DIY Plywood Poster Frame

It’s time for another edition of the Monthly DIY Challenge, where some of my best blogging buddies and I team up to create original projects based on the same item or common theme.  This month we’re giving you lots of ideas on how to use thin wood (like thin plywood or balsa wood).  You can check out all of my friends’ projects, which are linked at the bottom of this post.  But first, here’s a teaser!  

Now that you’ve seen the great projects in store, let me show you my DIY Plywood Poster Frame.  This project was super quick to put together, but I love the look!  I think it definitely beats a plain old poster frame!  

I made this plywood poster frame so that I could hang an awesome vintage wrapping paper map of Chicago in my basement. It prettied up a wall down there as part of my Big Basement Makeover that I just finished!  I thought that guests who are staying down there might enjoy checking out the lay of the land!

Also, it was totally inexpensive and a very simple project – just how I like it.  

Supplies Needed for a Plywood Poster Frame

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• Poster (obviously)
• 1/4″ birch plywood, cut to desired size (approximately 3-4″ wider and taller than the poster to be framed)
• Wood stain (I used Minwax Dark Walnut – my fave), or paint
• Spray adhesive
• Decorative furniture tacks
• 3M Command Large Picture Hanging Strips

How to Make a Plywood Poster Frame

Now, guys, I have to apologize here for a MAJOR BLOGGER FAIL.  I recently started a new photo organization system and somehow I am completely DISorganized as a result.  I have searched everywhere and I cannot find my tutorial photos for this project!  I think I may have accidentally deleted them; they are nowhere to be found.  So I’m really sorry, but I don’t have step-by-step photos. I think it’s OK though because it is seriously SO simple! 

First, go to Home Depot’s precut wood aisle and find the 1/4″ thick birch plywood.  This wood is thin, but sturdier than other types of plywood.  Then have one of their employees cut it to the desired size for you.  Alternatively, cut if yourself if you are skilled with the saw!

Sand down the rough edges and stain it or paint it.

Once it’s fully dried, apply spray adhesive to the back of the poster.  Also carefully apply a thin layer of spray adhesive to the plywood, but be careful not to spray it on the edges of the plywood that will not be covered with the poster.  Press the poster into place, making sure to gently smooth out any wrinkles.

For a decorative touch, add furniture tacks or push pins to the corners of the poster.  I used furniture tacks, which were longer than the depth of the plywood.  Because of that, I let them stick out so that they wouldn’t push through the back of the wood.  
Finally, I hung the plywood poster frame with Command Large Picture Hanging Strips. They work perfectly for this type of project! Since the wood is so thin, it would have been difficult to hang the frame with regular picture hangers.

That’s it!  So easy, right?  Almost as easy as popping a poster into a poster frame, but way cuter!  
Well thanks so much for checking out my project! I hope you enjoyed it. I just know you will LOVE my friends’ projects, too! Make sure to pay them a visit!  And again, sorry for the lack of step-by-step tutorial photos!

– Bre