Large picture frames can be pretty darn expensive. I was stoked to find a large, chunky picture frame for $10 at a garage sale. While debating whether to insert a picture or a mirror in the frame, it took a tumble off the fireplace mantel. I swear it fell in slow motion off that mantle just to mock me. Smashed into three pieces at the hearth, I was left with only one thing to say. Whoops!
I couldn’t blame the cat, we don’t have one. Our wonder dog, Percy, is way too small to even reach that high, despite his big dog delusions. The boys weren’t in the room at the time so it wasn’t an errant football or balled sock. I have no idea why it fell, maybe it had dreams of becoming a high diver in the Olympics? Whatever the reason, gravity proved the greater force that day and my fireplace mantel again sat bare and lonely.
Chucking it in the trash would be the typical resolution. With nothing to loose, I decided I might as well try to repair it. The frame is not made of wood, but made of some light foam like material. Repairing this frame would be slightly different than repairing a solid wood frame. If the repair was a total flop, no big deal, I was out $10. Fortunately, it turned out well and I even made plans to hang it in the niche over the fireplace. While fixing it I decided to make a vintage mercury glass insert for it. Sounds like a future post to me!
Here’s the process to fix and patch the mirror. It was easier than I anticipated and it looks pretty darn good. Now I am excited to try out a faux mercury glass technique on plexiglass. Ssshhh! Don’t judge the things that get me excited. 😉
Supply List
- Broken Frame
- Wood glue
- Painter’s Tape
- Tarp/drop cloth
- Bondo
- Pieces of Cardboard for mixing Bondo
- Putty Knife or popsicle sticks
- Utility Knife
- Sand Paper or Sanding Block
- Tack Cloth or vacuum
- Deglosser/degreaser
- Disposable Gloves
- Clean Rag
- Paint
- Paint brush
- Stir Stick
- Paint Key
- Painting Tripods or cans to elevate the frame while painting
Instructions
Step 1:
Clean off the edges of the broken frame to remove any loose bits of framing or paint. Line up pieces to figure out direction for assembly.
Step 2:
Apply wood glue to broken edges and hold in place. Use painter’s tape to keep frame pieces secure while drying. Clamps could be used, but I did not have any the correct size and the frame material would dent with the pressure of the clamp. Let glue dry.
TIP:Â Tear off some painter’s tape ahead of time to free up your hands for holding frame pieces in place. The tape pieces were about 6-8 inches long.
Step 3:
Admittedly, I let the frame sit in this condition for a long time. When I say long time, I’m talking months. I have no excuses. Good news is the painter’s tape held and was still easy to remove.
Once glue is set and completely dry, remove the painter’s tape. I had some gaps in the cracks where the picture frame broke that I wanted to fill in to minimize the noticeable damage. Here’s where the Bondo comes in to play. Remember using the Bondo to repair the holes in the hollow core door and in the door frame? Well here’s the link in case you need that info.
Bondo is smelly stuff, so use in a well ventilated area. Follow the directions on the can. Basically, put a blob of the gray stuff on a piece of cardboard. Massage the tube of hardener and then squeeze out a strip next to the blob on the cardboard. It sets in a couple of minutes so work fast and only mix a little at a time. Use a popsicle stick to blend the gray blob and rust colored strip of hardener together. It will look like runny bubble gum. Use the stick to spread it over the crack(s) and gaps on the frame. The smoother it is the less work you will have to do later. It will harden quickly and soon you won’t be able to work with it anymore. No worries, just mix up more when ready.
Apply Bondo to each crack or damaged area of the picture frame. Let dry for 20-30 minutes.
TIP:Â Raise the picture frame off of the work surface by using painting tripods or cans of the same size for the frame to rest on. This is especially great for painting three sides of the frame without having it stick to the drop cloth.
Step 4:
Once the Bondo hardens -I didn’t wait the full 20 minutes- use the utility knife to shave off any lumps or excess Bondo. This is my trick to lessen the amount of sanding needed later. Plus, it is super satisfying to shave off layers of dried Bondo. It’s like I am a real wood worker or whittler…a true craftsman. Ok, maybe that is pushing it. I blame the Bondo fumes.
Step 5:
By this time the Bondo is completely set up and you can sand it smooth. I like using a sanding block because it is easier for me to apply even pressure and get into grooves. Keep sanding until it is totally smooth.
Once all areas are smooth, wipe off with a tack cloth. Or, do it the easy way and use the upholstery attachment on the vacuum to get all the dust and shaved Bondo bits picked up.
Step 6:
Technically, the picture frame is now repaired but the repaired areas are completely noticeable. Time to paint.
While wearing gloves, use a deglosser with a rough scour pad to scrub the surfaces of the frame that you are going to paint. The deglosser and degreaser ( I use Liquid Sandpaper) removes any oils and dirt from the surface while etching it to give the paint something to grab onto. Wipe with a clean, dry cloth.
Step 7:
Apply paint in desired color. Be sure to thoroughly mix the paint with the stir stick for two minutes, pulling from the bottom of the container up as you stir. I wanted my frame to look similar to the original finish so I used a white chalk paint as the base, it took two coats. (Heirloom Traditions Paint in Colosseum was used for the base color.)
Once the base coat is completely dry, I waited until the next day, paint on the glaze. To achieve an aged wood look, I dry brushed a Weathered Wood Gel from Heirloom Traditions Paint.
To dry brush, barely dip the tip of the brush into the paint and brush off most of the paint. Then brush it over the surface of the item you want to paint. It will hit all of the high spots of detail. Since my frame is mostly smooth, it gave a worn wood look to the surface.
Tip: If you get too much paint in one area, you can wipe it off with a damp rag before it completely dries and start again.
Perhaps I am risking a lot by replacing the frame upon the mantle as I wait to add the insert, but it doesn’t look half bad sitting there in the meantime. I like how the mirror or picture frame turned out. The patches are barely detectable and I think I am being picky because I know exactly where they are.
It feels good to fix something and save it from the trash bin. Honestly, it was pretty easy to do and I am starting to love using Bondo to repair holes and cracks. I promise, it is not due to the fumes! It is stinky, but man that stuff works. Some of the best ways to dress up your home is by fixing those items that you already own and hopefully love. Take a few minutes to repair something and you are one step closer to making a house a home.💙
Posts to Fix It Up
Increase Curb Appeal: Painting Vinyl Shutters
Fix a Hole in a Hollow Core Door (Video)
Why is my Dishwasher Not Draining?
How To Recover the Seat of a Chair (video)
Guide to Caulking Baseboard Like a Pro
Installing a Recessed Outlet(video)
Step by Step: Painting a Paneled Door
12 Organization Tips for ANY Room
Adding a Chalkboard Pantry Door
Affordable Garage Organization
10 Fast and Easy Home Updates and Organization
Such an awesome blog! All the information provided by you is really very helpful for all. I agreed that we should keep our project dust-free with the piece of tack cloth and these are perfect for this and pick up basically every last piece of dust and dirt from the surface. Everyone should follow the tips provided by you, it will make their work easier. Keep Posting! Keep Sharing!