How to Customize Picture Frames

Customized picture frames can add a touch of personal style to your home decor. Nearly anything can be used to decorate your picture frames. You can customize them to match the theme of the picture they will hold or to complement the other items in the room. Any picture frame can be decorated simply and inexpensively by children and adults alike. It is a fun project for groups of children, or you can make them as gifts.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Picture frame
• Cardboard
• Paint
• Hot glue
• Embellishments

1. Remove the glass and cardboard backing from the picture frame. Trace around the outside of the frame onto a piece of cardboard, then trace around the inside of the frame around the picture opening.

2. Cut out the inside of the cardboard to leave the window from which the picture will show. Cut out around the outside line. You can cut the cardboard larger than the picture frame along the outside line as well as cut a decorative edge. Use hot glue to attach the cardboard to the original picture frame.

3. Paint the cardboard frame in a color that will complement the embellishments you wish to use. You can paint the frame a single color or paint designs on it, such as flowers.

4. Hot-glue embellishments to the frame. Shells, beads and rhinestones are a sample of the embellishments you can use. Allow the glue to dry completely.

Tips & Warnings

• Prepare the cardboard frame and glue it on beforehand if this is a child's project.
• Use caution with hot glue. Do not allow children to use hot glue.

References

• Additional tips and ideas from Crayola.