How to Craft a Personalised Picture Frame Shelf
If your home is strewn with random tiny toys and lone marbles, try turning them into a fun shelf with this easy guide
In a household with children, there are always numerous small, useless objects lying around: building blocks, a lost car’s wheel, pine cones from a walk in the park, tiny animals from different kits, beads, lids… The list is endless. While it’s a pity to throw them away, making use of this heap of items in various colours isn’t easy.
Collecting under-the-sofa surprises during a clean-up and adding treasures from pockets and boxes one day, I suddenly thought, wouldn’t these make wonderful decorations for a handmade frame? Read on to find out how to craft your own personalised picture shelf perfect for any child’s room.
Collecting under-the-sofa surprises during a clean-up and adding treasures from pockets and boxes one day, I suddenly thought, wouldn’t these make wonderful decorations for a handmade frame? Read on to find out how to craft your own personalised picture shelf perfect for any child’s room.
Photos by Ksenia Kanke
Materials
- Picture frame
- Cardboard from an art shop
- Glue gun, masking tape
- Acrylic paint, spray paint
- Small toys and objects
1 Mark the cardboard
To make the picture frame, I’m not using classic cardboard from boxes, but a solid and primed sheet – the kind an artist would use. This cardboard is very solid, like thin plywood, but you can easily cut it with scissors or a utility knife.
My photo frame will serve as a little book shelf, so I decided to make wider edges and cut out the side walls separately.
To make the picture frame, I’m not using classic cardboard from boxes, but a solid and primed sheet – the kind an artist would use. This cardboard is very solid, like thin plywood, but you can easily cut it with scissors or a utility knife.
My photo frame will serve as a little book shelf, so I decided to make wider edges and cut out the side walls separately.
2 Cut out the frame
The cardboard frame should be a minimum of 3cm wide, so you have enough space for all your little treasures. It can be even wider – it depends on what you want to attach.
The cardboard frame should be a minimum of 3cm wide, so you have enough space for all your little treasures. It can be even wider – it depends on what you want to attach.
3 Assemble the frame
Fit the cardboard frame to the picture frame and glue them together.
Fit the cardboard frame to the picture frame and glue them together.
4 Make the side walls
Measure the original picture frame, then mark and cut out four side walls to form the shelf. The width of all the pieces should be the same, with the lengths matching those of the picture frame.
Measure the original picture frame, then mark and cut out four side walls to form the shelf. The width of all the pieces should be the same, with the lengths matching those of the picture frame.
5 Attach the walls
Use the masking tape to hold the four cardboard side walls together. Next, glue the cardboard ‘box’ along the edge on one side and stick it to the back of the the frame. For solidity, you may also use masking tape on the joins.
Use the masking tape to hold the four cardboard side walls together. Next, glue the cardboard ‘box’ along the edge on one side and stick it to the back of the the frame. For solidity, you may also use masking tape on the joins.
6 Arrange the toys
Decorate the frame by sticking the objects onto the edge using the glue gun. Before you start to glue, play with the layout to find out what looks best.
Decorate the frame by sticking the objects onto the edge using the glue gun. Before you start to glue, play with the layout to find out what looks best.
Tip Don’t use flat or heavy items. Make sure your little objects are all about the same size but different shapes.
7 Paint the frame
At first, cover the frame with a light spray paint layer and then brush over it using the acrylic paint. It’s important to cover everything carefully – previous colours shouldn’t show through.
At first, cover the frame with a light spray paint layer and then brush over it using the acrylic paint. It’s important to cover everything carefully – previous colours shouldn’t show through.
8 Paint the side walls
The whole inside and outside of the cardboard surface has to be the same colour as the frame. If necessary, paint on a second layer once the first has dried.
The whole inside and outside of the cardboard surface has to be the same colour as the frame. If necessary, paint on a second layer once the first has dried.
Leave the frame to dry for 24 hours before hanging it on the wall.
Check out 12 inventive ways to display your art
Check out 12 inventive ways to display your art
Take a moment to sit in front of it with your children and try to remember where every single item on this unique frame came from.
What do you think of this personalised shelf? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
What do you think of this personalised shelf? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.