DIY & Decor

Paper Crafts: How to make a picture frame

This is an easy paper craft project offering unlimited possibilities. You can use any type of paper - already decorated or ready to be customised. It’s an ideal gift if you want to give someone something that is made by you especially for them..

You’ll need the following materials and tools:

• Thick card for frame
• Paper for covering - printed, decorated or textured
• Plain lining paper
• Thin card  - for spacers
• Adhesive  - PVA is best
• Craft knife or scissors
• Ruler
• Cutting mat

1,Cut two pieces of thick card to the required size and cut a window in one of them. This will be the frame front. The size of the window should be a little less than one of the standard dimensions of photographs - 6×4 , 7×5, 9×6 in - or the size of the image you intend to put inside.  Make sure that the window is precisely in the middle of the card and that the remaining border is not too narrow.

Tip: allowing a larger border creates an interesting visual effect

2, Cut a piece of the lining paper to the same width as the frame but 3/4in (2cm) longer. Stick this to the other piece of the thick card (the frame back) turning & gluing the excess lining paper over the other side.

3, Cut spacers out of the thin card - this should be about ½ in (1.5cm). Cut two pieces of the same length as the frame and stick these onto the lined side of the frame-back, along the edges of the card. Cut a third piece of spacer - this should fit between the two other spacers and be positioned across the top of the frame.

4, Cut a piece of the covering paper - this should be 1 1/4in wider and longer than the frame front. Put the frame front onto the paper (that is, up-side-down) and draw around the window. Remove the frame and draw another window about 3/8in (1cm) inwards from the other window. Cut out this smaller window with a craft knife.

5, Cover the frame front with adhesive and put it back carefully onto the covering paper. Use your window drawing as a guide and smooth over. Cut into the corners of the window with a craft knife, the fold and glue the wings turned back onto the wrong side of the frame. Then cut off the corners of the decorative paper, allowing for the thickness of both the front & back frame. Glue only the bottom wing back to the front.

6, Apply adhesive to the spacers on the frame-back and glue this to the frame front. Make sure that you put them together the right way (the bottom of the frame back does not have a spacer). Then, using adhesive, stick the remaining turnings in place. This will hide the joins on three sides, the forth side (the bottom) will be used to slip the picture into place. Finally, cut another piece of the decorative paper, which should be about 3/8in (1cm) less in length & width than the overall size of the frame. Glue it neatly to the back side of the frame.

The next article will tell you how to make a strut for a paper picture frame.