How To Make Picture Frame

By Leeanne Utiger
So you want to learn how to make a picture frame. There are in fact a number of ways in which you can make a picture frame. It really all comes down to what sort of picture frame you are wanting to learn how to make and what you intend on placing inside the picture frame once you have learned how to make it.

I am going to go into detail about a method that is quite creative, when it comes to learning how to make a picture frame. You will need to make sure you have a few things on hand, so I will list these for you. If you do not have any of the materials I mention, you can be sure to pick them up from any craft or fabric store, or both if need be.

When you learn how to make a picture frame using this method, you will need:
Some strong (yet not too thick cardboard), some fabric of your choice, enough to cover your pieces of cardboard once cut out to the size you require. Some craft glue, a pair of sharp scissors, a ruler, a pen, and some lace you if you so desire. You may also like to purchase from a craft shop a little hinge, although this is not necessary.

Now you have all of the required materials, you are ready to learn how to make this particular picture frame.

You will need to first make a backing for the picture frame. This is to be made out of the strong cardboard you have. Let us pretend we are making a square picture frame. Cut out a square of cardboard to the size you want your picture frame to be. It is always good to measure everything, so you can have the rest of the picture frame matched up precisely. Now that you have the backing for you picture frame cut out, you will have to know how to make the insert, or the border for your picture frame. This is often called the front of the picture frame, which has hole in it (so to speak) where you can see the picture through once placed inside your picture frame. Make sure you cut out the border to sit exactly on the outside edges of the backing piece of your picture frame. Now you should have two squares that look identical. However with the second square you have cut out, you will need to know how to create your viewing hole/space. First you need to decide how much of a hole or space you want this border piece of your picture frame to have. It really is a personal preference and there is no set rule as to how big or small this hole/space has to be. Once you have decided how big you want the picture frame hole to be, you can then measure with your ruler from the outside of the squared border piece of cardboard to the inside from all four corners. This will make for a perfect cut out hole/space for your border of your picture frame. Once you have measured out your hole, you can then cut the inside piece out and place it to one side. If you find using a pair of scissors for this is too difficult, you can opt to use a Stanley knife, making sure you have something suitable underneath your piece of cardboard, so as you do not end up cutting your bench or where ever it is you are making your picture frame at.

Now you should have cut out one square backing piece of cardboard for your picture frame and one square border piece of cardboard with a hole/space in the center of it. You will now need to make a stand for your picture frame, unless of course you are going to hang this picture frame on the wall. If you have intention on hanging your frame on to the wall, then you can simply omit this stage of learning how to make a picture frame.

You need to make sure the piece of cardboard you are about to cut out now for the stand reaches from about midway of your squared backing piece of cardboard to the bench top when stood up by itself. Remember the stand will come out on an angle for balance. Once you have measured your stand correctly, you will have all of the pieces of cardboard ready for the next stage of learning how to make a picture frame.

Take your fabric and measure out three pieces. One piece for the backing of your picture frame, one piece for the border of your picture frame, and one piece for the stand of your picture frame.

Now that you have three pieces of fabric cut out to the appropriate sizes, you are now ready to learn how to attach these to the appropriate pieces of cardboard.

Take the square backing of your picture frame and wrap the piece of fabric for this piece around it. Using your craft glue attach the fabric to this piece of cardboard, making sure the seam, or glue line is down one side of the cardboard, where this will be hidden by the border of the picture frame once it is glued into position.

Now you can cover the border piece of your picture frame, making sure the glue seams are on the back of this piece of cardboard. And likewise for the stand, always make sure the glue seams are where they cannot be seen to the eye.

Now that you have three pieces of cardboard covered in fabric, you are ready to learn how to assemble your picture frame. Take the backing piece of your picture frame and lay it flat on your work area. Now take the border piece of your picture frame, placing some craft glue on the backing to this, making sure you only glue the two sides and the bottom of the border. You need to leave the top edge glueless, as this is where you will be able to slide your picture into the picture frame on completion. Now you simply place the border in position on top of the backing of your picture frame and press down. Leave this to set. Once the glue is dry and the border piece of your picture frame is securely stuck to the backing of your picture frame, you are now ready to learn how to attach the stand for your picture frame.

I suggest you have a little hinge. Simply glue this hinge onto the center back of the backing of your picture frame and then glue the other side of the hinge on to the stand you have already prepared for your picture frame. Once you have attached this, your stand is in place. Simply leave for the glue to set and harden.

You have successfully learned how to make one form of picture frame. Maybe you could now share your new found knowledge on how to make a picture frame with your friends and family. These picture frames make great gifts for others.

See Also:
For other ideas on how to make a picture frame, refer to:

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