Color-Drenched Frame Makeover with Cactus Art | Tutorial

Color Drenched Frame Makeover Tutorial 

When we created our watercolor painting kits, one of the things we were most excited about was all the DIY framing possibilities. We're always craving a good craft project and especially love upcycling items that would otherwise be trash (cue thrift shop frames).

If you’ve ever had a custom framing project done, you’ve probably experienced the sticker shock that comes with it. Professional custom framing is undoubtedly beautiful — but it can also be very expensive. The good news? There are so many ways to create a custom, elevated framing look yourself. Not to mention you get to something creative with your hands and mind. In this digital world, the satisfaction I get from making something tangible is unparalleled. 

 

Color is back!

As the trend pendulum swings from serene neutral/white interiors to color-drenched, patterned, more-is-more spaces, I’m excited to share this color-drenched DIY framing tutorial with you.

Materials:

The gathering of materials is part of the experience, so don’t rush it — enjoy the process from start to finish. It took me about a week to source all the materials and then a solid afternoon to complete the finished piece. Here is a quick list of what you'll need:

• Artwork
• frame
• primer
• paint
• sandpaper
• paint brushes
• ruler
• scissors
• exacto knife
• ruler

You can download the full free tutorial here which includes links to the best products and where to get everything. 

Sourcing Thrifted Frames for DIY Custom Framing

Let me first say that if you’ve ever thought you could just pop into a thrift shop and grab an exquisite vintage frame, you’ve probably been disappointed. Beautiful thrifted frames aren’t always easy to find — but with this project, you can work with almost any frame.

For this DIY framing project, I looked for a frame with interesting detailing to add character. That said, I also did one version with a totally flat, narrow frame, and it looked incredible — so don’t overthink it. The most important factor is sizing. You want a frame large enough to leave room around your watercolor artwork for the mat board.

I also check to make sure the back and glass aren’t falling apart. While thrifting for this project, I collected several additional frames for future creative projects (I have so many ideas!).

Choosing your artwork:

For this project, I used the cactus paintings I created from the Antiquaria Cactus Watercolor Kit. It’s a beginner-friendly watercolor kit that results in frame-worthy artwork. I couldn’t wait to get these pieces on the wall.

I cut my paintings into custom shapes to place inside the frame using a template I created (included in tutorial). This technique eliminates the need for a professionally cut mat board (which typically requires a specialized angled mat cutter), making this an accessible DIY custom framing technique for beginners.

✨ Get the Free Color Drenched Framing Tutorial!
Download the printable PDF tutorial and step-by-step guide— it’s free!
[👉 Download Now]

We’d love to see your makes! Tag us @AntiquariaDesign or use #ACRartwork so we can share your creations. Happy Making!