Easy Easel Picture Stand

by mrdebos

70K1095

Intro: Easy Easel Picture Stand

When strolling through a hobby store a few days ago, I saw this mini easel with a mini canvas for making mini paintings.

I would really like to make paintings, but I don't. So I thought it could function as a picture stand just as well. And rather then buying it then and there, I thought I could easely ;) make one myself!

It only takes about 30 min. and it's a really nice small picture stand. Also great as a gift!

STEP 1: Materials & Tools

All the stuff you need for an easel about 4 inches (10 cm) high:

- some wooden stick, at least the width of your picture frame, at least 17 inches (42 cm)
- knife
- small saw (if the stick is thin, a knife should do fine)
- ruler
- wood glue

STEP 2: Stick It!

First you mark the 4 lenghts on a stick. You will need 2 sticks of 4 inches (10 cm) and 2 sticks of 4,5 inches (11 cm). This to make the easel 'lean back', so to speak.

Then you place the pieces on your desk and lay them out how you think it looks nice. Mark the edges you need to cut off, and cut them off.

Finally check your layout again to see if the sticks are nice and symmetrical, otherwise your easel will be wobbly or crooked.

STEP 3: Glue It!

First we assemble the A-frame. Make sure your sticks are layed out perfectly, then apply some glue on the 2 diagonal sticks. Attach the horizontal stick and press. Then wait for the glue to dry.

When the glue has dried, apply some glue between the 2 sticks at the top. Then squeeze in the support stick under an angle. Squeeze the top part some more, and test if your easel stand the way you want it to. If it does, lay it down with some support, and wait for the glue to dry again.

STEP 4: Canvas or Picture?

While you're waiting for the glue to dry, why not make a nice canvas-looking picture frame?

What you need:
- a piece of foamboard no thicker than your sticks
- a picture
- a knife

Cut the foamboard a little smaller than your printed picture. I made the foamboard 12x8 cm, and I printed my picture to 13x9 cm.

Make sure there is enough paper around your picture to fold it around the foamboard, to really make it look like a canvas.

Cut the picture with an extra edge of at least the thickness of your foam, and preferably a little more. Then cut it like on the image below, so you can easily fold it and glue it to your foam.

STEP 5: Put Together & Admire Your Work

That's it! Your own easy easel picture stand!

You can make multiple sizes and shapes, paint them in all the colors of the rainbow, and use them to put whatever you want on them! Enjoy!

I would like to see your easy easels, so feel free to post them!

4 Comments

craftyinIdaho 13 years ago

This is nice. ....you can also do a mini easel from a metal drapery hook...spread the prongs for the stand...use the "hook" to hold the picture....works great!

irishwhistle 13 years ago

Your easel is probably more stable than the minis they sell in stores. It doesn't fold, but it isn't going to fall down because the support has nothing to anchor it either. The little ones in stores are really just a novelty item. I guess you're meant to paint the canvas, but that's a novelty item too. Functioning artists' easels have a lot more knobs and sliding things on them. So you're right, this is a nice lil display easel, and the photo you mounted on foam board is a great way to use that.

Hammerholder 14 years ago

I have a about a dozen wooden easels of various sizes made from scrap wood.  They come in really handy at the schools silent auction, table top displays at exhibits or information tables.  The parents group at the school and people at work are always asking to borrow them.   I didn't take time to make them symmetrical and I usually made them stand up by measuring by eye and doing a lot of extra cutting.  Since there usually behind the display item it doesn't matter how they look.   You just have to make time to mount the horizontal with a level.  I have a couple where I have routed a pattern on the horizontal and painted it.  That's the piece that compliments the display.  It's a great way to repurpose scrape wood.