How to Make a Picture Frame

How to Build a Picture Frame

I had to learn how to build a picture frame for my WeMontage post earlier in the week, and of course wanted to do it myself. I love the montage all by itself, but really wanted to frame it and make it stand out. Due to the size of the picture frame I needed, I had to learn how to build a frame, or pay hundreds of dollars having one custom built. Making a picture frame can be both rewarding, and maybe a little challenging. The most challenging part of building a picture frame is choosing your product to use, and then cutting the correct angles. Today I am going to show you how I built a picture frame for the WeMontage, and I am also going to tell you about a few mistakes I made while building so you can avoid those! You can also make a smaller frame using the same items below!

Supplies needed:
Wood or Crown Moulding (I used crown moulding, which is very pliable, and easy to break)
Circular or Table saw to cut your angles (and all safety gear to go with it)
Finishing screws
Kreg jig
Wood glue
Tape Measure
Pencil (with eraser if you are like me)
220 Sand paper

Supplies

The first thing you want to do is measure your boards for the length of the picture you are framing. This is the length of the inside of the board, and then your angle will make the actual board longer. For instance, the portion of the frame that is next to the picture boards are 72″ long, and they are 82″ along the top after including the angle. Those are my 1 and 4 boards. Your 1 and 4 boards should be the same, and your 2 and 3 boards (42″ on the inside, 52″ on the outside for the WeMontage 6ft x 4ft frame) should be the same. See diagram below:

Measuring and Cutting your angles

Take your Kreg jig and place the angled portion of the frame on the bottom. Then using your drill bit go ahead and make your holes for the screws.

Angle pieces and drill holes

This step is for a smaller frame. For the large 6ft x 4ft frame I made, this step will NOT work because of the type of material I used. I did attempt, but my boards were so heavy they stripped the screws right out because it is a composite and not wood. It was just too heavy. Using wood is much easier, and placing these together with wood glue and letting dry will work! A 6ft x 4ft frame on the wall would be extremely heavy, so this is why I chose composite, and also why I had to skip this step. For making your smaller picture frame you will want to do this, or if you are using wood you will want to do these holes with the Kreg jig.

After placing your holes with your Kreg jig, add some wood glue to the inside pieces, clamp them together, and then screw your pieces together.

Use wood glue and a clamp, then place screws into the holes your made with the jig to secure

(Note I did not have the pieces completely together in the picture above, but you want to get them as close as possible.) This works really well on a small wooden frame. Our six foot by four foot frame was a beast to handle, so we opted to keep the pieces separate and attach directly to the wall.

Once you have your pieces together, or if building a large frame like this, you need to attach it to the wall. Measure your spot, use your stud finder, and grab the level. You want your work to be hanging straight!

Once you have your frame together you need to fill in any cracks. Sand if you had to use filler, but if your angles are right, you shouldn’t need any filler. (I needed a little filler for my angles and to cover up my drill holes.)