Create funky picture frames

You don't have to be a professional to be creative with your home decor. Here are a few easy things you can do to make the picture frames in your home unique.

Think outside the box and frame an interesting magazine cover, a child's painting, a piece of needlework, a collection of men's silk ties, coins, exotic stamps, a photo collage, a map, or postcards from your favourite vacation spot.

An example: Save seed packets when you plant in the spring; open packets at the back to preserve the graphic fronts. You may already have some small frames. If not, you can purchase inexpensive photo frames at discount stores. Cover the cardboard backing that comes with the frames in leftover wrapping paper or fabric, then attach the seed packets with double-sided tape. Now find just the right place to hang your new "botanical prints" — quick, easy, inexpensive and a pleasing memento of your summer garden.

Use leftover paints to refurbish old picture frames for a cost-free way to highlight artwork and add splashes of colour to your decor.

Remove everything from the frame and clean it well. If the frame is ornate, use damp cotton swabs to get into the nooks and crannies. Dry thoroughly, sand lightly if the frame is wood and simply brush or spray with your colour choice. You can give your frame an antique finish by sanding the dry paint back to the original finish and rubbing the whole frame with brown shoe polish, buffing well. Create a contemporary frame by painting it with high-gloss auto paint.

Sand a new frame and rub on and buff off a thin coating of brown or reddish-brown shoe polish for an antique frame finish.

When a new gold gilt or painted frame looks too new, tone it down with a wash of white. Dilute a small amount of leftover white interior paint — latex with water, alkyd or oil-based with turpentine or mineral spirits — to make a thin wash. Be sure the frame is clean of dust and grease. Use a clean cotton cloth to apply the wash, wiping away excess paint as you go. Let dry. One or two coats should be enough — you want to calm the flashiness of new gilt, not cover it up.