Dad’s special day is coming up on the third Sunday in June so I’m sharing how to make a DIY nuts and bolts frame for Father’s Day!
This frame is perfect for you to make so your child can give it as a gift to their Dad.
Depending on your child’s age, perhaps they can help paint the frame, but the hot glue/E-6000 glue and cutting steps will need to be done by an adult.
Have your child draw or color small sized artwork, or write a short message on cardstock to place into the frame insert.
NUTS AND BOLTS FRAME FOR FATHER’S DAY
SUPPLIES NEEDED:
- unfinished wood frame
- black craft paint
- silver metallic craft paint
- small & medium foam brushes
- 2 metal clamps ~ buy larger than pictured
- metal cutting wire snips
- assorted nuts, washers, bolts, screws
- E-6000 glue
- glue gun (optional)
- artist brush (optional)
HOW TO MAKE A NUTS AND BOLTS FRAME
STEP 1 – PAINT THE FRAME
- Use the tip of the small foam brush or artist brush, whichever is easier for you to use, to paint the metallic silver paint on the inset of the frame. Try not to get paint on the front side.
- For the side edges, use the foam brush to pull the paint from the back towards the front edge. Then carefully pull the paint up and down along the side edge without getting any on the front side. Let dry.
- Paint the back side metallic silver. Let dry completely before painting the front black.
- Use the medium size foam brush to paint the front of the frame.
- Paint on one front side, from the middle and outward towards the frame opening, then from the middle and outward towards to outside of frame. Then carefully pull the paint up and down in one direction. Painting this way will prevent black paint getting on the silver painted areas.
- Repeat for the other 3 front sides.
TIP – You may need 2 coats of metallic silver paint depending on what name brand you purchase.
STEP 2: CUT THE CLAMP PIECES
- Unscrew and take off the bolt from the clamp.
- Use the metal cutting wire snips to cut your desired length from the clamp.
- Set aside until it’s time to glue to the frame.
STEP 3: PLAN PLACEMENT AND ATTACH THE HARDWARE
- Plan the placement of the hardware and lay the pieces in your desired areas.
- I shaped the clamp pieces in a slight wave and glued in the areas that were curved downward.
- Glue washers on the ends of the clamp pieces so the sharp edges are covered.
- Use E-6000 glue to attach the nuts, bolts, washers and screws.
- Find a tiny household object to use as an applicator for the E-6000 glue. I used the ball from a ball point head straight pin, but I think a toothpick would work just as well.
- Dip the “applicator” in the glue tube hole and smear the glue on the back side of each hardware piece. (The screws were tedious to glue.)
TIP – Even though hot glue worked on glueing the clamp pieces down, I had the best results using E-6000 to glue down the rest of the hardware. It was less messy and more sturdy.
Hopefully, I provided some inspiration for creating your own nuts and bolts frame for Father’s Day or for another special occasion or holiday for Dad!
FOLLOW ME ON PINTEREST FOR LOTS OF CRAFT INSPIRATION!
MORE CRAFTY FRAME IDEAS THAT MAY INTEREST YOU:
DOLLAR STORE HALLOWEEN PICTURE FRAME
I’m participating in a Pinterest Challenge with a group of fellow bloggers where we create one of our pins from our Pinterest boards. This month our theme was to create a “man cave/ gift for him” DIY project, and I chose this nuts about you photo frame gift idea. Be sure to click the links at the end of this post to see more projects that fit the theme. Don’t miss out!
VISIT LINKS BELOW TO SEE MORE GIFTS TO MAKE FOR DAD
My Slices of Life | Pandora’s Box
Treasures Made from Yarn | Purple Hues and Me
Southern Sunflowers | Sum of their Stories
On Rockwood Lane | Our Good Life
Sharing my Nuts and Bolts frame at these fabulous blogs!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
AllysonAllyson is the founder and content creator of Southern Sunflowers. She shares tutorials for DIY crafts and decor on a budget.
This is so cute!
Thank you, Amy 🙂
Ah, how unique! Thanks so much for linking up with me at the Unlimited Link Party 27. Pinned!
Thanks for pinning and letting me link up! There’s lots of inspiration to see at your party.
What a cute idea, and perfect for Father’s Day!
Cherryl, so happy you like the nuts and bolts frame idea! It’d be perfect for a guy’s birthday or Christmas gift, too.
That is such a sweet idea, perfect for any DIY loving daddy!
I’m glad I was finally able to make a nuts and bolts craft through our Pinterest challenge. I’ve always thought those kind of crafts were so unique looking.
So awesome how you’ve attached actual nuts and bolts! What a neat way to use up odds and ends, and create a cute frame too.
I’ve seen nuts and bolts crafts forever on Pinterest, so I was glad I finally got to make something of my own through our Pinterest challenge.
Very cute! We used to give my husband personalized frames with the boys photos inside for his desk at work. Pinned.
Thanks, Joanne! I bet your husband liked showing off those frames on his office desk and your kids enjoyed making them, too. Thanks for pinning!
What a fun project for kids and adults to make together for Father’s Day! The nuts and bolts frame looks quite unique!
I’ve seen nuts and bolts crafts on Pinterest for years and I finally got to make my own!
Cute idea…..a perfect frame for any guy!
Patti, glad you think my frame is cute! I’ve always really liked the variety of nuts and bolt crafts that I’ve seen on Pinterest.