Believe it or not this piece was actually purchased as a shower curtain! We can apply this concept of stretching artwork to pretty much anything from t-shirts to pillow cases.
This one is very simple. Here's how...
What You'll Need:
– Miter Saw or Miter box *Get one here*
– Shower curtain, t-shirt, pillow case, or whatever it is you are using as your artwork
– Measuring Tape
– Drill
– Staple Gun
Step 1: Find Your Artwork
This may be trickier than it sounds. This piece that I used is from Urban Outfitters. Keep in mind that the material for this is cotton, so it stretched beautifully. I have done this with some fabrics that were thinner and were so transparent that I could see the frame behind them. Others that are water proof won't stretch. Research the fabric that your piece is made from before purchasing.
Step 2: Cut Your Frame
The length of your frame will depend on the size of your artwork. DO NOT CUT YOUR FRAME THE EXACT SAME SIZE AS YOUR ARTWORK. You will need to have enough fabric on the sides to wrap around the back of the frame and staple it. Lay your artwork face down on a clean floor and map out where you want your frame. Each edge will have to be cut at a 45 degree angle to make your perfect square. Once they are cut, use your drill to screw them together. For larger frames, make sure you pre-drill holes before screwing the pieces together. ***Note: If the material you're stretching is sheer, you may want to paint your frame a similar color before stretching. Test to find out if you can see your frame through your artwork when it is stretched BEFORE you staple it.***
Step 3 (optional): Add Support
Step 4: Stretch
Because this piece was so large I added support to the sides of the frame by screwing smaller wood pieces to the frame. These do not even have to be the same size. They just have to be cut at 45 degree angles so they will nest properly. After that you will need to stretch your artwork. WORK FROM OPPOSITE SIDES. If you staple the top first, then staple the bottom second. You will need to do this carefully so as not to have wrinkles in your fabric. With a larger piece like this it may be beneficial to have someone help you pull the fabric evenly. Once you round the edge of your frame, simply staple it.
Step 5: Hang Your Artwork
You may want to install a small hanging bracket to the back of your artwork or you can simply hang it over a nail if it is small enough. The choice is yours.
