How to Make Great Picture Frames From Cardboard

Tired of filling your garbage can with cereal boxes and the like? Here's an interesting twist to using those boxes to make something to cherish a moment in time...

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Scissors
• Crafting Glue
• Simple shape(s) of various size(s)cut from cereal box (es) or other like containers (the stronger, the better)
• Fabric of choice
• Clothes pins
• Batting (quilting or other)

1. To begin your framing project, you will need to determine the size of the frame that you wish to make by cutting your cardboard at least an inch or so bigger than the photo you will be framing. The size depends on you.
   
   Cut two of the shapes, one for the front and one for the back.

2. Once you have cut your shapes, use one to to make the front of your frame.
   
   You'll need to follow the shape by basically making a smaller shape inside the shape you have chosen. The inside shape is to be cut out so that there is a vacant spot left for the viewing of your photo.

3. Next, you will need to cut the batting to the size of the front portion of your frame, using step two so the front piece of frame and the batting piece match.

4. Next comes the fabric cutting. Cut two pieces that are an inch or so bigger than your cardboard pieces.
   
   The fabric is to have small incisions all the way around your shape, but be careful not to cut into the cardboard while doing this, as your fabric will be your guide on just how close to come to the cardboard.
   
   The incision, or slits, should be an accommodating spacing apart so they can be folded onto the part of the cardboard that will not be visible once frame is completed.
   
   Once you have completed this process, the interesting and slightly complicated parts of making your frame comes, Putting everything together!

5. The piece that will be used for your frame's backing can be glued around the edges with the fabric being pressed into the glue, with the right side of the fabric showing. For parts of the fabric that do not want to cooperate with this part of the process, clothes pins can hold them in place. You do not have to add a lot of glue. Use your best judgment.

6. Now comes the challenging part! The front of your frame.
   
   Place the batting in place and lay entire piece on the wrong side of the fabric and all portions in their appropriate places.
   
   It's best to begin with your inside shape. Lay your glue around the edges of the cardboard and begin bringing the slitted pieces to the glue until this process is completed. As mentioned before, you may need to use clothes pins for this process.
   
   Let the project dry before continuing.
   
   Once the project has had time to dry, you can resume your frame's front construction by repeating the process for the outer edging. The batting will try to move, but just keep it beneath the fabric the best you can. Use clothes pins as needed, or by using your best judgment.
   
   Let the project dry.

7. The last step in your project is gluing the two pieces together, leaving one side of your choice (left, right, top or bottom) open so the picture will slide into the frame.
   
   Definitely use clothes pins to hold the pieces together until they are completely dry. This may take a few hours, depending on how much glue you have used.
   
   Once this process is completed, take a tab off a drink can and glue it to the back so you will have something to hold your frame on the wall when you hang it.

Tips & Warnings

• All types of fabric can be used on this project, taking into consideration exactly what you want out of your frame and its functionality.
• Any type of frame can be created by using this process, rather its a small, large, multi-pictures, or other choice. Use your mind to create away!
• My friend used lace around the edges when she glued the two sides together. It dressed the frame up nicely and matched the fabric perfectly. You may want to try this.
• Children that understand the complications of using glue and scissors can very well do this project with you so it is a family oriented project that you all can enjoy.
• HAVE FUN WITH THIS PROJECT! AND, use your first attempt of making your frame as a tool to bettering the process, and learning from mistakes made. It took me three tries before my first frame was actually usable (smiles in remembrance). But don't give up!!!

[Broom]

on 4/23/2009 Have you tried it yet sunnflr? Depending on your own visions of how you want your frame to turn out, you can do anything with this project that you set your mind to. Let me know if you try it. These really fancy up the pictures and the homesite.

[sunnflr]

on 10/7/2008 Cool project!