How to Finish, Varnish and Frame a Paint by Numbers Painting (So It's Gift-Ready)

Painting the last numbered section feels like the finish line, but a few small steps afterward make a big difference to how your paint by numbers looks on the wall. A careful touch-up, an optional coat of varnish and the right frame are what turn "a kit I did" into a painting people assume you bought. And if you're planning to give it as a Christmas gift, these steps are what make it look gift-ready.

Here's how to finish, seal and frame a paint by numbers painting, step by step.

Step 1: Do a final touch-up pass

Before anything else, let the painting dry completely and then look at it in good daylight. Artificial light hides a lot. Prop it up against a wall, step back a few feet, then go in close. You're looking for:

• Numbers showing through. Lighter colors like whites, creams and pale yellows sometimes let the printed number peek through. A thin second coat usually fixes it. For very pale sections, dab the number with the Whiteout Pen first (one comes free with every kit order), let it dry, then paint over it.
• Tiny white gaps. Little unpainted slivers between sections are easy to miss up close and obvious from across a room. A fine brush and the matching color closes them.
• Thin or streaky areas. Some colors are naturally less opaque. A second thin coat looks better than one thick one.
• Visible outlines. Printed lines that show at the edge of a section can be covered by carrying the color just over the line.

This is also the moment to decide whether you want to add anything freehand, like a few highlights in an eye or a signature. Which brings us to the next step.

Step 2: Sign it

People skip this, and they shouldn't. You painted it. Add your initials or name in a bottom corner with a fine brush and a dark color from the kit. On the back, write the date, the name of the design and, if it's a gift, who it's for. Years from now, that note on the back is often the part that means the most.

Step 3: Let it cure before you seal it

Acrylic paint feels dry to the touch quickly, but it keeps curing for a while after that, especially where it's thicker. If you're going to varnish, give the painting at least a couple of days in a dust-free spot first. If a thick section still feels slightly cool or soft when you touch it with the back of a knuckle, wait longer.

Step 4: Decide whether to varnish

You don't have to varnish a paint by numbers, and plenty of people don't. But a finishing coat does three useful things: it evens out the sheen (some colors dry glossier than others), it deepens the colors a little, and it protects the surface from dust and fingerprints. It's especially worth it for a painting that won't go behind glass.

Your options

• Gloss gel medium: our acrylic gloss gel medium is brushed on as a thin, glossy topcoat and gives colors a richer, wet look. It's water-based, so brushes clean up with water.
• Brush-on acrylic varnish: available in gloss, satin or matte from any art store. Satin is a good middle ground if you don't want a shiny finish.
• Spray varnish: gives a very even coat with no brush marks, but it needs a well-ventilated space (outdoors is best) and a bit of practice.

How to apply it

1. Work in a clean, dust-free room. Wipe the painting gently with a dry, lint-free cloth.
2. Test on a small corner first to see how the finish looks.
3. Use a wide, soft, flat brush. Apply a thin coat in long strokes, all in the same direction, working from top to bottom.
4. Don't go back over areas that have started to dry. That's what causes cloudy patches and streaks.
5. Let it dry fully (follow the product's instructions), then add a second thin coat in the other direction if you want more protection.
6. Leave it flat to dry, somewhere pets and dust can't reach it.

Step 5: Frame it

How you frame it depends on which format you painted.

If you painted a pre-stretched canvas

You're nearly done. Our pre-stretched kits arrive mounted on a wooden frame, so the painting can hang as it is, gallery-style, with the sides showing. For a more finished look, you can add a floater frame: a thin outer frame that leaves a small gap around the canvas so it appears to float. Many craft stores sell them in standard sizes.

If you painted a rolled canvas

You have three good choices:

• Stretch it yourself. Our pine wood canvas frame kit comes in a range of sizes, including 16" x 20" and 20" x 24". Assemble the four bars, lay the painting face down on a clean towel, center the frame on top, and staple the canvas to the back: one staple in the middle of each side first, then work outward toward the corners, pulling the canvas snug as you go. Fold the corners neatly like wrapping a present.
• Use a regular picture frame. A ready-made frame with a mat works nicely and is often the cheapest option. Tape the canvas to the back of the mat so it lies flat.
• Take it to a framer. The most expensive option but the most polished, and a good choice for a custom portrait or a painting you're giving as a special gift.

Small creases in a painted canvas usually pull out when you stretch it over a frame. Don't iron a canvas once it's painted, since heat can soften or mark the acrylic; ironing the back on a low setting is only for fixing creases before you start painting.

Step 6: Hang it where it gets seen

• Height: the center of the painting should sit around eye level, roughly 57 to 60 inches from the floor. Above a sofa, leave a gap of about 8 to 10 inches between the top of the sofa and the bottom of the frame.
• Light: avoid a spot in direct afternoon sun, which can fade colors over the years.
• Hardware: a sawtooth hanger or picture wire on the back is enough for most canvases. Use two hooks for anything wider than about 24 inches so it stays level.

Giving it as a Christmas gift

A painting you made yourself is one of the most personal gifts there is. A few finishing touches:

• Protect the corners with cardboard before wrapping, especially on a pre-stretched canvas.
• Wrap it in plain kraft paper and a ribbon so the shape doesn't give it away before it's opened.
• Write a short card explaining what it is and how long it took you. People love knowing it was made for them.
• Start early. If you're painting a gift for Christmas, plan to finish painting at least a week before you need it, to leave time for curing, varnish and framing.

Still looking for the right design to paint as a gift? Our gift buyer's guide can help, and our painting guide has more tips for clean edges and even color.