Homemade personalized picture frames! Fun for kids from 3 to 10, and even adults, great as gifts!
Looking for a fun and personal craft project you can do with your kids? These handmade picture frames make wonderful gifts for Christmas, birthdays, Mother’s Day or any occasion. You’ll have so much fun you’ll probably want to keep a couple for yourself!

You’ll Need:

�?One inexpensive plain picture frame (wood or metal) for each project

�?Glue or a hot glue gun

�?Paint or paint squeeze tubes (optional)

�?Glitter or spraypaint (optional)

�?Small decorative items, including beads, seashells, sequins, buttons, silk flowers, bows, pasta, etc.

�?Newspaper or waxed paper to cover your work area

�?Lots of imagination

Cover your entire work area with the paper. Remove glass from your picture frame, set glass aside. Lay frame down, face upon work area. Paint the frame, if you desire to, with paints or squeeze tubes in a pattern. You can also use sponges to apply the paints, if you prefer. Allow paint to dry.

If you want to use glitter, do so before applying objects to frame. Use glue to form a pattern on the surface, than sprinkle glitter on the glue. Allow to dry completely, then shake off excess glitter into the garbage before proceeding.

Now it’s time to put on the decorations! Use glue to adhere decorations to frame. It’s easiest to apply the glue in a small dot, with the frame flat on table. Allow glue to set to a tacky texture, then stick your decoration on each dot of glue. Older children can use a hot glue gun to quickly set objects in place. You can do an assortment of object, or follow a theme like sewing objects (buttons and thimbles), flowers and bows, or seashells. Boys may enjoy making a frame with toy cars (try “driving�?the wheels through the paint to get tire tracks on the frame!) or plastic bugs, etc.

After the frame is finished, you may want to spray paint it. A lacquer finish will give the entire project a shiny look, and a gold spraypaint will tint everything gold, etc. Remember this is optional.

After the frame is finished and dry, you may want to write your child’s name, date and a message (if appropriate) on the back of the frame with a permanent marker.

The entire project can usually be finished in 1-2 hours, depending on what kind of paint you use. Squiggle paints usually take a little longer to dry than regular acrylic paints, so plan accordingly. You may want to break your project into two sessions if appropriate.

The important part of making a personalized picture frame is to have fun, and be creative. This highly personal frame makes a touching gift that will be cherished for years to come. Remember, the only limitation is your imagination, so have fun!