Anthropologie Inspired Picture Frame

Stacy Davis
by Stacy Davis
6 Materials
$1
15 Minutes
Easy
This week's challenge is themed for Anthropologie Knock offs. Now, admittedly mine is a much more "inspired" than a knock off. No one is ever going to see my picture frame and think it came from Anthropologie but I could see someone saying that they liked it, knowing that it was hand made and then I could tell them that I was inspired by one from Anthropologie. This picture frame is probably one of the easiest projects that I have done in months and that means it was really enjoyable and relaxing! I love those kind of projects. It really went fairly according to my plan and that almost never happens. icon This would be a great end of summer activity for kids and you can use any combination of colors. Red, White and Blue for Labor Day? The frames are only $1 a piece so it is affordable as well as fun!
The only thing that I had to buy was the picture frame. I picked it up at Michaels for one dollar!! Love that. I had gold spray paint, light blue craft paint, cream colored craft paint (I have oodles of white but no cream so I used Mother of Pearl but I recommend using cream instead of a translucent color) and I used marbling solution but that is totally optional. I think that I would have achieved similar results without the marbling solution.
Step 1. I spray painted the frame gold and I even left the paper in the middle so that it would look more like the Anthropologie one. If you remove the paper there is no backing just a hole.
All gold... I didn't even wait for it to dry before starting my next step.
Step 2. I put my colors into small plastic cups. ( I mixed mine with marbling medium but this is optional.)
Step 3. Have fun with this step. Drizzle your colors at random. You can't mess this up.
Step 4. I felt that a damp rag or sea sponge might give me more the look that I wanted so I found a scrap of sponge in my supplies. I used it damp and blotted off on a dry paper towel.
After I did that step, welp, that wasn't the look that I was going for...
Step 5. I got the cream colored paint cup and drizzled more randomly on top.
Not an exact match, but it was fun and relaxing and that is exactly what I needed this weekend. This would be a fun project for little ones to give as a gift. If I were doing it again or making a suggestion for you... small blobs. Mine got too large. Also, I was heavy handed with the blue. Light thin lines of blue, if you are trying for the inspiration frame.
Step 6. I painted the outer edge and inner edge cream well, Mother of Pearl but I wish it were cream and I may break down and buy some cream and repaint these edges. icon
It looks messy and random but I love abstract art. I didn't when I was younger but now some of my favorite pieces of art are abstract designs.
Now to find a picture to go in this frame...But, it is kind of pretty as just a piece of art to admire.
**FYI tip**... It was hard to find a picture that didn't clash with the frame. The pattern is very prominent and the blue and gold tended to clash with colors in the picture so I had to go back to a picture of me in my twenties to find one that would work. I suggest you start with a picture and use colors that complement the picture that you wish to frame.


I am planning on buying a couple more frames and doing some experimenting with this process so stay tuned for TAKE 2 of my Anthropologie Inspired Picture Frame.**Update** Well, my second frame turned out to be an epic fail. So, I'm just going to end it with my first frame.
After thinking about my failed frame for a day, I went and dumped all three colors mixed with marbling medium and tipped it back and forth. It might not be too bad of a fail after all. I think with all the movement in the frame, I will put a small object in the center. It would be hard for a picture to compete with all the action of the marbling.
Again, if you love fun, easy, inexpensive projects, this one is for you!!!
One idea that I had was to add a number, for instance, number of people in your family and this would make an awesome gallery wall addition. I just drew this one by hand to see what it would look like but now I think I will get a stencil and do it properly.
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  • 16999903 16999903 on Sep 10, 2018

    Stacy! What fun! I really like the second one with all the marbling and no large drops of paint. I love the idea of keeping the picture simple. The #6 is really very clever and a good conversation starter! Not to mention the creative frame around it. Did you coat it with any poly or clear coat? I think that would be the icing on the cake, so to speak.

    I will definitely give this one a try! And I will definitely do one with my grandson who is 4. I might get the spray paint done before I work on one with him! Thank you for a nice inexpensive craft project with lovely results!

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  • Nancy K Nancy K on Feb 21, 2021

    I really like the fun and the results of this project. I thought what showed up in the center was as brilliant as the frame and you didn’t need to put anything in the frame at all. Thanks for sharing!

  • Felicitas Felix Loranger Felicitas Felix Loranger on Feb 15, 2024

    Love love love the 2nd one. I will make 1 or 2 for my Granddaughters bedroom. Just have to check out to be sure the colors in her room.

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