Framed Eyelet Display Board

A few years ago, a local craft store was closing, and I bought a bunch of frames at 80% off. I pulled one out for this fun project.

I removed the glass and was left with just the frame and backing. This project would work well with a thrifted frame as well, especially if the glass is broken.

I started by painting a sloppy coat of Sunday Tea from Country Chic Paint. This will be a layered look, so I want a little of the original color showing through.

I tried a new technique for me. I mixed some coarse Kosher salt into a small amount of Linen White Chalked Paint by Rust-Oleum.

I painted a thick coat on the front and sides. I like the look of the salt already.

While I waited for the paint to dry, I cut a piece of eyelet fabric to fit around the cardboard insert in the frame. I find all kinds of interesting fabrics like this on Fabric Guru. They sell a lot of remnants and small lots, so you never know what you’ll find there.

I folded the corners under and hot glued the edges around the back.

I chose the brown side for the front because I like a little bit of contrast color showing through the eyelet holes, but not as much as if I had used the black side. I tried a white liner behind it, but I couldn’t see the eyelet at all, so the brown won out.

Applying sandpaper over the salt created a wonderful streaked effect, with both the tan paint and the original wood showing through.

I left some of the salt embedded in the paint, and added Rust-Oleum Chalked Decorative Glaze in Aged Glaze to make it stand out even more. I know that usually all the salt is sanded away in this technique, but I think it looks like an old, chippy finish with a little salt left in.