Layered Frames

| | | | |

Sharing helps others too!

If you have a box of frames collecting dust, then this idea is for you.  The hardest part of the layered frames project is getting the dust off the frames.  But I have a tip for that too.

Frames closeup

I love the layered frames pictures in those home catalogs in my mailbox.    I was on the verge of ordering one when I remembered…

“the box!”

This post contains affiliate links.  Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

How I ended up with so many frames

Family Picture Box

The box…stashed in the laundry room hidden in a top cabinet way in the back.  It contained various empty picture frames from my mom.

Photo Tower FP

Mom displayed family photos on every wall.  So, I make a photo tower for her collection of favorite family pictures.  We used silver frames for the photo tower.  So all the red, green, white, wood, metal and plastic frames ended up in “the box.”  During a visit from mom “the box” ended up at our house in the laundry room top cabinet. 🙂

Plus, there is the thrift store frame obsession I have.  I can’t leave a thrift store without a frame or two. Click here to see more thrift store frame projects.

The steps for making layered frames

Layered Frames Designing

I picked out some frames from “the box” and arranged them several times.  Then I rejected some and added others.  I wanted seven frames to layer.  Check out these inexpensive frames if you don’t have a box full or time to gather them at your local thrift stores. 
 
Tip:  After I found a pretty arrangement, I snapped a picture.  I would never remember how I have them otherwise. 🤦🏼‍♀️
 

I removed the backs and glass. 

Removing the dust and grime

The glass I placed in sudsy water.  It’s the easiest way to clean glass.  I used a damp cloth to clean the empty frames.  Now, the frames are ready for paint!  I picked out 6 colors most from the 15 shades of white we painted our cabin.  Two frames I wanted the same color.

Just ignore the dog treat over on the right of the picture.  It has nothing to do with painting frames…except to keep the dogs busy. 😉

Tip for painting frames

Layered Frames Painting tips for frames

Above is my best tip for painting frames.

Layered Frames-3

Next, I added black and white photos of our favorite places.  That picture I took with my phone came in handy because I would have never remembered the layout!

Now, my favorite hot glue gun was ready to go.  A line of hot glue where the frames touched did the trick.  You can read my hot glue gun tips here.  With this project, the key was a good amount of glue and don’t move until the glue cools in each area.

Layered Frames-4

I decided to best way to hang would be the old fashion wire held with two screws on each side of the frame.  The balance would not be perfect. But I could adjust the wire bend and add those sticky strips to a corner.

Layered frames hanging

Updated frame photo

The layered frames hanging in our bedroom.

Layered Frames-7

I did use one sticky strip on the left side to hang straight.  Those chunky flameless candles are used them all over the house.  I’ve made several in different sizes.

Update:  As you can see I’ve updated the photos using a better camera.  The frames are still hanging around and I move them to different walls for different decor. 

Frames closeup

Some of these frames have easel stand backs to sit on a desk.  I left the easel thingy on the back.

Layered Frames tutorial SQ

Where is your favorite place?  

old farmhouse

Our favorite places.  The top photo was my grandparents home…without paint!

There is another box in our coat closet…wonder what’s inside it??

Join the newsletter

Subscribe to get our DIY HelpLetter each Thursday. Plus grab your Interior Decorating Ideas e-book.

We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time. Powered by ConvertKit

Similar Posts

14 Comments

  1. I love the look of these. Thanks for sharing this with us. I have one question..How did you mount these? Did you add a board to the back , I am confused about the hanging of this with so many overlaps, where do you put the mounting? Thank you…am just beginning.

    1. Bonnie, I’m not sure you would have received my reply. I replied while on vacation using my phone. If you missed the reply, here’s what I did. I added a wire using two screws on the sides of the top frame. Then I glued the frames together. The wire is what I used to hang, but since the frames are not totally balanced I did need to use one of those sticky strips on the bottom of one side. Everything is doing fine and in face I moved the frames to another wall that is more prominent because we like the look of the frames. Thank you for reading. ~Jeanette

Leave a Reply