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| Copper Photo Frame |
| A great photo should have a great frame, and you can make one yourself by decorating a simple softwood frame bought from a craft shop. |
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1
Remove the glass from the frame.
2
Spread out your soft cloth, put the copper on top of the cloth, then place the frame face down on the copper sheet.
3
Run a ballpoint pen firmly around the outside edge, and then along the inside.
4
Mark out a square 1.5cm from the inside edge. This will be cut out and will allow enough metal to fold over the rebate where the glass sits.
5
You will need to fold the copper over the sides and around the back of the frame as well. Draw another square about 3cm wider than the outside measurement of the frame.
6
Cut out the centre with scissors. Don't use your best scissors on the metal as they will become blunt pretty quickly.
7
Make a short diagonal cut, from the inside square to the inner corners.
8
Snip out a square from each of the outside corners.
9
Place the frame face down onto the copper, then fold in the centre flaps. The glass will eventually hold these in place.
10
Fold the outer flaps over and tape them in place.
11
Before you tap in the brass pin, use a pin or a small nail to make a hole through the copper on each corner.
12
To decorate, draw some shapes on a piece of contrasting metal (this could be either sheet steel or aluminium). Then cut your shapes out.
13
On the reverse side, use the pen to emboss the shapes. Use masking tape to hold them in place while you determine their positions.
14
Once again, make some holes before you start hammering in the brass pins to hold the shapes permanently in place.
15
Finish the frame by gently rubbing with a metal polish, which will remove any fingerprints.
TIP: Use a softwood frame, not MDF, as the tacks will be much easier to put in. Pop in your favourite snap and your frame is picture perfect. |
Materials
WHAT YOU'LL NEED:
A large soft cloth or teatowel
Sheet of thin copper foil (make sure it is 3cm wider than the frame)
Softwood frame with sides at least 7cm deep
Ball-point pen
White chinagraph pencil
Scissors
A small craft hammer (tack hammer)
Brass pins (1.5cm)
Brass pins (1cm)
Sheet of thin aluminium or steel — anything that contrasts with the copper foil.
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More Info
A wide variety of timber frames can be bought from large craft stores such as Spotlight.
Copper foil is available from good art stores. We bought ours from Janet's Art Supplies, 145 Victoria Avenue, Chatswood, 2067, ph: (02) 9417 8572.
HobbyCo also has a huge range of products for these kinds of projects.
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Disclaimer
All Fact Sheets and other material on the Our House website are provided as a general information service only and should not be relied upon as a substitute for the advice of a properly qualified tradesman. Neither ninemsn nor its licensors (including the Nine Network) assume or accept any responsibility for, and will not be liable for the accuracy or appropriate application of any information whatsoever in any Fact Sheet or other material on the Our House web site. Your use of the Our House web site is governed by this disclaimer and the ninemsn's Terms of Use.
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