Don't Skip Ugly Framed Art At The Thrift: Make Beautiful Intaglio Decor Instead

The wall art section of a thrift store can be good for a chuckle. But if you can get past the sun-faded prints and kitsch from decades past, you'll see there are some good bones for crafting there. Thrift stores are gold mines to score luxe frames for cheaper. Scan through the stacks for a frame containing a 3D object; these types have a gap between the frame's backing and the glass. They make ideal canvases for a DIY intaglio art piece.

Intaglio is a type of printmaking that involves engraving or carving into a flat surface that's covered in paint or ink and used like a stamp. For this project, it's the stamp itself that becomes the art rather than a print made from it. Deconstruct the artwork, overlay the backing with a decorative fabric, and affix a classic intaglio at the very center. In just a few steps, the look of your hand-made product will defy its thrifty origins.

Start by thrifting a frame holding a tired 3D object. Find or buy a piece of high-end-looking fabric, spray adhesive, craft glue like E6000, and a small intaglio form. You can order intaglios from online resources like Etsy, but you can also make your own with plaster and a silicone mold. If you're struggling to find a framed 3D object, grab any pleasing frame; using a bit of foam or other scrap material, you can adjust a standard frame to accommodate the thick intaglio. A shadow box would also work.

Disassemble your framed item, and remove any parts you don't want. If the frame includes a mat, reusing it as a surround for the intaglio will add a touch of class. Trace the backing onto your fabric, and cut it out. Spray the backing with adhesive, and smooth the fabric over the surface. Center the intaglio on the fabric, and glue it in place. Let the glue dry and cure fully before manipulating it. Place the upgraded backing inside the frame, and secure it in place for hanging.

Silicone molds and plaster of Paris or paper clay are low-budget ways to make your own intaglio. Purchase a mold with a classical look, like a cameo, or go your own way with a botanical, animal, or simply decorative shape. Brave crafters on a budget, here's an unconventional way to use caulk: Use it to create your own silicone mold in any form you'd like.

Your search for a framed 3D object may be fruitless. To adapt a standard frame to fit an intaglio, you'll need four small, thin pieces of flexible padding like foam rubber, cotton balls, repurposed styrofoam, or cloth scraps. This will work best for matted intaglios, since the mat will hide the added material. Set the mat against the back of the glass, and attach the flexible material — one piece at each corner of the mat. Place the backing into the frame and secure it by slightly bending out the brackets that hold the backing. You can also use a staple gun to attach the backing so that the intaglio has room between the backing and the glass.