Vintage-looking picture frame can be a real work of art

[Croatia croatia]

It's often said, "a picture is worth a thousand words," but what's a picture without a frame that's artfully done?

Anita Farrar of Brighton is the owner of Artfully Done, a manufacturer of handmade photo frames since 1995.

Farrar, who was born in Croatia and came to the U.S. in 1987, first opened the doors to her Brighton-based business as a professional picture-framer. After years of collecting leftover materials from her work, Farrar decided to come up with a way to use her scrap supplies.

"I looked at some of the various craft supplies leftover from the picture frames," says Farrar, who decided to start making vintage-inspired photo frames.

"Primarily, the era that I'm interested in is the 1920s," she remarks.

With prices ranging from $48-$70 each, Farrar's picture frames are sold in boutiques and gift shops across the country and at Art Loft in Birmingham.

How to make a frame

Skill level: Intermediate

Estimated time: 30 minutes

Tools: Scissors, X-acto knife, hole-punch, hot-glue gun, glue sticks, paint brush

Supplies: Chipboard, two sheets handmade paper in color/pattern of choice, 10 inches of 3/8 -inch wide ribbon, 24 inches of 1 1/2 -inch wide ribbon, four ready-made decorative corners (metal or paper), 4-inch by 6-inch acrylic photo insert with self-adhesive backing, vintage embellishments, photo, acid free-PVA or Yes glue (or any water-soluble glue)

Optional: Buttons and small easel

Instructions:

1. Cut chipboard approximately 7 1/2 by 9 inch.

2. Apply PVA or Yes glue with paintbrush to chip board.

3. Cut paper same size as chipboard. Apply to top of chipboard. Let dry.

4. Hot-glue embellishments to chipboard, leaving enough space in center for photo insert.

5. Decorate with ribbon using double-sided sticky tape.

6. Hot glue ready-made corners to corners of chipboard.

7. Cut second piece of chipboard same size as first. Glue to back of first piece with PVA.

8. Punch two holes at top, equal distance from corners. Thread 1 1/2 inch-wide ribbon through holes for hanging. Tie ribbon in bow.

9. Pull off protective layer for adhesive on acrylic photo insert. Attach insert to center front of frame. Then insert photo.