DIY Shabby Chic Decor – Memory Frame with Proxxon Power Tools
This is the time of year when I love to be creating and decorating our home. I am always working on some sort of DIY shabby chic decor project.
I’ve just finished a month long DIG in my shop, so much of a dig that I literally had to have a construction dumpster on site – that’s a big purge let me tell you and yes, it took me an entire month (more on that later). But amongst all the sorting and purging, I found a couple of short 10 inch wide boards that I knew would make perfect photo frames. This momma loves her Proxxon power tools. There is something about the high I get with I create with them. It literally makes me feel like I can accomplish anything – It’s quite a DIY – HIGH. So I grabbed the wood, got out my scroll saw and drill press and combined this “reclaimed” wood with some cardboard, yardsticks, clothes pins and photos to create the perfect DIY shabby chic keepsake for our recent high school graduate (by the way, where did the time go?)
Watch the diy video on how to make this Shabby Chic Rustic memory frame here
- Proxxon Scroll Saw
- Proxxon Drill Press Proxxon
- Mini Chop Saw or hacksaw
- Wood 10” wide by desired length
- Cardboard * Yardstick
- Paint in desired colors (tan/white)
- General purpose glue (for crackle finish) Sponge brushes
- Twine
- Small clothes pins
- Wooden embellishments (like the birds)
- Pencil
- 1/4” drill bit
- 1/16” drill bit
- Stapler
- Sanding block
- 20 gauge Wire
- Photos Decoupage medium
- Wire Cutters
DISCLAIMER: Follow all manufacturers safety instructions when working with power tools. Tie long hair back and always wear eye protection. This project is not suitable for children. Always be aware of where your fingers are so they do not come in contact with the saw blade. When changing blades in the scroll saw or drill bits in the drill press always make sure that the tools are un-plugged! Make this project at your own discretion. I can not be held responsible for injury.
Step 1: Draw a line all the way around the frame approximately 1/2” inside of the edge. It does not have to be straight, add a little bit of a curve for a more shabby chic look. Drill a 1/4” hole just inside the line towards the center of the board and insert the scroll saw blade and attach it to the scroll saw.
Step 2: Cut out along the pencil line. This will cut out the center of the board so that you have a solid frame to work with. You may have to cut this out in two separate pieces depending on the length of the board. Sand edges
Step 3: Cut out a piece of cardboard the size of the frame. Paint as desired with chosen colors and allow to dry.
Step 4: Cut 5 pieces of yardstick two inches long and sand all the edges. Size photos down in photo editing program, print out and then decoupage onto front of yardsticks. Let dry.
Step 5: Drill a 1/16” hole into the top corners of each photo block. Cut a length of wire, inserts ends of wire through the holes and twist ends of wire to secure. Remove excess wire with wire cutters.
Step 6: Apply desired finish to frame. I chose to add a crackle finish (here’s a video how to do that).
Step 7: Attach twine to the back of the frame with stapler. Hot glue cardboard back on to frame. Attach wooden embellishments to front with hot glue and hang pictures using clothespins attaching them to the wire.
Download and Print the Instructions here!