DIY Vintage-Inspired Picture Frame from Hot Glue: Easy Budget-Friendly Tutorial

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You know that feeling when you find the perfect vintage frame at an antique store, only to flip it over and see a price tag that makes you wonder why you keep going to that store? Yep, been there. I love having vintage styled gold detailed frames in my home, but sometimes they can be hard to come by. I shared a few weeks ago a tutorial on how to make your own from dollar store frames (linked here). Well, today I'm sharing how to make them another way! It still includes hot glue...but you'll be making the frames out of it entirely! Yep! Let's dive in and I'll teach you how to make your own DIY vintage-inspired frame. Check out the full video tutorial on the bottom of this post! 

Supplies: 

Silicone square mold frames

Small mold frames

Hot glue gun (jumbo) 

Rub 'n Buff in Gold Leaf

Black Acrylic Paint

Printer/printed artwork

Scrap fabric

Magnet, jute, or ribbon

Step 1:

Heat up the glue gun, and squeeze the hot glue into the mold. Make sure to get into every nook and cranny. You may want to go back through and see if you miss any areas when you are done. I tried this with one of the smaller or mini hot glue guns, and it works...just not super well. The hot glue needs to come out of it faster than it can heat it up.

I used these bigger frame molds that are about 4inches x 3 inches, and the the super small ones. I thought it would be fun to have a variety.

Step 2:

Pop the frame out of the mold. 

Step 3:

Using the black acrylic paint, paint the entire frame. It does make a difference if you paint the back, so I would suggest doing so as well. Make sure you get all the sides and inside as well. Wait for the paint to dry.

Step 4:

Now get the Rub 'n Buff and a stipple brush, and apply it to the entire frame.

The black paint is a super important step since it shows through the gold a little bit. I have done it without the black paint, and the gold just isn't as rich or vintage looking enough.

Step 5:

These frames are going to have a lot of random strings of hot glue. Here's your chance to clean them up if you haven't already with some sharp scissors. 

Step 6: 

Once you have printed out the artwork you want for the frame, cut it to size a little bigger than the opening.

Hot glue the picture onto the back of the frame. 

Make sure it is centered and where you want it before the glue cools down.

Step 7:

Now it's time to make the back a little prettier...this is an optional piece but will help with the hanging process. Grab a scrap piece of fabric and cut it smaller than the frame itself, and then hot glue it onto the back as well.

Step 8:

Now to hang it! You have a few options. 

Option 1: hot glue a magnet to the back.

Option 2: Hot glue a string of jute to the back and hang it from that.

Option 3: Tie a ribbon from the string of jute and hang it from the ribbon! 

These turned out so great! You would never have thought they were made from hot glue! 

They are the perfect little size for gallery walls. Or you can easily hang the smaller ones as magnets on your fridge. 

Here's what they look like hanging from a ribbon:

They blend in so perfectly with the rest of my vintage frames...and hardly cost a thing! 

You can see how I made my other vintage inspired frames from dollar store frames here:

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Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”