Our Makerspace aims to share positivity and to arouse creativity of everyone who enters it. We organize different events and at the same time we print banners. We have 3 usual frames to place them, but they are placed in different spaces in our Makerspace. So, we had left 7 banners that were not placed anywhere. We wanted to make some frames in a creative way - something different. Banners can be replaced anytime when is needed.

If you also want to make frames - in a more creative way, go through our steps. Enjoy!

Step 1: Supplements and Materials

For 7 pair of frames:

8 wooden boards (7 of them: 6 mm thick; 1 of them: 5 mm thick) 600x300 mm
Paper Tape
Wood Glue
Soma Fix Glue (+ Soma Fix Spray for faster adhesion - OPTIONAL)
Colors (we used fingertips colors and watercolor pens)
Paper Knife
Small hammer
Staple Gun (+ staples)
Metric Measuring Tape
Steel Vice and Mini Spring Clamps
Adobe Illustrator Program (for designing)
Laser Cut Machine
14 x 10 mm Screws (2 per frame) - if smaller better
Holders

Step 2: Measuring, Designing & Cutting Frames

First of all, I measured one of the banners. While it was 75 cm wide, I cut all other banners on that size.

After that, using Adobe Illustrator I designed the frames (3.2 cm - height). Because our Laser Cut Machine is wide only 60 cm, I had to split the design of one frame in two parts. I used this method for all the frames. One of the parts was longer than the other side (e.g. 47 cm + 33 cm = 80 cm).

Then we glued the parts together with Soma Fix Glue, so they became 80 cm long each.

Note: If I used only one part as a frame, it would be too thin. So, we cut the same frames again, but only blank (we removed all the objects that were designed in them, so they would be the exact size as the main frames, and then we glued them under the main frame. Make sure to not glue the frames where the separation is at the same place under and on top - because it can break easy).

Before cutting process, I covered the wooden board with paper tape, so the objects become cleaner after cutting them. You have to remove the glue before using those objects. Helpful for this process is the paper knife (because it's too thin and works easier on details).

Step 3: Coloring the Frames

As you can see, I made different kinds of designs. I wanted those to be more colorful.

Frames that were designed with open shapes, enabled me to experiment more with colors in background. For example, the background of one of them is red, the other green, etc.

For coloring, I used fingertips colors, and for one of them, I needed to use Watercolor pens, because of the details.

When we are at those little stars in the pictures, they were left from the 2 first frames. So, there became the idea of coloring and gluing them in a dark frame, so the colors would be more obvious.

The fingertips colors take time to dry (several hours).

Step 4: Gluing Frames on Their Backgrounds and Other Objects in the Frames

For gluing frames on their backgrounds, I used Wood Glue, because it is stronger. Also for gluing the objects, like colorful stars, setting icons and other tools, I used the same glue.

As I told before, make sure that the background is in the opposite side of the main frame, like:

The main frame 47+33 cm
The background 33+47 cm

After you apply the glue and join the parts together, use those Mini Spring Clamps on the sides, so it does not move, and then place the middle part of the frame on the Steel Vice, and leave it like that till the glue does its job. Is good to leave it joined with pressure like that for at least 45 minutes - 1 hour.

Note: The thinner wooden board (4.5 mm) was used for the background of the last 2 pair of frames: the white one with tools and the black one with stars - preventing so the frame of becoming too thick.

Step 5: Frame on the Banner

Because we want to use these frames for other banners in the future, we could not glue them to the banners. I chose an easier way for joining the banners on the frames.

I used the Staple Gun to fix the banner on the frame. You have to look carefully where you are setting it, because the staples are longer than 6 mm, so it can seep out of the frame (out of those frames that have open shapes).

If any staple does not go in correctly, you can use the little hammer on it.