Scavenger Chic

Thrift Store Makeover, Frame for Baby

• By Joan
• November 3, 2021
• 5 Comments

DIY Frame with a Thrift Store Find

I’m so proud and excited to introduce you to the newest addition to our family, our  grandson, Isaac Michael.  This sweet little angel arrived last Thursday, weighing in at only 6lbs 9 oz. He joins his older brother Felix and proud parents Mollie and Kevin.

“Becoming a grandmother is wonderful. One moment you’re just a mother. The next you are all-wise and prehistoric.” – Pam Brown

I could do an entire post of cute new baby photos but I have to get into today’s project,  with a new baby comes  a new DIY frame 

This is the perfect project for those who are crafty but just not that comfortable around a saw.

Instead of starting from scratch, for this one I’m using a thrift store find.  This frame was somewhat beat up on the edges and a little dark. It also quotes a song…just not the one I have in mind for my baby frame.

It’s kind of hard to read, but it currently says “Someday when I’m awfully low, When the world is cold. I will feel a glow just thinking of you, and the way you look tonight.”  You may recognize those lyrics from The Way You Look Tonight made famous by Frank Sinatra.

 

It’s not going to take much to transform this frame with paint.  Just start layering with black chalk paint.  It doesn’t have to be neat, just no globs.

Second layer of light blue chalk paint, the baby’s room is blue.  Again no globs.  You may notice I’m concentrating mostly on the edges because that is where I’ll be sanding.

Let dry.

Cover up all that sloppy paint with a nice clean layer of white chalk paint.  Once again, let dry.

Lightly sand those nice layered edges revealing some of the blue and black.  How much you sand and how much you reveal is up to you.

The colors poking thru are subtle but add a little character to the frame.

I’m replacing The Way you Look Tonight with the new parents favorite song to sing to their little one, You are my Sunshine.

I liked the idea of script writing…now to find the perfect font.   This font is  Sunday Bouquet.

This one is Winter Calligraphy.

Of the 1000’s of fonts to choose from, pick your favorite. I ended up going with Sunday Bouquet.

I do a lot of my enlargements on Microsoft Publisher.  For those of you who do not have Publisher, consider using BlockPoster. An online free enlargement tool.  You just need to know how wide you would like your publication in page widths.  Mine was 2 pages wide.

Print out your publication, trim and tape back together.

I originally intended to use 2 verses of You are my Sunshine.  It was too crowded.

Back to only the first verse.  Just like the original artwork, less is sometimes better.

Use your pencil as carbon paper.  Turn your lyrics over and coat the back with pencil.

Center your lyrics and tape in place.  With a pen, copy over the lettering so that the pencil is transferred to the frame.  You will have to press down fairly hard.

The lettering is faint but the image has been transferred.

I’m using a black paint pen to draw over the transferred line.  Poof, I have beautiful handwriting and it’s perfectly centered.

Paint pen worked a little too well, now I want it faded and worn.  A quick coat of watered down white chalk paint does the trick.  

You’ll only need a spoonful of the paint  for the whitewash.  Add a splash of water and paint over your lettering.  Wipe off the excess with a paper towel.  If you would like it lighter, repeat the process.

A close up of the lettering with the white wash.

Proud big brother Felix is checking out his new brother.

 

 

This little cutie joins my assortment of other frames I’ve gifted to my new grandbabies and their parents.

This upcycled, Welcome New Baby Frame is made from pallet wood, shutter slats and wood siding.

This upcycled frame is made from leftover beadboard.

Orange checkerboard frame is made from an inexpensive Ikea frame and pallet wood.

I can’t take credit for this upcycled frame made from old hardwood flooring, it was created by my youngest son for his older brother, but it did fit the category of new baby frames.

If you have a new baby joining your family you may want to create one of these unique, one of a kind,  gifts.

Until next time, stay inspired.