Sometimes you may want to use old-fashioned techniques to hide private photographs and documents. One option is a standard safe. Another, more creative option is to hide the photographs inside a wall painting. Canvases have a frame backing that the canvas fabric is stretched over. This gives the canvas depth. When a canvas is framed, the framer typically adheres a paper backing to the decorative picture frame to hide the unattractive backside of the canvas and protect your wall from scratches. To hide your pictures, you'll need to properly remove and replace the paper backing.
Instructions
Cutting the Paper Backing
1. Turn the framed canvas over so that the backside is facing up. Measure the height and width of the framed canvas from about 1/8 inch around the edges of the picture frame.
2. Measure and mark a piece of brown craft paper to fit the height and width of the back of the framed canvas. Use one or two of the existing edges if possible. Place the craft paper onto a cutting board.
3. Position the metal yardstick along the first marked measurement. Press the yardstick firmly with one hand and position the blade of the craft knife just above the edge of the paper.
4. Pull the blade down the paper, applying pressure and keeping the blade against the straight edge. Repeat this for the remaining sides the paper to produce a sheet the same size as the back of the framed canvas.
Hiding Your Pictures
5. Adhere a thin piece of double-sided tape along the outer edges of the picture frame, between 1/8 and 1/4 inch from the edge.
6. Place or tape your photographs inside the canvas.
7. Hold the two upper corners of the craft paper in each hand. Hold the paper above the frame, ensuring that the paper is straight. Press the upper corners of the paper onto the upper corners of the frame to adhere it in place.
8. Pull the bottom corners of the paper down until the paper backing is taut, but not rippling. Press the bottom corners of the paper onto the bottom of the frame.
9. Press down on the paper in between the frame corners. Run your fingers gently over the outer edge of the paper backing to completely adhere it.
Attaching Framing Hardware
10. Place each wire strap hanger about 1/3 of the way down from the top of framed painting, with each hanger settling in the center of the frame. Make sure the metal loops are pointed towards each other.
11. Use the ruler to ensure the wire strap hangers are even. Mark where the holes of the hangers are on the paper backing. Remove the hangers.
12. Hold the pointed end of the awl over the marks and press down hard to create a small hole. Place the wire strap hangers back into place.
13. Insert frame screws into the strap hanger holes and screw them into place. Make sure the screws are not longer than the thickness of the frame.
14. Unravel a length of framing wire and poke the end through one of the hanger loops. Pull the end through about 2 or 3 inches, then fold the wire and twist it around itself. Do this until the entire 2 or 3 inches of wire is tightly wrapped.
15. Pull the wire, with the spool still attached, across the painting to the other hanger loop. The wire should be somewhat loose, not taut. Cut the wire from the spool, making sure to add an extra 3 or 4 inches for wrapping.
16. Fold the other end of the wire over opposite wire loop, keeping the wire relatively loose between the hangers. Twist the end of the wire around itself tightly. Hang the painting from the framing wire.
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