How to Frame Your Paint by Numbers (The Easy Way)

You’ve placed the final brushstroke and your masterpiece is complete. This is a moment of pure creative satisfaction. Now, it's time for the final, transformative step: framing your art. A proper frame elevates your finished piece from a beautiful project into a professional, gallery-ready work of art you'll be proud to display.

While it may seem intimidating, stretching your canvas onto our DIY Wooden Frame Kit is a simple, rewarding process. We've designed our frames to be easy to assemble, and this guide, featuring our complete video tutorial, will walk you through every step with confidence.

The Video Guide: Watch and Learn

For visual learners, our step-by-step video is the easiest way to master the process. Follow along as we show you exactly how to get a tight, professional stretch on your canvas.

The Written Instructions: A Detailed Walkthrough

Prefer to read the steps? Here is a detailed breakdown of the framing process.

Step 1: Prepare Your Workspace

Lay a soft cloth or towel on a clean, flat surface like a table or the floor. This will protect your painting from scratches. Unpack your four wooden stretcher bars and the included thumbtacks.

Step 2: Assemble the Wooden Frame

The four stretcher bars are designed to slot together perfectly. Take two bars and firmly press their corners together to form a right angle. Repeat with the other two bars. Finally, connect the two L-shaped halves to form a complete, stable rectangular frame. Ensure all four corners are snug and square.

Step 3: Position Your Canvas

Carefully place your finished painting face down on your prepared soft surface. Take your assembled wooden frame and place it on the back of the canvas. Center it carefully, ensuring the edges of the canvas are evenly spaced around the frame on all four sides.

Step 4: The Art of Stretching & Pinning

This is the most crucial step for a professional finish. The key is to create even tension.

1. Start with one of the longer sides. Pull the canvas taut over the wood and push the first thumbtack into the center of that wooden bar.
2. Move to the opposite side. Pull the canvas firmly (but not so hard you distort the image) and place a thumbtack in the center of that bar.
3. Repeat this process for the two shorter sides, again starting in the center. You should now have four thumbtacks, one in the middle of each of the four bars.
4. Continue this pattern, working from the center out towards the corners on all four sides, placing thumbtacks every few inches. Always work on opposite sides to maintain even tension across the canvas.

Step 5: Finishing the Corners

Once all sides are securely pinned, you'll have excess canvas at the corners. Fold the corners in neatly, as you would when wrapping a gift, to create a clean, sharp edge. Secure the folded corners with a final thumbtack on each.

And that's it! Your masterpiece is now ready for the wall.

Elevate Your Art Further

Now that your piece is beautifully framed, consider adding a final coat of varnish for protection and shine, or explore other tools to enhance your painting experience. You can find everything you need in our complete accessories collection.

About the Author

William Murdock is the founder of Paint On Numbers Canada. Driven by a belief in the therapeutic power of creativity, he is passionate about making the mindful practice of art accessible to everyone. Read his full story here.