In the process of updating our daughters room we decided to build a custom wooden slat picture frame with butterflies. This unique piece was easy and fun to make. Here is our design and build process.
Project Design Considerations:
With each project, even the simple ones, there are design considerations I go over trying to implement Nichole’s vision. To help prime your creative process, here are some design considerations.
#01: Size of Wood Slats and Space Between. We opted for thinner slats at 1 1/8 in wide and 1/4 inch spacing between. The space between is the thickness of the slats so save those waste cuts. If we were making a larger piece, I might have opted for wider (not thicker) boards.
#02: Picture Frame Size. This will influence how much wood you’ll need. We decided on 14 slats with 1/4 in spacing. We decided on 36 inches for the width. Because we used 1×3 inch nominal boards for the actual frame, the depth of the finished product is about 3/4 inches.
Part List:
This covers our version of the picture frame where we ripped a 1 x 3 inch board in half to get a nearly 3/4 inch wide frame.
- 8 @ 1/4 in x 1 1/8 in x 8 feet
- 1 @ 1 in x 3 in x 8 feet
- Picture frame hangers
- Butterflies
- Paint
Construction and Assembly:
Step #01: Prep Frame Boards.
We ripped our 1×3 in half along the length. To keep a slim profile of the frame we routed a 3/8-inch channel along each board with the router table.
Step #02: Assemble Frame
The width cuts are easy as they are 36 in, but the height accounts for your slat width and spacing choices. Our overall total was 22 inches. Mark and make your miter cuts. Assemble with glue, clamps, and corner nails.
Step #03: Cut Slats
With the frame assembled you can measure and double check your planned cuts. Once the slats are cut hit them with a sanding block to remove any burrs along the edges and ends where you cut. We cut at ours at 35 1/8 inches — I created a simple cut-to-length rig so I didn’t have to measure each board.
Step #04: Cut Backing Board.
We used 1/4 in thick plywood and cut it to match the channels that we cut. Because we used 3/8 inch channels the backer board sticks out a wee bit — about 1/8 inch on the sides, but tucks into the routed grooves at the top and bottom.
Step #05: Paint.
Layout your slats and paint them in the pattern to your liking. Hit the frame with some paint as well.
Step #06: Assemble the Slats, Backer and Hanging Kit
I used a 22 gauge pin nailer and the waste cuts as the spacers. I placed every slat to double-check that it all fit before proceeding to nail in place. We were pleasantly surprised that it worked out when that last board went into place!
I used a simple picture hanging kit and slightly bent the hangers before placing to make sure that it would have a large enough gap for bigger screws. Because this project has the potential to be heavy, I secured to the wall with beefy screws.
The only left is to hang and admire. Maybe even get a happy squeal out of your little when they see it. Let us know how your project goes!
