How to Create a Photo Frame

A photo frame is a fantastic way to display your cherished photographs, though they can be rather expensive. Making one yourself instead of purchasing is the best approach to create a beautifully fitting frame for your picture, all without straining your wallet. A homemade frame also makes for the perfect gift for loved ones, or an ideal addition to decorate your wall.

Cut the cardboard and craft paper into a rectangular shape. This will be the size of your frame. Depending on how wide you want it, make sure to cut it a few centimeters larger than the photo on each side.

Cut a rectangle in the center of the cardboard piece. The size of the rectangle should be slightly smaller than the photo.

Paint the frame. You can paint the frame in a single color or add patterns and images on it. Use markers, ballpoint pens, or colored pencils to decorate the frame.

Glue paper decorations. Cut paper into shapes – such as stars, hearts, envelopes, or symbols – and glue them onto the frame.

Be creative with the decorations. Use fabric, buttons, beads, glitter, stickers, or anything else you can think of. Attach these decorative items to the frame in any pattern you like.

Create the back for the frame. Take another piece of paper and cut it into a rectangle. This rectangle should be slightly smaller than the entire frame, so it can easily cover the center of the frame.

Glue this new rectangle onto the back of the frame. Secure and evenly glue the three edges, leaving one side open so you can insert the photo.

Insert the photo into the frame. Slide the photo through the open side of the frame at the back.

Decorate the popsicle sticks. You will need six or seven large popsicle sticks for the best look, but smaller ones can also work. Wrap them with decorative tape or patterned tape, or decorate them using markers, colored pencils, or paint.

Glue the popsicle sticks together to form the frame. Place two sticks vertically about 13cm apart and glue a decorated stick horizontally across the top. Attach the next decorated stick right next to the first one, making sure not to let any glue spill between the gaps. Continue until both vertical sticks are completely covered by the decorated sticks.

Decorate the frame. Glue wooden shapes, beads, paper, buttons, ribbons, or anything else you like to the front of the frame.

Stick your photo onto the frame. Smaller photos work better with this style of frame – choose a picture that is about the size of a wallet to make both the photo and frame look fantastic. Use glue, tape, or pins to attach the photo to the frame.

Attach a magnet to the back. Glue a strong horizontal magnet near the top of the back of the frame so you can hang it on the fridge or any other magnetic surface.

• You can use a hook instead of a magnet if you prefer, but a small and light frame will make it the perfect decoration for your fridge or locker at school.

Collect 4, 8, or 12 sticks. The number of sticks depends on the thickness of the frame you desire. They should each be about 30 cm long, with a diameter ranging from 3 mm to 13 mm. Choose sticks that are relatively straight and free of knots, branches, or any other imperfections that would make them unattractive.

Prepare the sticks. Ensure that all sticks are of equal length, around 30 cm. Remove any leaves or branches, and wash them if they are dirty. Then, divide the sticks into four groups (each with 1, 2, or 3 sticks), arranging each group to form one side of the frame, with one group placed along each edge.

• Arrange the sticks in each group closely together instead of bundling them tightly at the ends, to create a wider frame.
• Ensure that your photo will fit inside the rectangular space created by the sticks you've positioned.

Secure the sticks at the corners of the frame with string. Use a hot glue gun to attach one end of the string to the back of the corner of the frame (you can also use hot glue to hold two sticks together first). Run the string diagonally across the front of the corner. Then, pass the string through the back where the two sticks intersect. Bring the string diagonally across again so that it crosses the first diagonal line (for example, if the first time you ran the string from the top-right corner to the bottom-left corner, now you will run it from the bottom-right corner to the top-left corner). Wrap it around the back again, and repeat: diagonal, then horizontal, then diagonal, then vertical. The front of the corner will show two intersecting diagonal strings, forming an 'X', while the back will show a square pattern where the strings wrap around each stick at the intersection. Secure the end of the string with hot glue.

• Ensure the sticks along each side are flat and tightly pressed together. Make sure the knots are tight to ensure the corners of the frame are sturdy.
• If you'd like to try different styles, experiment with other tying techniques for the corners. You can try square knots, diagonal knots, or create your own style.
• Repeat this step for the remaining three corners. Once finished, your frame will be secure.

Attach the photo to the back of the frame. Adjust the photo if necessary. If you don't want to glue the photo directly or if you want to be able to swap out the photo, glue a larger piece of paper to the back of the frame. Glue three sides of the paper down and slide the photo into the open side.

Attach a string to the top of the frame to create a hanging loop. The string should be between 15 cm and 18 cm long, depending on the size of your frame. Use a hot glue gun to fix the string to the two upper corners. This will allow you to hang the frame using the string.

All done!

Frame the photo if desired. You will need to glue the photo directly onto the wooden frame. If you don't want to glue it to the photo, or if you want a border around it, you can frame it or simply glue it onto high-quality paper or plain colored paper.

Prepare two equal wooden slats or square wooden sticks. Use wooden slats that are 2 cm wide, or square sticks that are 6 mm to 13 mm wide. They should be at least 2 cm longer than the width of your photo.

Paint or spray the wooden slat or stick with the color of your choice. For a simple frame, applying a glossy finish to the wooden frame looks the best. However, you can also paint it with watercolors or decorate it with paint if you prefer.

Attach the wooden slats to the top and bottom of the photo. Center the photo horizontally, ensuring the slats are perfectly straight and evenly aligned along the top edge. Glue the wooden slat to the top of the photo so that the part below is still visible. If you feel the photo is being covered too much, use another piece of paper to attach below the photo, and then glue the slat onto that paper.

Attach the string to the top wooden slat. Take a piece of string to use as the hanging cord. It should be about 20-30 cm long, depending on the size of your photo. Drill small holes in the back of the wooden slat, spacing them between the corner of the photo and the end of the wood. Tie the string through these holes.

• If you prefer not to drill holes, simply glue the string to the wood using hot glue. This method will still hold securely, and the string will remain hidden at the back of the frame.

All done!

Purchase or create a basic frame. Cut a piece of cardboard to the desired size of your frame, and cut a space in the center to place your photo. The frame can be simple or creative, depending on your preferences - from a basic rectangle to a larger backdrop with sections to hold two or three different photos. Glue craft paper inside each photo section to secure the photos in place. Glue three sides of the paper to allow for easy insertion and removal of the photo.

• You can also buy a simple wooden frame if you don't want to make one yourself.

Collect several old magazines or other types of paper. The colors and glossiness of magazines make them perfect for creating frames, but you can also use old newspapers, cardboard, or any scrap paper you have lying around.

Cut the paper into strips. If using paper from a magazine, simply cut it vertically in half. If using newspaper, cut it into strips about 10 cm wide and 25 cm long.

Use a wooden stick or skewer to roll the paper strips into tubes. Place the wooden stick at one corner of the paper, at an angle of more than 45° to the paper. Roll the paper corner tightly around the stick. Keep the paper tight and use the stick to form the paper into a tube.

• As you roll, the two ends of the wooden stick will be covered by the paper. Be sure not to lose them, as it will be harder to remove the stick from the tube. Just slide the stick to one side to make sure you always have a firm grip when removing it from the tube.

When you’re nearing the paper corner, apply glue along the edge to secure the tube. You can drop a bit of glue on the opposite corner from where you started; this will keep the tube in place. However, if you plan to cut the tube later, you may end up cutting through the glued section and unroll the tube. To prevent this, glue the entire outer corner of the tube. This way, it will stay intact in the tube no matter when or how you cut it.

Repeat the previous steps to roll enough paper tubes for your picture frame. You’ll likely need more than you initially expect, so make sure to roll plenty of paper before starting the assembly.

Apply Mod Podge glue to the background of the photo frame. You can use other types of glue to secure the paper tubes, but Mod Podge is more effective, sticks better, and is easy to use, making it an excellent choice for this type of frame.

Place the paper tubes along the edges of the photo frame. This will help the corners look clean and smooth, and you won’t have to worry about trimming the bottoms of the other tubes perfectly.

Glue the paper tubes to the frame. Cut the paper tubes to the right length before gluing, or trim them to fit as you place them. For a simple frame, arrange all the rolled tubes along the frame, tightly next to one another. This will create a classic, minimalist look.

• Try arranging the rolls diagonally or at right angles, or even use them to create patterns. For example, place the paper tubes in a small square rotated 45° from the outside to form a diamond shape at the center of the frame. Bend the tubes to create angles, or glue them along the frame edges. Be creative – how you arrange the tubes will define the overall appearance and feel of your photo frame.
• Make sure to place the paper tubes closely together so there are no gaps or holes in the frame.

Apply a layer of Mod Podge over the paper tubes. Once you have positioned the paper tubes on the frame, applying a thin layer of glue will help bind them securely in place. It will also provide a protective coating to strengthen the frame and keep it looking neat and shiny.

Allow the photo frame to dry. Once the glue is fully dried, insert your photo into the frame.

• You may want to browse through a few reference books. They could provide helpful ideas for your project.

• Be cautious when using scissors or knives. They can cause injuries if not handled carefully.