I told you I have a lot of doilies from my great-grandmother. I decided to frame a few more for Christmas. I bought these 12-inch square collage frames at Michael’s. I replaced the mats with $1/yard Walmart fabric. I love how the doilies look like snowflakes. (That monster wall heater is the sole—and inefficient—source of warmth in my drafty apartment. Maybe I should knit some mittens next—to wear indoors.) Merry Christmas everyone!

My great-grandmother lived to be 93. And she loved to crochet. She made me dozens of doilies, collars, and hankies over the years. The doilies are so beautiful that I hated to see them packed away in a box in my closet. But I wasn’t about to scatter them over my furniture either. I decided to frame some, but the trick was finding square frames. I found these four mismatched frames at a thrift store that were the perfect sizes. A little paint, and voilà—a matching set.

Framed doilies

Supplies

• primer
• paint
• colored acid-free paper (I used one large green sheet from Michael’s)
• doilies

Tools

• paint brush
• drop cloth
• scissors or paper cutter

1. Remove artwork and glass from frame. Trace glass onto colored paper and cut out.

2. Place frame on drop cloth. Paint one coat of primer, let dry. Then paint two coats of paint, letting them dry for at least an hour in between. Let dry overnight.

3. Clean glass and insert into frame. Center doily in frame, place colored paper behind it, and close frame with its original cardboard backing.

Easy picture hanging technique

Supplies & tools
brown paper bags or newsprint
nails
tape
hammer

1. Trace each frame onto brown paper bags and cut out. Tape the brown paper cutouts to the wall where you want to hang your frames.

2. Measure from the top and side of the frame to determine the location of the hook. Do the same on the coordinating piece of paper, and mark where the nail should go.

3. Hammer a nail into that spot, then pull the paper off the wall. Then hang your frame. You just save time and saved your walls from multiple holes!