Making Life Better with Rachel
By Rachel Seldin
So Saturday night you went out, took some great pictures. Now you have to upload them to your computer (oFoto, Facebook, MySpace and every other virtual site around) to only then be able to look at your photos when you’re nerding out at your computer. Whatever happened to printing them out, calling your friend’s “doubles” and putting them in picture frames around your room, showing off how cool you are? Well I’m about to give you a great reason to re-release the hardcopy of the photograph.
With this Do-It-Yourself Hanging Picture Frame project, you will want to show off the hot people you know and the places you go!
Here is a list of supplies that you will need to make your picture frames:
-Plain wood frames. I like the 4x6 from IKEA because they are $1.99 for a pack of 3
-Scraps of fabric, lace, ribbon, cool images from magazines (basically anything that can be glued to wood.)
-Glue based adhesive. I like to use Decoupage (Mod Pod is a good brand)
-Rubber gloves to wear while you are gluing
-Staple gun, fully loaded
-Nails
-Wax paper to cover the surface you are working on
-And some places on the wall to showcase your creativity!
Directions:
1. After you have figured out what kind of items you want to glue on your picture frame, cut them out and lay them over the frame (without glue for now) to see how it will cover the frame. Make sure that whatever you are choosing to decorate it with is not going to overpower the picture you are putting in the frame. Be creative. You can use the ribbon as a border on the frame or as a decorative way to hang the frame. Use newspaper if you are planning to frame a really colorful photo. Think of color, contrast and texture when choosing your materials.
2. Lay out the wax paper to cover the surface you are working on. The wax paper acts as a release and when the frame dries, it won’t stick. Now glue the images/materials to the front of the frame. If you are using a heavy fabric or material you can really slather on the glue. If you are using something more delicate, like paper or magazine clippings, use a paintbrush to paint the glue over the images. Make sure to coat the entire image because the Mod Pod will create a nice sheen and you want to make sure it’s as even a possible.
3. Once it is dry (I would give it about 45 min to fully dry), decide how you want to hang it. Use your staple gun to attach the ribbon or other decorative hanging material to the frame. You are going to mark off on the back of the frame where to staple it so that you know how long the piece needs to be. If you want to get very creative, try to make a triple frame and create an entire work of art.
4. Insert photo and hang on wall! Make sure to look for good compositions when hanging the frames. I like hanging the frames in pair or triples to create a statement.
Depending on the size of your frame you can use these steps to make frames for more things than just pictures. Here are some more ideas.
Decorate the frame and instead of putting photos in it, remove the glass and the backing and staple on cork to make a corkboard, or wire screen and make a creative way to hang jewelry.
And Fellas, if you haven’t already stopped reading by now, you can have fun with this too-great way to show that special lady in your life how much you care, find a picture of your special friend and decorate the frame for a gift…serious brownie points. Hint hint wink wink.
Happy Framing!