The Simple Way to Frame a Painting With Offset Clips

Katherine
by Katherine
4 Materials
$20
15 Minutes
Easy

5 easy steps to frame a painting on canvas using offset clips and a back-loading frame.

You’ve found the perfect painting for your wall after hunting countless estate sales, thrifts, and galleries. It has eye catching colors and a subject that speaks to you!


The only drawback…it’s un-framed.


Don’t let that hiccup stop you from buying it!

This post will teach you how to frame a painting on canvas with a simple, tried and true method using offset clips and a back-loading frame.

Step No. 1 Situate the painting inside the frame

Step No. 2 Put the offset clips in place

Find the size offset clip that best fits from the frame over the stretcher. Here I used 1/4 inch clips. Because this is a small painting, I am only using clips at the top and bottom and only screwing the clip to the frame.

Step No. 3 Screw the clips in place

Most offset clip packs come with short screws. Be sure to use these short screws because you do not want the screw drilling through the front of the frame.

Step No. 4 Add the D-rings on the side of the frame

I like to place  D-rings four to six inches from the top of the frame on smaller paintings and six to ten inches on larger frames. This placement is far down enough to hide the wire, but not so far down as to make the top of the frame tilt out from the wall.

Step No. 5 String your picture wire

I like to use this kind of flexible picture wire. It is easy to twist and kind to the hands. Be sure to buy the right strength based on the weight of the framed painting.


Thread the loose end of the wire through both D-rings. On the D-ring with the end of the wire, pull about four to five inches past the ring, loop it around the ring again then twist it around the wire between the two D-rings, making tight coils.


Pull the other end taut through that D-ring and trim it, leaving about four to five inches. Repeat the loop and twisting.

To learn more about how to choose your frame and finding the right size head over to my blog -- Pender & Peony!


Read this guide if you are looking for more ideas on how to frame canvas art!

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Katherine
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  2 questions
  • Cindy Cindy on May 20, 2021

    Can you do this with diamond paintings?

  • Joyce Joyce on May 18, 2023

    I would like to see the back with the wire attached also. This is a great technique! Made me feel much for secure about buying a painting on a canvas.

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  • Can28389693 Can28389693 on Jun 14, 2021

    Katherine is referring to piesces of canvas that you attach by glue "already on canvas) , it is purchased that way and does not have wood to stretch convas. I currently am doing this DIY hobby. I think we would have to build (attach) a frame to stretch canvas over before we can do this frame idea. Would love to hear your ideas.


  • Katherine Katherine on Jun 16, 2021

    Yes, the canvas has to be on wooden stretchers in order to frame.

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