Transform Wall Art With Paint Stir Sticks With This Charming DIY

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Trying to elevate the look of unframed canvas wall art? You've got a couple of options, depending on your budget. The first one is to buy a floating frame that wraps around the edges of the piece. However, if you have multiple canvases to frame, the costs can add up pretty quickly. Luckily, though, there's a cheaper alternative to consider: making your own frames with a handful of paint stir sticks (yes, like the ones you can get for free at hardware stores). It's a simple way to make a couple of canvas prints look a little more polished.

Considering that canvas frames often start at $25 or more, this is a great hack if you're trying to decorate your home without breaking the bank. To make it work, you'll need enough stir sticks to wrap around the edges of your canvas. This will vary depending on the dimensions of your artwork, but a standard 8-by-10 inch canvas will just need one stir per side (four total). If you don't already have them, you can usually pick some up at a local paint store or home improvement store. They're also available on Amazon, with a 25-pack of HANWER Paint Stir Sticks costing less than $7. You might even be able to score some for free at a yard sale.

Ready to repurpose your old canvas art into stunning DIY home decor? First things first: If your paint stirrers have any visible logos, use a sander to remove them (and smooth out the surface). Optionally, if you want to darken the color of the wood, apply a stain to each stick. There are lots of other fun ways to customize this project, too. For example, you could paint the stirrer sticks in bright colors if you're hanging wall art in a kid's room. Alternatively, you could glue artificial flowers, feathers, glass beads, or other craft materials onto the frame.

Next, cut the stirrers to match the length and width of your painting. Hold one stir up against the vertical side of your canvas and use a pencil to mark the matching length. Do the same for the horizontal side. For larger canvases, you may need to use multiple sticks to cover the whole length or width of the artwork. But if the sticks are longer than you need, you can trim them with a saw.

Finally, it's time to assemble the frame. Apply a layer of hot glue to one edge of the canvas, then press the right-sized stirrer on top. After that's in place, secure it by adding a few small nails along the length of the stick. Repeat the process for all sides of the art piece, and you'll have a chic rustic frame! When you're finished, hang the frames on your patio or on a wall inside your home. You could also display them on a picture ledge with other artwork, trinkets, or plants.