Friends Peephole Frame

by Paul Massey

207K227107

Intro: Friends Peephole Frame

I have wanted to make a Friends peephole frame replica for years but there are so many replicas out there it was hard to find a picture of the original to work from. Eventually I found a high resolution picture of the real prop and accurate dimensions. I also confirmed the original prop was made from paper mache.


Materials:
Thin corrugated cardboard
Newspaper
School Glue (PVA)
White paper towel
Bread tag or thin plastic
Acrylic paint. Two colours, yellow and slightly darker yellow.

STEP 1: Step 1

Put Friends DVD in the DVD player and press play.

STEP 2: Step 2

Print the template. 1:1 scale is the same size as the original.

Click to Download Template

I chose to scale mine to about half size. Paste the image onto cardboard and paste rolled up strips of newspaper paper mache to the board following the shape of the printed template. Allow the frame to dry out completely. Be patient, sit back, relax. Order a Joey Special and watch Stevie.

STEP 3: Step 3

Add two layers of paper towel paper mache to the front and allow to dry. Then trim the excess card from the outside and centre.

STEP 4: Step 4

Cut a V shape into a bread tag as shown. Cut a recess into the cardboard on the back to fit the bread tag. This will become mounting point/bracket so that that the frame can hang on a nail. If you don't have a bread tag you can use a piece of yoghurt pot or a phalange.

STEP 5: Step 5

Add another two or three layers of paper mache. Make sure you paper mache over the bread tag on the back. Allow to dry and cut out a small hole over the bread tag. You can sand the frame with some 220 grit sandpaper to remove the high points if needed.

STEP 6: Step 6

Paint the entire frame with two or three layers of the darker yellow acrylic paint. Allow to dry and then lightly apply one coat of the lighter yellow paint to the raised areas. If you don't want it yellow you could paint it to match one of the 66 colours of your bedroooOOOmmm.

STEP 7: Step 7

Hang your very own piece of fine Italian craftsmanship on a small nail and add some blue tack to the back of the frame so that it doesn't fall off when you close the door.

Tips
-Use watered down school glue (PVA) as paper mache paste. Paste containing flour goes mouldy if its not properly dried.
-Use a laser printer. Ink from an inkjet printer could run when it gets wet and you won't be able to see the template.
-If you choose to dry the frame in an oven (@ <200F, 90C) or with a hair dryer, tape the frame to a baking tray to stop it warping.
-The paper mache won't stick to the bread tag so put some spots of super glue around the edge to hold it down.
-In order to get the frame perfectly aligned over the peephole on you door, put a tiny drop of paint over the V cutout on the bead tag and press it into place on the door. Remove the frame and there will be a dot of paint exactly where you need to put the nail.
-Put a layer of tape on the back of the frame so that the blue tack doesn't damage the frame when you take it down and show your friends to make them jealous.

78 Comments

Otter yellow flower 9 years ago

just got to let dry and spray paint! I made a huge one for a friends bridal shower. we are going to take pictures with it!

Paul Massey 9 years ago

What a great idea for a present! Good job!

Ylrodri09 4 years ago

This is perfect! How do you do it? I need details I’m planning on making one for my friend birthday! If you can help let me know. Thank you

CGervais88 7 years ago

OKAY I NEED THIS..

But frig I need it by tomorrow. How difficult was this to make? I'd love to know the details. Throwing a bridal shower tomorrow with a Friends theme.

Otter yellow flower 7 years ago

I dunno that you can do it that quickly... it wasn't too difficult but takes time- especially when it was so big! Plus it took a couple days for the glue to dry and then I spray painted it yellow and that took another dayish to dry.

Paul Massey 9 years ago

Wow that looks awesome! Thank you for posting a pic

egli67 8 years ago

what kind of cardboard is that? Where did you get it? How think is it?

grumpypiglet76 3 months ago

Do you happen to know what the measurements actually were? And how big the squares on the paper are? Thanks can't wait

rachelrebeluk 10 months ago

Thank you! This is the best post ever! 😍

Rebel Fairy 1 year ago

A labour of love, but pretty happy with the end result. I’m going to paint my daughter’s cupboard door purple, let’s see if it encourages her to keep it closed!

Rai Dehaloo 4 years ago

Hi! This is so great, thank you!! I’m gonna try making it for my FRIENDS theme housewarming.

I have a few questions.

First- I’m looking at paint to buy and my options are “medium yellow”, “primary yellow”, “lemon yellow” and “yellow ochre”. I’m thinking of getting the medium and primary. Do you think that’s okay?

Second- is the template A4 when printed?

Lastly- approximately how much glue do you think I’ll need? 500ml/100ml?

TheFischLife 4 years ago

Looks so good! What a great idea to use a bread tag!
Step 4....Regina Phalange.

TammyT76 5 years ago

about how long were your strips of newspaper for the swirl pieces?

egli67 9 years ago

Hi! I was wondering if it's possible to make an extra large version of the
frame. I want it for my new youtube channel I'm going to start with my
girlfriend We think the frame would be perfect for it! I don't have the
exact measurements yet, however I listed an estimate below so you have a
ballpark of how big I was hopping to get it. Do you have any suggestions or tips on how I should go about doing this? Because to be honest I'm not very good with paper mache. lol

45x33 inches

Otter yellow flower 9 years ago

I just made a large one for a party! (look in comments above for picture). If you want to know dimensions or how I did it, let me know! :)

JamieS204 6 years ago

Hi otter yellow flower. Would you be willing to make a version of large one you made in pic above that I could buy? I want to use as a prop in the photo booth at my wedding.

egli67 8 years ago

Thats awesome. Mine is a bit larger then that. I feel stupid watching people do this in like 2 days where it takes me a lot planing and days to get even close to something descent. Im not that good with paper mache things. I use some wood that I attached together first to create a base frame. Because I want it to be real sturdy. But I am struggling to get an accurate and nice looking waves. Do you have any tips or tricks.

I am using glue mixed with a little water, I have not used the paper towels yet. Its really hard to get them to set when there soggy, ugh. Hope someone has a pointer or two.

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