Make custom photo boards

Turn tired old frames into functional and on-trend photo boards.

Resene upcycling for good with Sarah Herring - Project 19

Finished project

You will need: Craft pegs, PVA glue, Resene testpot in Resene Alabaster, Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer, Testpot brushes, Wallpaper samples (from the Resene Serendipity wallpaper collection)

Finished project

Finished detail

Before

Step one
Remove any old artwork from your frames and give them a wipe to clean off any dust. Remove and safely discard the glass panels as you won’t need these for this project. Set aside the backing card from the frames.

Step two
For frames with a plastic finish, apply a coat of Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer to prepare the surface for painting. If you are working with wooden frames, give them a light sand and then apply a coat of Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat.

Step three
Once your surface preparation has dried, apply two coats of your chosen paint colour. Sarah used Resene Alabaster.

Step four
Take your wallpaper samples and glue them down onto your backing boards using a quality PVA glue.

Step four detail
Apply with a testpot brush to get an even coverage of glue across the wallpaper. (Sarah chose two prints in a cool white weatherboard effect from the Resene Serendipity wallpaper collection).

Step four detail
If you were papering a much larger surface, you might like to use wallpaper paste, which can also be purchased from Resene ColorShops. Once the wallpaper has dried onto the backing boards, trim away any excess paper from the edges using a craft knife.

Step five
Take your wooden craft pegs and measure out where you want to place them on the wallpaper. Glue them down using PVA glue (preferably clear-drying). Only glue down the back of the peg so that the spring function still works.

Step five detail
Glue them down using PVA glue (preferably clear-drying). Only glue down the back of the peg so that the spring function still works.

Step six
Once the pegs have all dried, re-assemble your frames and pop your favourite photos into the pegs! Sarah has used wedding photos taken by Poppymoss Photography, but the great thing about these photo boards is by simply changing out the photos you can have a totally new theme every time.

Upcycling for Good

You can find a huge range of treasures, from ornaments and picture frames, to furniture and toys at your local Salvation Army store that you can easily upcycle with a little Resene paint and some imagination.

"Our Family Stores are full of treasures generously donated by members of the public. We value these donations and try our hardest to re-purpose and sell as much as possible. We’re all about re-using and recycling, so teaming up with Resene on Upcycling for Good was a perfect match. Resene’s products and tips are a natural fit with our pre-loved furniture and accessories, which are usually great quality but could sometimes do with a lick of paint to ensure they fly off the shelves.

Each year, nationally, our stores save 16,000 tonnes from landfill. This initiative increases the value of the donated product, improves the range of goods for our customers, and furthers The Salvation Army’s mission and Resene’s community activity.” Gareth Marshall, The Salvation Army's National Family Store Manager.

View more projects

Resene Paints (Australia) Limited – www.resene.com