I didn’t have what I needed today. So I used what I found.
What I wanted was a black painted wooden frame. I had one somewhere – finding it was another matter and there was no time to delay the Monogram of the Month project for the May/June issue.
I found a wooden frame but it was stained brown. It didn’t have glass—(I didn’t need glass anyway). But it also didn’t have a cardboard back for me to use as a template for the project.
I needed cardboard or cardstock to make a template and also use to wrap my embroidered fabric around for framing.
Folders looked too flimsy. I eyed book covers (gasp!) but I couldn’t bring myself to destroy a book cover for my art piece. I rummaged through my office and found an old spiral notebook. The cover was made of a light-weight plastic. It was perfect!
I measured the inside of the frame and used those dimensions to cut the plastic notebook cover.
Since the plastic was translucent it made it super easy to use it to center my embroidery underneath—then I trimmed away the excess fabric from my stitch out – leaving enough to fold around the plastic.
I taped the fabric wrapping it tautly around the plastic.
The embroidered art piece fit perfectly inside the frame. An extra detail I find important is finishing the back. Although no one will see the back of the frame, finishing it is an important detail I don’t like to overlook. Besides, it’s a chance to add that unexpected flair. I happened to have a hot pink piece of scrapbook paper tucked away in my office supplies. (What a lucky find!). I trimmed it away and secured to the back of the frame.
Now the frame is complete!
Be sure to read Part 1 of Monogram of the Month for May/June 2015 Volume 92 issue for steps on how I created the appliqued heart using the bernette Embroidery Software Customizer.
8 COMMENTS
Carol Caseber
10 years agoYou can take a brown paper bag and cut to size of the frame and glue to the back of the frame. THEN lightly wet the paper backing all over. The paper will then shrink and seal up the back tight as a drum. No wrinkles!
Susan
10 years agoCarol-GREAT tip! Thanks for sharing!!!
Denise Holguin
10 years agoLove that tip! Thank you, Carol!
Denise
Casie
10 years agoIt looks like you are a proponent of my motto “Semper Gumby” [always flexible].
Denise Holguin
10 years agoToo cute!
joanne banko
10 years agoVery resourceful Denise! Love the graphic grafitti backdrop too. By the way, my favorite frame for embroidered items is the artist canvas mounted on wood frames. Simply wrap embroidered fabric over the edges and staple or glue to the back side. I like to add grosgrain ribbon to the side edge as a finishing touch. Hangs easily on the wall, mounted over a small nail or a recycled size 16 jeans needle.
Denise Holguin
10 years agoVery good tip, Joanne! I will have to try that next!
Denise
Debra Christie
10 years agoThis tip works very well. I have used it for years.