply!!

{check out the bottom of this post to vote on next month’s material}

Last month, the readers chose a canvas.  Which, I have to admit I wasn’t thrilled about!  When I think of a canvas, I think of a beautiful abstract art piece full of life and watercolor paint.

And, I can’t paint.  Or draw.  At all.  It’s basically at a 5th grade level.  Embarrassing.

So, I knew I had to think outside the box for the canvas.  Any ole’ pretty art wouldn’t do, mostly because I couldn’t DO pretty art.

That’s when I came up with the idea of doing a framed canvas, without power tools!!  So many of the projects I do here on the blog require power tools.  And, while I’m generally okay with that, I know many people who either don’t have or don’t know how to use power tools (like me!!).

Well, you’re in luck!  You CAN frame a canvas WITHOUT power tools.

Supplies:

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• Canvas (I used 8″x8″)
• Clear Pine Craft Wood (2 packs)
• Saw and Miter Box
• Rustoleum Wood Stain in Jacobean
• Glue Gun
• Floral Fabric Washi Tape
• Scissors
• Pencil
• Gloves for staining

First, start by measuring your pine wood against the length of the canvas.

Using the pencil, mark a line where to cut the wood so that each piece is a little longer than the length of the canvas.  You want the top of each cut piece to be level with the next flat piece of the frame.

In other words, the length of each side of the frame is equal to the length of the canvas plus the width of frame piece.

Once we had the pencil mark, we lined the mark up with the straight cut opening on the miter box (technically the 90 degree mark)and made the cut.

Next, we used that cut piece as the template and marked all the other pieces to match.  (Since the canvas is a square, each piece is the same length)

Now that we had 4 equal length trim pieces, it was time to stain them!  I love the Jacobean stain; not too light, not too dark.

Stain 5 sides of each piece.  The only side that doesn’t need stained is innermost side that will be touching the canvas.  Don’t forget those edges!!

I let the pine dry overnight.  You don’t have to sand the pine at all because it’s a completely smooth finish!  That saves so much time.

Next, I grabbed my hot glue gun and got to work.  I covered the innermost (unstained) part of the wood with glue and stuck it to one edge of the canvas.

Remember, once you have the piece on it’s difficult/impossible to move without damaging the canvas so try to line it up pretty straight the first time.

Press firmly for a few minutes to make sure it’s adhered.

Continue the same steps with the remaining 3 pieces of wood and you’re finished!!

Now for the heart…

I simply drew a heart in pencil over an area we accidentally got some stain on and used washi tape to fill it in.  Make small cuts to the washi tape to get fill in the round edges of the heart.

I used this same washi tape for the pumpkin place cards and I’m obsessed!

Keep in mind, if you can actually make pretty art you can do that, too!!  Then have a gorgeous frame around it!

And, that’s it, my friends!

It’s currently hanging (via 3M strips) under the DIY Irish Blessing Framed Sign.  I just need one more piece there to make that little area complete…

Now it’s time to pick next month’s challenge material!!  I would be thrilled to use any of them so I can’t wait to see what y’all pick!

Hop down under the survey to see what the other ladies made!!  Hint: they’re probably better at “art” than me 😉

Create your own user feedback survey

If you can’t see the survey in your browser, CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

Butterfly Canvas- Our House Now a Home

Mixed Material Art- Little Bits of Home

Ombre Butterfly Art- Refresh Living

Map Canvas Wall Art- My Life from Home

How to Frame a Canvas- Making Joy and Pretty Things

Two Minute Canvas Art- Love Create Celebrate

DIY Leaf Art- Our Crafty Mom

Lighted Halloween Canvas- Knock it Off Kim

Wishing you a joyful day!