DIY ceiling skirting frames (video)

Nothing decorates the interior of the apartment, bringing a touch of home comfort, like things and decorative items made by yourself. When looking at the cuttings of the pretty fillets that remained after the repair, it probably comes to the idea that they can be used not only for their intended purpose. We’ll show you how to make wonderful frames from a ceiling plinth that you can use to design photos, paintings, muralmirrors.

Production of frames from ceiling plinths of various types

Foam molding or polystyrene foam is suitable for work. A frame made of foam baguette will be the most budget option. If the product is not made from surplus material, but specifically bought in the store, then creating a framework will require minimal costs. However, it must be borne in mind that the foam is quite fragile and easily crumbles. Expanded polystyrene is stronger, can bend, which makes it more convenient to use. The most durable base for the frame will be trimmed wooden plinth.

Necessary materials and tools

To make the original frame you will need:

• baguette made of polystyrene or polystyrene;
• Liquid Nails glue or universal adhesive (Moment, Dragon);
• construction or office knife;
• ruler;
• miter box or protractor for measuring the cut-off angle;

• marker;
• acrylic paints;
• acrylic putty for wood;
• thick cardboard (corrugated cardboard).

Step-by-step instruction

A fillet frame can be made in many ways. Consider a step-by-step option using a corrugated cardboard, which will add a rather fragile craft rigidity. If it will serve as a frame for the mirror, the use of cardboard is not necessary.

Cutting parts and gluing products

The first step is to cut out the foundation for the future framework. The parameters depend on the size of the photo or picture, which will be decorated using a homemade frame. The cardboard rectangle, which will serve as the basis, should be slightly larger than the drawn image or fit in size.

• In the rectangle you need to cut a window that will be slightly smaller than our picture, so that its edges will hide under the frame.
• We cut out the second cardboard part of the same dimensions, but with a smaller window, each side of which will be 5 mm smaller than the first.
• Both cardboard parts are glued together, forming a place for image insertion. If the frame for the mirror or for the picture is attached to a thick base, the previous paragraphs of the instruction are omitted.
• Now you need to use a ruler to measure 4 segments of the plinth that will be on the sides of the frame. Using the miter box, the panels are cut at an angle of 45 degrees. If there is no such device, the necessary slope and cut line are drawn on paper, applying a baseboard to it. Marking is made with a marker, then the baguette is carefully cut.

• Check the correspondence of the sides by attaching the individual workpiece parts to each other. Glue the pieces of the plinth onto the cardboard blank. If cardboard is not used, simply fasten the pieces of foam panels to each other, applying glue to the ends of the slats and pressing them tightly. It is most convenient to use a glue gun for these purposes.

The most difficult part in making a photo frame from a ceiling plinth is to achieve smooth joints at the corners of the product.

Putty, paint and decoration

Most often, cracks form at the joints of the baseboard, but they can be easily masked with putty and painting.

• After the glue dries, fill the corner slots, the joints of the baseboard with the cardboard base and the back of the frame. This will allow not only to hide defects, but also to make the design solid and more durable. The ends of the product will have to be puttied in several layers or glued before filling the strips of foam between cardboard and the baseboard.

• Wait for the putty to dry and start painting. It is best to use acrylic or water-based paint. Other types of compounds can spoil the foam, so before using them you need to coat the surface with PVA glue in several layers.

Tip. A dark frame painted in a shade obtained by mixing black and red or dark brown will look spectacular. A light milky tint is obtained by combining white with ocher. Antique items can be gilded with acrylic gold paint or building water-based enamel. Gilding is applied with a semi-dry brush in circular motions to a completely dried previous layer.

• After painting, the frame is varnished with water-based.

If necessary, fastening is done on the back side. To do this, take a piece of twine and cut a rectangle from thin cardboard, the length of which will be slightly shorter than the width of the product. Put the rope on the back of the frame and glue the cardboard so that it presses the ends of the twine.

Video instruction

The following video shows a master class on manufacturing a spectacular frame for a mirror from a ceiling frieze with a three-dimensional relief.