DIY Copper Resin Coated Picture Frame

While shopping at the craft store the other day I found this little wooden picture frame in the clearance section and knew with just a little time I could make it beautiful! Frames are fun because you can use them for decor just as much as functionally to hold pictures if they are unique and pretty. Here’s how I made this simple resin coated picture frame and how you can too:

This project was sponsored by ETI Technologies and it first appeared last year on Resin Crafts Blog. All the opinions and wording is mine alone. To see more information on sponsored posts please see my Disclosures page. There are also many affiliate links in this post which means if you click through and purchase something through those links I get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for reading!

DIY Copper Resin Coated Picture Frame

Supplies:

• Envirotex Lite
• Wooden frame
• Paint
• Paint brushes
• Vinyl gloves and eye protection for safety
• Measured mixing cups
• Stir sticks
• Cardboard box
• Wood scraps
  

Paint the frame:

The first step in this project is to paint the frame with your copper (or chosen color) paint. You may need more than one coat, depending on the pigment in the paint. Once it looks completely covered, let the frame dry completely before moving on to the resin.

The next step is to prep for resin pouring. Put your frame inside a cardboard box and prop it up on some wood scraps to elevate it. I used the small black prongs that hold the picture inside the frame to elevate the frame on the scrap wood pieces. This means if some resin gets between the two it will still be able to remove.

I also used masking tape around the inner edge of the frame to prevent the resin from pouring down inside the frame.  It worked pretty well, though I did have one or two spots where the resin leaked through. No big deal, really.

Mixing the Resin:

Gather all the supplies needed for this step before you start. The Envirotex Lite, the mixing cups, stir sticks and a butane torch if you are using one. Put on your gloves and eye protection too!

Pour Part A Resin into a disposable measuring cup. I measured 2 oz. of this for my frame.

Now pour an equal amount of part B Hardener, so again I used 2oz. Making 4 oz. total which will cover the entire frame.

Stir the two parts, resin and hardener, together thoroughly until the resin is clear, not cloudy.

Use the two-cup method by pouring all of the resin into a second clean cup and using another clean stir stick to mix it thoroughly again.

Pouring the resin:

Begin pouring the resin around the frame. There will be drips! And those drips spread out wherever they land, which is why I instructed you to put it inside a cardboard box. Be sure that your box is fully sealed on the bottom with tape because the resin can leak through if there is a slit on the bottom.

Keep pouring until the entire thing is covered.

After you’ve covered the frame in resin, use a brush and make sure all of the edges are coated as well. You can get extra resin from the excess that dripped off and paint it onto any bare spots along the sides.

Let the resin settle for 10 or 15 minutes. Next, use your micro-butane torch to pop any bubbles that have risen to the surface. If you don’t have a torch, simply exhale over the piece and watch those bubbles pop!

Alright, the pour is finished. Let the resin cure for at least 24 hours. Be sure to cover your piece so dust or debris doesn’t fall into the resin.

Finished Frame!

And there you have it! A beautiful, shiny, copper picture frame. I’ve seen some Wi-Fi signs around lately so guests/kids can know your wifi password without having to ask, so I made a mock one for the photos but a real one for my home. ?

I hope you like this project and find it helpful. If you do, please PIN this image and SHARE via social media. Thank you so much! Let me know what you think or if you have any questions in the comments below!

–Sheri