Make: A Photo Clip Frame
Confession: I am compelled to take pictures of flowers and insects. Problem: I don’t usually choose these to send to the printer. Solution: a photo clip frame. Credit: I saw something very similar to this at Pier 1 a few weeks ago and decided it would be a perfect way to display a bunch of my flowers and bugs; I also decided that I had everything on hand to make one…so I did. The original costs 28 bucks; mine cost 0 bucks. No kidding!
Unbeknownst to me, this project actually started at the end of last summer when my boo and I were out taking our nightly constitutional and came upon a box sitting in a neighborhood yard. It was FILLED with beat-up wooden frames, and on the box there was a sign that read ‘FREE’. Right then and there, I became the proud owner of a bunch of frames with no immediate plans for using them. Until the Pier 1 incident, that is.
What I used for this project:
- Drill/Dremel
- 1mm drill bit (or roughly the same size at the largest wire used)
- 1mm (19 gauge) wire
- .33 wire
- wire cutter
- pencil
- tape measure
- plier
- sandpaper, paint, brush
- 18″ x 20″ wooden picture frame
How I made it:
I sifted through my stash of frames and settled on one of the 18 x 20′s.
I sanded it down and gave it a couple coats of white semi-gloss.
Then I marked the sides at 1/3 intervals, starting at 3/4″ from the top opening. In my case, the frame’s opening was 14″ x 18″ which put marks at 3/4″, 6 1/2″ and 12 1/4″. I then drilled 1mm holes at the marked points. I repeated this for the other side of the frame.
Next, I shoved 1mm (19 gauge) wire into the holes. I cut it about 1″ longer than the inside measurement of the frame.
I then strung three tiny clothespins, which you can get at any craft store. I shove this end into the opposite side of the frame.
I repeated the above steps to construct the verticals and then I stabilized the wires by wrapping where they intersect with .33mm wire, making sure there was one clip per square.
And, yes, I loved the way the white one turned out so much, I made a black one too!
Love this – thank you StumbleUpon! – but how did the wire stay in the holes you drilled? Did you pull them through the whole edge of the frame and bend it? Use glue? Thanks!!
Hey Angie. I drilled holes the same size the wire, so it was a nice, tight fit. This made glue unnecessary. If the holes would have been larger, I would have probably used hot glue to stabilize the wire.
I love SU too!
Love this idea. I will add magnets to the back of the frame and use it on my fridge to display my grandkids art work. I’m a little unclear about where you drill the hole on the sides for the wire. I don’t see it showing on the outsides, but on the frame I looked at, I would have to drill the hole at an angle. Any ideas? Thanks for sharing.
Hey Sandy. Glad you like the project. I just drilled into the inside of the frame, just behind the ‘lip’ that the picture/glass sets on. But you could just as easily drill from the outside through to the inside behind the lip too.
I have one that I use in the kitchen for recipes!!!
I am printing this idea so I won’t forget it. This would be an excellent way to hang the pics of young great-nephews and neice. Their pics change each year as they grow.
So many pictures…so few frames!
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Thats pretty cool. I break glass in frames occasionally and it’s cheaper to but the whole frame instead of replace the glass so this is a great alternative to tossing my frames!
waow, this is awesome. i mean, it’s really simple but wonderful at the same time.
i just want to ask, did you print the pictures on papers or what?
Thanks! Glad you like it. Actually, since I had so many, I let Target do the printing.
Beautiful! I love this…so you just left it open? No glass, no back…right?
Thanks Reg! That’s right. No glass, no back.
This would also look great if the 9 photos made up one larger image. Very nice and I’m going to have to try this one for myself!
Thanks Seth! Glad you like it.
What a wonderful idea!
Thank you!!
Nice post! Beautiful! Thanks!
You are very welcome!
Thanks for such a cute craft idea. I’m going to add it to my Pinterest boards.
Thanks Mama_B!
personal talents are best used to benefit others and amaze them with your surprises. there is nothing more satisfying than to have your work in someones home. Many blessings——Doug
That’s lovely sentiment, Doug. Thank you!
So cute! I love flowers too. I should start doing a nightly walk with my daughter (after all the snow melts and it is not freezing outside that is). I am definitely going to have to do this too.
Thanks Stephanie! Glad you like them!
Thanks for the tutorial! I was planning on making one this weekend and didnt realize so many people had made one of their own too! Excited to make a few for my office.
Oh my! Love, love, this! I too take many photos of flowers that never get sent to the printer. This is a perfect way to display and I have a stash of frames around. A Saturday project for me. Thanks so much for sharing!
Glad you like it, Donna! I’m glad all those flowers will soon see the light of day!!
Wow! What a great idea….. I’m bad about never changing out photos, so this would be a great thing for my house.
Thanks Tara!