I stopped at my local junk shop and low and behold they had a "free" pile in front. Sticking up out of the pile was a very large, what used to be beautiful, gold frame. It had a warped poster glued to the back and was actually twisted because one of the corners had come apart.


 

 
New frames can be extremely expensive and old frames just have so much more character. I couldn't resist taking it and nursing it back to it's original beauty. Here's how to do it...


 
First take care of the broken corner. Apply a thick coat of wood glue to the inside of the frame corner where the mitre fits together. Press the two sides together and use a rag to remove any extra glue that squeezes out. If you need to, tack it with a small nail in the back to hold it together until it dries. Mine slid together easily and tightly without a nail. Allow the glue to dry for a day.


 

 
Once the glue has dried, it's time to fill any corners as well as holes with wood putty/filler. Squeeze the filler into the corner and holes and smudge it in the cracks with your finger while smoothing the surface. Let the putty dry according to the package directions.


 
Once the filler is dry, use your sanding sponge to smooth the putty and quickly do a light all over sanding. Wipe down the entire frame with a damp cloth to prepare it for the gold rub to adhere.


 

 

 
After making sure that the frame is clean and dry, use an old cloth to apply some Antique Gold Rub and Buff. You can see pretty quickly how the frame comes to life. It will also easily cover the wood putty filler. I just go over it once quickly with an old sock. The more you buff, the more the gold will glow. To finish it off, you can use a small brush to get into the creases. I opted to keep some of the light old paint uncovered to give it a little more of an antique look.


 
Next time you see an old broken frame, bring it home and give it a second life...you won't regret it!


 
Have a great weekend...Lori

PS...That's my DIY Cy Twombly canvas sitting behind the gold frame. See how to do that here.