Without any doubt, you have a lot of photographs stored at home and most are hidden in albums, since you can’t have enough photo frames for all the pictures.
Now it is fashionable to decorate walls with entire photo collages, multiple frames on the fireplace, chest of drawers or display case. In this regard, today we offer you to look at the best DIY photo frame ideas of 2020.
Making a beautiful and original photo frame with your own hands is quite simple. You will need any available materials for decoration and a photo frame base made of cardboard or wood.
A self-made photo frame will definitely take pride of place in the house, and can also become an original gift for a loved one.
We offer you the most original DIY photo frame ideas 2020 and ways to decorate old and boring photo frames.
We make beautiful photo frames with our own hands - creative ideas and photos step by step
Let's start with the simplest way to make a photo frame with your own hands from cardboard. Cardboard can be used to make two types of frames - three-dimensional and flat.
Step-by-step photo tutorials on do-it-yourself frames made from cardboard will show you how quickly and without special skills you can make a beautiful photo frame, which you just need to decorate.
DIY photo frames 2020 made from knitted twigs look unusual and new. In this form, you can also connect planks, and it will turn out quite interesting.
Do-it-yourself photo frames in the form of canvas will look no less original. All you need is a small piece of cardboard, wrapped in fabric or paper of your choice, and two small clothespins glued on as a photo holder.
A real find for large photographs will be a window frame, which can perfectly serve as an original DIY photo frame.
A window frame can become the basis for a photo collage if you stretch several thick threads and secure the pictures with clothespins, as can be seen in the example.
A DIY wall photo frame consisting of a number of elements looks very nice. A similar photo frame can be created in any style: children's, romantic, family, bright or minimalist.
Decorating a photo frame - original do-it-yourself photo frame decor
Do you have any old photo or painting frames at home? Don’t rush to throw them away, give them a new life and turn them into a designer masterpiece, revitalizing your own interior.
Use any materials as decor for a DIY photo frame 2020: beads, sequins, pebbles, buttons, artificial flowers, small construction sets and puzzles.
Photos from a holiday at sea will look very cool in a DIY photo frame decorated with shells and pebbles collected on the beach. A family photo in a frame made of coffee, peas or cereals will harmoniously fit into the interior of the kitchen. Do-it-yourself photo frames in the quilling style look very stylish and original. Paper colored patterns and flowers look attractive and unusual.
For a fashionable interior in eco style, do-it-yourself photo frames 2020 decorated with wooden stumps and twigs, cork circles, and flat stones are suitable.
It is no less original to decorate a photo frame with your own hands in the form of a mosaic. Broken glass or a mirror will work here; maybe you still have old broken Christmas tree decorations, which are also suitable for decoration.
To decorate a photo frame with your own hands in a mosaic style, you can use pre-painted eggshells.
One of the easiest ways to decorate a photo frame with your own hands in an original way is to take multi-colored threads and wrap them around the frame.
See more cool and unusual ideas for a DIY photo frame in the gallery.
Beautiful DIY photo frames – decor ideas, step-by-step photo tutorials, new items for 2020
Photos are a wonderful reminder of life's happy moments. Some people like to print family photos, memorable moments with loved ones, or like to decorate their interiors with photographs of artistic value.
In this matter, it is important not only to choose a painting, but also to decorate it correctly so that it turns into an object that fits into the interior.
Supporters of minimalism can simply purchase ready-made photo frames, but some creative people are wondering how to make a frame with their own hands. Next, we’ll look at interesting ideas for such crafts for adults and children.
Materials for work
Before you do the most interesting thing - decorating your work, you will need to prepare the basis for the future original photo frame. You can buy it in the store, but we will also create it with our own hands.
If you decide to use wood, plastic, or other material for the base, the process will be similar to that described; we will consider making the base using cardboard as an example.
First, you will need to cut out two identical rectangles (or another shape) from cardboard; for this, use a ruler or stencil, a pencil and a stationery knife. Do not use scissors, this will ruin the cut.
The middle of one of the prepared figures is cut out; this will be the outer side of the frame, so the shape and size of the inner rectangle depends on the photo that you plan to insert.
It is important to note that it is advisable to cut a window slightly smaller than the photo so that it stays inside and does not fall out.
A loop or a leg is attached to the second rectangle, depending on how you want to position the frame. The leg can be attached by gluing its edge to the base and making a bend, or on a small hinge similar to a door, this way you can increase the durability of the product, the leg will not break over time. The material should be dense and not bend from the weight of the future frame.
Decoration options
You can decorate an original frame with almost anything, you only need your imagination. Now that the base is ready, you can take the frame itself with a photo window and start creating.
Application from scrap materials
For this type of decoration, you can use colored crushed eggshells, pistachios or sequins. You will get an interesting stained glass effect from which any drawings can be created.
First, you can paint the future frame or cover it with a suitable film. It is better to use acrylic paint; it will not stain surrounding objects and will lay down in a nice, even layer;
Then the shells are crushed or just pistachios, sequins are taken, shells are also suitable. You can paste over the outside with them either in a random order or creating the necessary relief or pattern.
The main thing is not to spare the material and place it tightly. If the decor will be painted, it is better to do it in advance, it is more convenient and the appearance will be more presentable.
If you coat the product with varnish, it will sparkle in the light and you will get the effect of a stained glass window.
Decorating with wallpaper or paper
It will look no less impressive if you cover the frame with beautiful wallpaper, self-adhesive tape, or newspaper clippings or comics. Here it is important to take a little more material so that when appliqueing, the protruding edges are folded onto the back side of the frame, which will then be hidden by the back.
Also, do not use glue that is too liquid, because... Paper materials are easily soaked and the result will be messy. Even a simple glue stick will do.
Place a sheet of wallpaper or self-adhesive under the frame and make cuts at the corners so that the paper does not wrinkle when folded. This is the simplest way, but you can achieve a very stylish effect without going overboard with the decor.
You can also cover the frame with fabric, gluing the edges to the back side; if you add a little cotton wool or padding polyester, you will get a cushion frame. It will be possible to decorate with several buttons or seams.
Frames made from rolled rolls
The decor made from rolls looks very interesting. You can tightly roll colored paper and stick it evenly, which creates a relief effect of a log wall. The main thing is to measure the length of future elements in advance so that you don’t have to cut them in a twisted state, this will ruin the whole look.
Twisted sheets can also be braided with beautiful threads or a rope, achieving a wide variety of effects from glamorous shine to a marine theme.
For example, a nautical frame can be made from blue rolls, complemented by small light ropes, like on ships, and decorated on top with several shells or ready-made elements for anchors or steering wheels.
You can also simply paint the paper with different colors to create a rainbow effect or a transition of shades. You can replace paper rolls with ready-made cocktail straws. Lots of options!
Shutdown
When the glue and dye have completely dried, you can join the outer and back parts of the frame along the edges. The main thing is not to forget to leave a gap on the edge in order to insert photographs.
Do-it-yourself photo frames are always original, in a single copy. If you understand the general manufacturing process, you can create completely different options just by seeing a photo or coming up with your own design. Creative success!
DIY photo frames
A blind subframe is the easiest to manufacture:
To make it, you need to select wooden slats of a universal size. Reiki can be purchased at any store. You will need: wood glue, tape measure, sandpaper for processing, nails, corners.
We measure the slats. Horizontal and perpendicular. The size of the frame should be slightly smaller than the size of the canvas.
We make cuts at an angle of 45° and process them with sandpaper.
We tap the staples with a hammer, sinking them into the frame. On the reverse side of the structure, metal fasteners need to be screwed onto the corners.
How to make a baguette for a picture with your own hands
A baguette is a modular structure made of wood or polyurethane foam. Usually it is turned out, attached with a clamp or with hot glue.
If you don't know how to make a frame from a baguette, watch this video:
Making your own wooden picture frames
Wooden picture frames are always in fashion and always look elegant.
What you need to make a wooden frame with your own hands
There are many variations of wooden frames, from the simplest.
To more complex ones. For example, from carved wood or baseboards.
Instructions for making a picture frame from wooden plinth
We apply glue to each cut and connect them together. This is where we come in handy with a clamp, which will help make the fastening points very strong.
Making your own picture frames from polyurethane ceiling plinths
If you want to see a white picture frame on the wall, you can make a baguette from the ceiling. The most important thing is to cut the joints perfectly evenly.
Advice! For gluing we use Titan glue for ceiling tiles and baseboards. The top of the product can be treated with acrylic paints.
How to make a cardboard frame with your own hands
Simple, fast, cheapest way to make a picture frame using cardboard. You can decorate the creation with fabric, pebbles, and interesting decorative elements.
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Advice! For work, it is best to choose thick cardboard. The ideal way to attach elements would be a heat gun.
An interesting video will show you how to make a mat for a photo with your own hands.
The following photos and diagrams for creating a mat will help you create the layout correctly.
How to make a picture frame with your own hands from scrap materials
Making picture frames with your own hands is a difficult but exciting activity. If you decide to purchase such an exclusive product once, you will definitely never forget about your hobby.
Any picture is a story; a spectacular frame can highlight this story and make it even more vivid.
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The modern world dictates its own rules. Gadgets are replacing previously familiar things that were part of our everyday life. If previously photographs were stored in photo albums, now most often on hard drives, flash drives, and online storage. You can view thousands of images at once, but the very charm of the process is lost. Let's compare it to reading books online and in real binding, with paper pages. The book and photo album you hold in your hands have their own magic and unique energy. Photo frames can also be considered an endangered class, but with a big adjustment: if they are ordinary products from a store. Creative handmade frames are out of fashion. They are always relevant, effectively decorate the interior, and become an original addition to a gift. Let's look at ways to make unusual frames that add a special atmosphere to your home.
How to make a photo frame from cardboard
The advantage of this method is that you can use any colors. Cardboard sets are sold in 8, 10, 16, 20 or more shades. Or it’s best to create your own range, covering the surface with paint that matches perfectly with the interior items of your room.
Now more about the process itself:
- We outline the desired size of the future frame, draw a rectangle on cardboard and cut it out. Try not to go over the edges. All irregularities will be visible on bright cardboard.
- Then draw a second rectangle inside with a pencil - slightly smaller than the size of the photo (10x15 or 9x13). We make a neat slit under the photo. Be careful not to damage or wrinkle the cardboard.
- Now about the decor. If the cardboard is plain, with a regular smooth texture, the frame can be supplemented with bright elements. These can be stickers that are sold in stationery stores (flowers, figures, letters), stars on a sticky basis, textile roses, voluminous paper compositions, bows, etc. Fantasize boldly. If you have time, you can cover the cardboard with millet, buckwheat, small pasta and spray paint it on top.
An important point: choose a good glue that will ensure reliable fixation of decorative elements.
- We make a back wall that will hold the photo. It is better to take thick paper or the same cardboard. Cut out a rectangle one centimeter larger than the photo. Glue the edges to the base so that the top side remains free - you get a pocket. Waiting for it to dry.
- We insert the photo into the frame and admire our hand-made creation.
DIY photo frames from magazine pages
Read magazines become a useless pile, a dust collector that it’s a pity to throw away, but there’s no useful use for it either. Colorful glossy pages are an excellent basis for decorating an original photo frame. The process itself is also fascinating, which often develops into a hobby. The products are bright, interesting, unique - analogues will be difficult to find. Now step by step.
- Take a sheet of thick paper or cardboard. The ideal size is 20x25 cm. Draw a rectangle in the middle under the photo with a simple pencil; it should be slightly smaller than 10x15. We cut out the window with scissors, without going beyond the specified edges.
- We take up the magazine and tear off or cut off the pages one by one. Each one needs to be twisted into a tight tube. To prevent the sheets from unwinding, we glue the outer edges.
- The tubes can be decorated with multi-colored stationery threads, which you need to buy in advance at the store. It is better to choose contrasting colors; the more shades there are, the brighter the composition will be. We wind the threads onto tubes of magazine pages, leaving small gaps. We fix the edges with loops and carefully trim the ends.
- We frame the cutout under the photo. We glue the tubes around the window one by one, one after another, combining colors at our discretion. We recommend using PVA glue - it holds paper materials best. You can set the tubes in any direction: in straight lines diagonally, vertically, horizontally.
- We make a pocket for the photo. On the inside of the frame we glue a rectangle that will cover the window and become a pocket.
- In the central upper part of the frame, we attach a loop under the hook with glue - for placement on the wall, or we make a leg out of thick cardboard (desktop version).
- Insert a photo. Happy debut, you did it!
How to make a beautiful frame for a gift
The ideal gift is one given with soul. Of course, store gifts often require a lot of time to choose, but they do not have the energy of hand-made. Complement the main gift with a photo frame made by yourself, and the hero of the occasion will be pleasantly surprised and touched.
The process is quite simple:
- We cut out the base for the photo from cardboard - use the size as the photo. If the inside is 10x15, the sides of the frame should not be less than 5 centimeters.
- Using scissors, we make a window-slit under the photo.
We select a piece of fabric. Color, print - to your taste. The most advantageous options that look bright and impressive: contrasting polka dots, multi-colored stripes, patterns on a white background. It is better to select the design according to age and situation. For children - cartoon motifs, for women - floral prints, for men - discreet style.
- We place the fabric on the cardboard and measure out a rectangle with a margin at the edges - for bending. We cut out squares on the sides so that the bends are neat and aesthetic. Don't forget to make a window in the middle.
- Glue the fabric to the cardboard. We try to ensure that the material does not wrinkle, is fixed evenly, and does not slide along the edges.
- At the back we make a pocket according to the principle described above - from thick cardboard glued to the base on three sides.
- We select the color of the ribbon. You can buy it ready-made with a bow. We glue the tape to the fabric from below horizontally or to the side vertically. The frame is ready and waiting for its special moment.
How to make a flower frame
Flowers can become more than just the basis for a bouquet. Floral compositions from varieties that become beautiful dried flowers without water are an excellent decor for a photo frame.
We'll tell you in detail how to make a masterpiece out of an ordinary frame:
- Hydrangeas, small bush roses in half-open buds, and medium-sized gerberas are ideal for dry compositions. You need to cut the stems so that there are enough of them to fix and the extra ones do not extend beyond the edges of the frame.
- We cover the edges of the photo frame with tape, fabric or lace.
- Now the most important stage is fixing the flowers. You need to act carefully so that the inflorescences do not break. We start gluing from the corner of the frame, slightly diagonally. We try to hide all the voids.
We make a back pocket for a photo and a mount (for a wall - a loop, for a shelf - a support leg). A beautiful frame of flowers is ready.
DIY photo frames made from threads
What to do with threads if you don't know how to sew? Make an original photo frame that will effectively decorate your home. The colors of the threads can be chosen in harmony with the shades of the interior. It will look stylish and conceptual. About the process step by step:
- Selecting threads . A frame in one color will look boring. Try to combine two or three shades; you can use a bright multi-gamut. Red and blue, yellow and green, orange and purple, brown and canary, white and blue look interesting. Be true to your taste and interior colors.
- Let's make the frame itself. To do this you will need a sheet of thick cardboard and scissors. We determine the size, outline the inner window and cut it out with scissors.
- Apply glue to the surface and begin winding with threads. Measure the length and cut it from the spool - this will make it convenient to combine different colors. The threads should fit tightly to the cardboard and be saturated with glue. After the frame is completely wrapped, place it on the table and press it on top with a press: a stack of books, a jar of water. 15 minutes and you can continue.
- Making a pocket. It will have to be glued to the thread base. Leave the top edge free - you will insert the photo into the frame through it.
- Thread frames look more impressive on a table or shelf. The mounting method is appropriate - support made of kraton.
How to make a photo frame yourself from buttons
There are buttons in every home. You can easily create a colorful set for a photo frame. In addition to buttons, you will need three more items: super glue, thick cardboard and scissors.
- Let's prepare the base. To ensure that the frame does not bend from the weight of the buttons, choose the thickest cardboard. We immediately make both the outer frame and the pocket for the photo.
- We fix the buttons. You can do it arbitrarily, you can compose a drawing, maintain a balance in shades and shape. It is better to start from the top corner and go clockwise.
- Let the frame sit for a while until it dries completely. Try not to put anything on top, the buttons may move, the composition will creep and you will have to start all over again. 10 minutes and the photo frame is ready for use.
Whatever method you choose, the frame will turn out original and unique. Feel free to fantasize, try new materials and decorative elements. Try yourself in hand-made. The process is creative and exciting, often developing into a hobby. How nice it is to then admire frames made with your own hands and soul!
Greetings to everyone on the blog! Many of us love to give gifts (I think you too). But ordinary gifts quickly become boring and you want something warmer, more soulful, and attractive. One of these gifts is DIY photo frames, which we will be making in large quantities today
I decided to write this post because a long time ago I made my first soft photo frame, and more recently I repeated the experiment and the result was more than pleasing to me. Today I will share with you the secrets of its creation, and also show you what other types of photo frames you can make yourself using improvised materials.
How to make photo frames with your own hands: master classes
Children's photo frame "Totoro" ("PhotoFrame")
We’ll start with a cute children’s photo frame inspired by the wonderful anime “My Neighbor Totoro” (if you haven’t watched it, be sure to check it out, you won’t regret it).
You will need:
- soft stretch fabric (fleece (example - green fabric in the photo), minky fleece, velsoft, thick knitwear, etc.)
- thin fabric for the backdrop (cotton, fleece, etc.)
- padding polyester (canvas)
- plastic base (from under equipment, sweets, etc.)
- threads, needles, scissors, accessories for decoration.
There should be enough plastic base to fit three pieces the size of the desired photo frame.
First of all, you will need to cut out a plastic base (round, square, triangular - whichever you like best) similar to the one shown in the photo. In this case it is a flat donut. Cut out several parts from padding polyester of the same shape. I will show a master class using a circle as an example.
You will also need 1 more piece made of soft stretch fabric, but with large seam allowances.
Attention! Do not skimp on fabric allowances; they should be approx. 2/3 from the width of the ring so that the fabric is evenly distributed at the back.
We immediately proceed to the most important part - stitching the front part. To do this, make small cuts on the inside of the circle (in the area of the allowances) and sew the edges together, pulling them together with threads as close as possible. (I specifically chose a contrasting thread color so that it would be noticeable).
Advice. If you have chosen a rectangular shape, then you are unlikely to need cuts; you can try making them without them.
This is what the ring looks like from the front. If you wish, you can hide the seams at the back using an overlay made of thin fabric (I’ll show you how to do this a little later).
Set the ring aside. Cut two circles from thin fabric and plastic (you won't need one yet). Make the fabric circles a millimeter or two larger than the plastic ones.
Sew the fabric circles together, leaving room for turning and inserting the plastic backing.
After stitching, turn the fabric part inside out, insert a plastic circle and sew up the remaining hole.
We received the back of the photo frame.
If desired, sew a loop of thread or ribbon into it so that you can hang the photo frame on the wall.
This is how I masked the back of the fluffy bagel. To do this, I cut out the same element from thin fabric as from stretch fabric, but now I made smaller seam allowances and hid them inside, sewing the disguise with a hidden seam. Sew the back with the same seam.
Sew the backdrop so that later you can insert the last plastic circle and photo on top.
Try to make small stitches so that they are not noticeable after sewing the parts together.
Sewn back:
Front view:
Now insert the plastic circle into the photo frame.
Ready! All that remains is to insert a beautiful photo and add decor)
In my case, this is a themed nigella, felted from wool, with felt leaves sewn on. Photo corresponding You can see the work in more detail in this section (in the “Souvenirs” tab).
Great minky fleece you can buy in this shop. I haven’t seen anything like this in our woven stores, but if you want to make a thing no worse than purchased, then this material will be very useful to you (the seller is trusted, I myself have ordered from him more than once).
DIY photo frames made of cardboard and paper
The method described above is far from the simplest possible method of creating a photo frame. Now you will see this
Photo frame made from... box lids
In fact, you can use regular cardboard if you fold it into the shape of a lid like this. As you can see, the creation process is simple: just take the lid and cover it with beautiful scrapbooking paper.
It is convenient to fasten such frames together, resulting in a whole set. They can be glued together to make a panel. It turns out to be an excellent option for both children and adults.
Cardboard and clothespins
These two elements will be needed for the next type of photo frame. Cut out a circle like what we did in the first master class and glue clothespins around it. We get a simple frame for several photos.
We use fabric and threads
Continuation of the first master class. Here I have included all those frames that can be knitted or sewn (at least use ideas for decoration).
Knitted
A cute idea for a photo frame in the shape of a flower, and it’s convenient to make these for several photos at once. The photograph can simply be glued to the back, covering it with some dense material.
From threads
Everything is simpler here: take a frame, threads and glue and wrap the first one, securing it along the way. Thus, it is easy to turn even very large frames into a work of art.
Shabby chic style
The method of creation is very similar to the very first one, with the exception of a couple of differences: here the basis is pressed cardboard (I think you can take a ready-made frame of a simple shape) and this souvenir has a leg, rather than a hinged mount.
Felt
Take a simple wooden frame as a base and decorate it with felt flowers. By the way, you can read other articles on my blog about creating flowers (including from ribbons and paper).
From scrap materials or how to decorate a photo frame
Walnut
An interesting idea is to use pecan (if I'm calling it correctly) for the finish. In our area, it is quite possible to replace them with ordinary walnuts.
Stop the traffic jam!
For the next two types you will need a lot of wine bottle caps. In the first case, it is proposed to prime a simple wooden photo frame, and then cut out floral patterns from the corks.
But in the second case everything is much simpler - you just need to glue the plugs along the edge. An excellent gift option for, say, dad on February 23rd.
Polymer clay and just little things
Are you good at sculpting with polymer clay? Or do you just have a lot of beads, buttons, etc. accumulated at home? Then feel free to put them to use - glue them to a frame of a simple shape.
The same applies to stones, shells, etc.
Natural style
Roughly speaking, to make this beautiful frame, you will need one long log. This can be built at home, if you dry the wood properly before doing so.
Popsicle sticks
The hardest thing here is keeping them together. This can be done using glue, thread, or a thick base.
Plaster castings
Find a suitable mold and plaster. Once my brother experimented with a plaster panel - it turned out quite well, but it lasted a long time.
From thermobeads
I don’t know exactly their scientific name, but if you lay them out on a special surface and then iron them, you get a dense fabric. You can see an example of a funny frame made in this way below.
With this, dear friends, I finish this large review of various types of photo frames. I think you found what you were looking for, if not, write in the comments. And share with your friends not only cool handmade gifts, but also useful information using social network buttons. Goodbye!
Sincerely, Anastasia Skoracheva