Instructions

1. Sand away any rough areas or old paint on the wood frame.
2. Clear the sanding dust with a damp cloth.
3. When the wood is smooth, apply pre-stain conditioner to help the stain penetrate the wood more evenly. Allow 5-15 minutes for the conditioner to penetrate, then wipe the surface with a lint-free rag.
4. Stir the stain well (don’t shake the can). Pretest the color in a hidden spot.
5. Apply the stain in the direction of the wood grain using a natural bristle brush.
6. Allow stain to completely dry.
7. While wearing rubber gloves, use a lint-free rag to wipe in the direction of the wood grain, removing excess stain and blending the lighter/darker areas.
8. Depending on the wood type, you may need to apply several coats to get an even appearance. We stained our shadow boxes with three coats.
9. Apply a thin coat of polyurethane topcoat in the direction of the wood grain.
10. Allow to dry.
11. Attach your favorite holiday ornament inside the frame with string or a wire.

These frames can stay up all year – just change out the ornaments for each holiday, starting with Valentine’s Day.