Seaside Memory Picture Frame

 

Seaside Memory Picture Frame

Capture the memory of your vacation, and enjoy it all year round with this customized picture frame. Fabric dye was used to stain the unfinished wood, so the frame can be made any color you like. Gather up all the seashells you collected, and glue them to a dye-stained picture frame.

Supplies

  • Rit Dye: Teal
  • Unfinished 5" x 7" wood picture frame
  • Seashells, assorted sizes
  • 2-Cup Glass measuring cup & metal spoon
  • Rubber gloves
  • Fine sandpaper (#220) or steel wool
  • Tack cloth
  • All-purpose craft glue
  • Clear polyurethane
  • Brushes: 1" foam, 1" chip
  • Plastic wrap
  • Small cloth, paper towels
  • Plastic drop cloth
  • Optional: Jelly jars for storing dyes

Instructions

  1. Cover work surface with a plastic drop cloth.
  2. Remove glass from picture frame and sand wood lightly. Remove dust with tack cloth.
  3. Dye Preparation: Wear rubber gloves when mixing dyes. For powdered dye, pour dye into a glass measuring cup and add 2 cups boiling water or very hot tap water. Stir until dye is dissolved. For liquid dye, pour ½ cup dye into measuring cup, and add 2 cups very hot tap water.
    Tip: Brush dye on back of frame to check color; if too dark, add more water; if too light, add more dye.

    Note: When staining wood, keep dye hot for better absorption. Dyes can be stored in jelly jars and reused several times. Stored dyes must be reheated in the microwave before use. Cover with plastic wrap and heat on high for 2 minutes or until steam is created.

  4. Prepare Teal dye and brush to front and back of picture frame. Allow to dry.
  5. To seal the dye-stained wood, apply one or two coats of polyurethane. Rub lightly with sand paper or steel wool between coats. Allow to dry.
  6. Glue seashells to picture frame. Tip: Remove unwanted glue with a wet paper towel.

Details