Plumbing

Making a photo frame from cardboard. DIY photo frames from scrap materials

Many needlewomen are interested in: how to make a photo frame from scrap materials? After all, this is a very necessary thing, but store frames made of plastic look exactly the same. Therefore, it will be very interesting and useful to learn how to make these things with your own hands, our today’s MK for beginners will help you with this.

DIY photo frames made from eggshells

These stylish items can be made from any old and unnecessary items. You just need to use your imagination and don’t be afraid to create.

The base for a photo frame is usually made of cardboard. In addition, you can use blanks sold in the store for this purpose.

How to decorate a cardboard base? Here you can only be limited by your imagination. We invite you to pay attention to the master class of an original product decorated with eggshells.

1) Cut out a cardboard base for a frame 4 cm wide. The inner perimeter of the frame should correspond to the size of the photo.

2) Make a stand for the photo frame. Cut out such a figure from cardboard.

3) From the rectangular uncut side, measure a two-centimeter strip and bend it.

4) Cut out a rectangle for the back wall of the frame. Let's glue the parts together.

5) Glue the leg. To do this, spread a bent two-centimeter strip with glue and glue it to the middle of the back wall of the frame.

6) We begin registration. Let's cover the frame with blue acrylic paint.

7) Boil 5 eggs, peel the shells from them in large blocks. Paint it in different shades of blue paint.

8) When the paint is dry, grind the shells.

9) Now cover the frame with eggshells in a random order, but tightly together.

10) What a successful decor it turned out to be.

Instead of eggshells, you can use broken seashells or another type of decoration.

Simple paper frame

You can very simply make a photo frame out of paper, but it must be beautiful and embossed, for example from wallpaper.

You will need:

  • wallpaper;
  • cardboard;
  • glue;
  • ruler;
  • a simple pencil;
  • scissors;
  • breadboard knife;
  • stapler

Sequencing:

1) Draw two rectangles on the back of the wallpaper. The inner perimeter should be equal to the size of the photo. The width between the inner and outer perimeter should be 3 cm.

2) Draw diagonal lines in the central rectangle and mark 1.5 cm from them.

3) Draw another inner rectangle through these points.

4) Cut the inner rectangle along diagonal lines using a breadboard knife.

5) Bend the corners inward.

6) Fold down the side of the outer rectangle.

7) Fold the outer three-centimeter strip in half.

8) There are small squares in each corner. We cut one fold.

9) Fold the frame into a box.

10) We cut it with a stapler.

11) Cut out a rectangle from cardboard and glue it to the frame. This is the back wall.

Making such a frame is easy and will be very interesting for children.

Comfort and coziness

Personally made household items are a kind of amulet, a symbol of comfort and prosperity. Because things into which a person has invested his labor and love have very strong positive energy.

Handmade gifts are especially valued all over the world. They will definitely bring peace and warmth to the homes of your friends, loved ones and relatives. Your boyfriend will certainly be delighted with your photo together in an original frame. And children will be simply delighted to receive a color photo in a bright frame as a gift.

Let's look at very simple and quick ways to make frames.

DIY photo frames from toilet paper rolls

Make a three-dimensional base and cover it with details at your discretion.

Cut the rolls into rings with a diameter of 1.5 - 2 cm, bend them into a petal. Glue the petals together with good glue, paint them in a suitable color and the frame is ready!

Cut all the same rolls, connect them together, cover them with sequins or rhinestones and the royal frame is ready!

Making frames using the appliqué method

Here you can literally use all the materials that you can get your hands on: beads, coins, shells, coffee beans, etc. It is better to glue the parts with a hot glue gun.

Do you want to hang your favorite photo on the wall, but don’t have a suitable frame?

The easiest way is to buy it in a store. However, this is not interesting.

Why not make your own photo frames? This is a useful and creative activity that does not require special tools and materials.

First things first.

Cardboard photo frame: tools

Creating beautiful frames without the appropriate equipment is problematic. Therefore, collect a minimum set of tools. It should include:

large scissors; stationery knife; PVA glue; simple pencil; tape; small scissors; fine-grained sandpaper; ruler.

Note: It is advisable to get a cutting mat; it makes it much easier to mark out the details of the future frame.

If you are not happy with the color of the cardboard for the frame, purchase a can of spray paint. To decorate photo frames, use shells, pebbles, glass, rhinestones, beads, etc.

In addition to the basic tools, you will need: a paint brush with soft bristles, a spray bottle, water and tongs. They will be needed to prepare the material for use.

Photo frames: preparation of material

The best material to make your own photo frames is cardboard. Why? It is cheap and easy to process. Every home has at least one cardboard box and glue with scissors.

In its raw form, cardboard is of little use for making a photo frame. Its preparation comes down to the following - separate the top layer so that the corrugated part appears.

Sometimes this is not easy to achieve, since different types of cardboard are made with different amounts of glue and they have different thicknesses.

Find out how to quickly peel off the top layer of cardboard:

    Wet the part of the paper that needs to be removed. Distribute the moisture evenly over the surface using a brush. Wait 2-3 minutes until it is saturated. Using your fingers or a knife, pry up the edge of the layer and try to remove as much of the piece as possible. Cut off the remainder. Clean off the dried glue with sandpaper.

The method described above is applicable to large pieces of cardboard; for small ones, sometimes it is enough to rub the top layer.

Note: Spray the water more carefully. If you overdo it, the cardboard will become soggy. At best, you will have to wait until it dries. At worst, start the work all over again.

How to make a frame out of cardboard: instructions

First you need to decide what kind of photo the frame is being created for. It is not the content that is important, but the size and orientation of the card (vertical or horizontal). Based on this, proceed:

Step #1. Cut out the base.

Cut out the base of the frame from a large piece of cardboard. Its dimensions should be at least twice the size of the photo. Next you will understand why. Using a ruler and pencil, mark the contours of the future part. Then cut it out with scissors.

Step #2. Making a compartment for photography.

In the middle of the base, draw a rectangle slightly smaller than the photo for which the frame is being made. Carefully draw along the outline with a stationery knife and cut out a window.

Cut out a rectangle that will cover the photo hole on the back of the frame. Glue the door with tape on one side.

Step #3. We complete the preparation.

Make several cardboard strips of different lengths. Stick four of them around the photo compartment. Use the rest to create the structure of the front part. For clarity, look at the figure below.

To make the frame fit more tightly to the wall, glue triangles at the corners of the back. They compensate for the thickness of the door and allow the photo frame to hang more evenly.

Making triangles couldn't be easier. Cut one out using a pencil and then use it as a stencil.

Step #4. Decor.

Everything we did before had little to do with creativity. It's time to turn on your imagination to the fullest. Here is one of the options for designing a frame, but this is just an example, you can come up with your own version.

So, to decorate the photo frame we use the same cardboard. Take the prepared material with bare corrugation and cut it into ribbons. Divide several of them into elements as shown in the figure below.

In recent years, the trend of decorating the home with handmade items that look original in any room, and most importantly - exclusive, has increased significantly. These can be hand-embroidered paintings, boxes, vases, photo frames and much more. etc. There are many reasons not to waste time and effort making decorations yourself, because it is much easier to purchase decor in a store. However, the process of handmade work itself will bring a lot of pleasure, and a frame with a picture of a dear person will look much more impressive compared to a “factory” one. It is very easy to make a photo frame from paper or cardboard, and the result will exceed all expectations.

DIY photo frame made of paper: master class

You can make an original photo frame if you have the following materials and tools on hand:

  • Scissors;
  • Unnecessary piece of wallpaper;
  • Whatman;
  • A sheet from a sketchbook;
  • Ruler;
  • A simple pencil.

The sheet is placed on a vertical surface, on each side it is necessary to draw four stripes, spaced one and a half centimeters apart from each other. As a result, all drawn lines should have a point of intersection with each other in each corner of the sheet (4 squares are obtained).

The resulting side of the square is 6 cm; the squares should be cut out. Next, you need to step back one and a half centimeters from the outer edge in the place where the second line is drawn, and cut off the corners. The next step is to draw a line vertically and draw diagonal stripes to it on 2 sides to form a trapezoid. The figure is cut out on one side.

The final stage is to fold the sheet along the drawn lines so as to form a frame. In order for the structure to be more durable, the corners must be inserted one into the other. The frame can be painted with your favorite colors and decorated with paper or cardboard ornaments. It is not recommended to apply heavy decorative elements.

DIY cardboard photo frames

It is best to use cardboard to create photo frames, as it is more durable than paper. To create a wall-mounted version, you need to attach a loop to the back wall of the material, and for a tabletop frame you will need to cut out a footrest. All cardboard products have the same manufacturing principle, the only difference is in the decorative design. Basic tools that will be useful are scissors, simple pencils, cardboard itself, any decor and PVA glue.

The initial stage is tracing the outline of your favorite photo on cardboard. Then on each side you need to add an extra few centimeters and cut out the resulting workpiece.

An interesting option is to decorate a cardboard frame with fabric, as in the photo below.

You can decorate it using gouache, a special varnish, or covering it with a layer of fine decorative sand. Beads and small shells work well. The back part is a regular rectangle cut out of cardboard, which must be glued to the workpiece. It is worth remembering that at this stage you need to leave a small gap between the parts so that you can insert a photo later.

Creative photo frames

Making an original photo frame is quite easy, the main thing is to show your imagination and have a set of beautiful decorative ornaments on hand. Products made from colored paper (or wallpaper) of the same color look creative.

Based on origami, you can create incredible frames from several sections that are interconnected.

In addition, do not rush to get rid of old newspapers. Using knitting needles, you can twist this paper into a tube, and then weave a base frame, forming a frame of any shape. If you need to change the color, the material can be painted with gouache.

On a note! You can cut out many interesting decorations for the frame from paper of different colors: leaves, animal faces, hearts, berries, flowers. To create decor, you should stock up on stencils.

Options made from holiday wrapping paper look original, and the advantage is that you don’t need to paint or sculpt decorations on it. Your favorite photos look beautiful in frames decorated with sequins, multi-colored buttons, small figures, beads, coins and even puzzles and bottle caps. Don’t be afraid to fantasize and invent something new; the main thing in work is accuracy and a creative approach.

Frames for photographs, paintings or various panels are important decorative elements of the design of any interior. After all, the paintings and photographs placed in them turn into works of art and influence the overall appearance of the room.

Frames focus attention on the individuality of the image, give it completeness, and emphasize the composition.

Principles of using frames

First of all, they must be in harmony with the rest of the interior elements in color, size, and material.

It is important that the frame emphasizes the features of the photo and connects it with the surrounding space, and at the same time they must be made in the same style and complement each other.

Thus, a thin, laconic baguette without relief patterns will give a large picture a modern feel, while a wide one will give it antique notes and luxury.

In this case, the frame should be matched to the picture, and not to the surrounding objects, for example, to the color of the walls. And its size should match the width of the photo, and the color should contrast with the prevailing tone of the picture.

However, not only in order to bring the interior of the room into an aesthetic appearance, it is worth mastering the art of creating picture frames from cardboard with your own hands. Perhaps there are special pictures in your family photo album that you would like to look at every day and relax your soul after a busy day at work. But due to the lack of a suitable frame, you cannot hang them on the wall or put them on a shelf.

Wait, don’t rush to hide the pictures, because you can easily make wonderful frames from scrap materials.

DIY cardboard photo frame: preparation of materials and progress of work

Making the basis for framing a photograph is as easy as shelling pears and does not require any special skill, a lot of time, or special materials.

You will only need to prepare for work:

  • cardboard (it is best to take corrugated one);
  • paper or fabric for decoration (optional);
  • beads, buttons, shells, rhinestones and other decorative accessories for decoration;
  • glue, a brush for it, scissors, a stationery knife, a simple pencil and a ruler.

Sequencing:

If you don’t have enough cardboard, you can also use plain paper for the back of the photo frame or stick two cardboard strips on the back side of the “window” (in extreme cases, you can use plain paper glued in several layers for strength, or even fabric for them ), which will hold the photograph.

It is not at all necessary to frame rectangular-shaped photographs: oval, round, irregularly shaped frames with uneven edges, curves and curls look stylish and original. Here you can safely let your imagination go on a grand voyage. For children's portraits, for example, a frame in the form of a recognizable toy or animal, cartoon character, etc. will look funny. In short, we offered a master
The class is about creating the base of the frame with your own hands, and you can already complement and modify it the way you want.

To make a stand for a photo frame, cut out a cardboard strip at least 2 cm wide (on corrugated cardboard, the strip should be placed along the folds - this will make the stand more stable).

Then roll this strip into a triangle with a base of 3 centimeters or more and glue it to the back of the photo frame. If you plan to hang the craft on the wall, take 10-15 centimeters of strong thread (no thinner than No. 10 for sewing thread) and a square of thick paper (such as glossy paper) measuring 5x5 cm.

Apply glue (PVA is possible) to the place where you want to place the loop, fold the thread in half and glue the edges. Glue a paper square on top to better secure the loop.

Using the principle of a photo frame, you can make a cardboard frame for a picture with your own hands.

  1. You can decorate the front side of the product in a spring theme. She will look very gentle and romantic. Select small artificial flowers in pastel colors, divide them into inflorescences and glue them to the frame using a glue gun or just PVA glue.

It is more convenient to start gluing the petals from the corner. The petals need to be placed closer to each other, this will make your flower bouquet visually more magnificent. It is better to cover the edge of the product with beautiful paper, braid or lace.

If you want, you can create flowers with your own hands - master classes are available.

And if you are a fan of the quilling technique, decorate the frame using this wonderful technique.

To make a three-dimensional cardboard frame with your own hands, you can glue one or more cardboard rectangles of the same size or successively smaller ones around the perimeter to the front part of the product (after point No. 5).

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 photos.

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