Frugal Crafts & Homemade Gifts
(featured column)
Create a Personalized Framed Picture
by
Christy Zutautas
This beautiful
gift can be made for $2.50 to $12.00 depending on the type of frame you choose
and how you decide to finish it. This is a wonderful gift because it looks
expensive and can be given for a variety of occasions, such as birthdays,
mother’s day, baby shower’s, weddings, graduation, and Christmas, just to
name a few. More...
I have made
framed pictures for friends, neighbors, family, and teacher’s, and have received
fantastic responses. I have decorated my home with a variety of pictures
and sayings, at a fraction of what it would have cost me to purchase a similar
item in the store. Best of all my children cherish the ones I've made especially
for them. Whether you are looking for the ideal gift, or to decorate your house
on a budget, making your own personalized framed picture is the perfect answer.
Items needed:
- A picture frame with glass included
- Cardstock paper (or thick paper)
- Pencil and scissors
- Picture, drawing, or poem
- Small amount of tape
- Access to a computer and printer (optional)
- Glue (optional)
- Paint, stain, paint brush, glitter, buttons, or other accessories (optional)
- Newspaper (optional)
Instructions:
Step 1) Purchase a frame.
Find a frame within your budget. It doesn’t have to be new, it just has be in
good condition and look new. I find frames for 50 cents to a dollar at garage
sales, and dollar stores. You can find frames at great prices at thrift and
bargain stores.
Step 2) Dress it up. (This step is optional)
If it’s within your budget than decorate your frame. There are many low cost
ways to do this.
Before you start – Make sure you remove the glass from your frame. Use
newspaper, plastic bags, or an old towel to lay underneath your frame. (This
could get messy.)
Painting
Paint your frame using craft paint. (Dollar store craft paint is suitable).
Using brush on paint does require some skill, you could also try using a sponge
or ragging technique to give a textured look for your frame.
For the not so skilled painter, try using spray paint to color your frame. The
dollar store variety works fine on this project. Remember to use spray paint
outside, or in a safe, ventilated area such as the garage. Follow directions on
spray can to ensure great results.
Paint one side at a time, let paint dry thoroughly before you start on the next
side. To paint the sides of your frame it may help to lift frame a few inches
off of the newspaper. A shoebox or even two upside down coffee cups wrapped in
plastic bags (to protect them from paint), will help lift your frame up for easy
painting.
Glitter
To add glitter, use regular school glue to cover your frame, pour glitter evenly
over glue until well covered, let sit for 1 minute then shake excess glitter off
of frame. You can also try using glitter glue, especially for making a design,
such as circles, waves, stars, etc.
Accessories
Glue on any lightweight accessories of your choice, such as, small ribbons,
buttons, or other small decorations to create a unique frame. You can find
everything you need at the dollar store for a fraction of the price you would
pay at the craft and hobby stores.
Step 3) Find a picture.
To decide what picture you will use, think about the recipient of the gift, what
things do they like? Do you want to give them a seasonal picture, or a picture
to match an occasion, such as Christmas or Easter? If it’s a wedding, or
housewarming gift you might choose a general picture such as a bouquet of
flowers to represent home and love.
You can look for free pictures on the internet, or take one of your own with a
digital camera. You could also use a regular photograph from your photo album. A
nice idea for a teacher’s gift is having your child draw a special picture for
the teacher. You could trace, draw, or make a picture using stencils. Use your
imagination to create your unique picture.
If you decide you would rather frame only a saying or poem, without a picture,
then skip this step and go to step 4.
Step 4) Add a saying or poem.
For an extra personal touch add a saying or poem to your picture. This can be
done using Microsoft Word or another similar computer program.
You could write something simple like World’s Best Teacher, Merry Christmas,
or I’m So Proud Of You, or you could include a longer poem.
If you are not sure what to write perhaps you could read some of the sayings
written in greeting cards to get an idea. Perhaps you could tell the person how
you feel about them, or what you wish for them, such as…. Wishing You A Life
Of Happiness, or ...May God Be With You Always, etc.
Choose different fonts to create the look you want, cursive writing adds
elegance, while comic sans is great for a children’s or humorous gift. Combine
a picture and saying, or use a picture or saying on its own to create your gift.
Step 5) Size your picture.
If you are working with a digital picture size it to your frame using Microsoft
Word, or other similar program. If you are using a photograph that is slightly
too small for your frame try using plain or colored paper behind photograph to
fill in extra space. Use tape to center picture.
Step 6) Cutting out your picture.
Clean picture frame glass. Any cleaner can be used, for best results apply a
tiny amount of dish soap to glass and rinse thoroughly with cold water. Dry
completely with soft, clean cloth. Carefully place glass over your picture.
Using a pencil trace around edges of glass. Using sharp scissors carefully cut
along penciled lines. Once your picture is cut out you are ready for the final
step.
Step 7) Fitting Your Picture
Fit picture carefully into frame. If you are having trouble with the picture
shifting while you put the glass in, try placing tiny bits of tape on the very
edges of your picture to hold it steady while you frame it.
Congratulations, you have created your own work of art!
* * *
Copyright
© 2006 by Christy Zutautas. All rights reserved.
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