Clip Photo Board from Thrift Store Frames
Looking for a quick gifts idea for any occasion? Use this tutorial to take a thrift store or Dollar Store frame and transform it into a fun fabric-backed clip photo board. Perfect for both kids and adults.
Yield: 1 photo board
Calories:
Cost: $5
Equipment
- Craft Knife
- Scissors*
- Ruler
- Cutting Mat
Materials
- Spray paint in desired color
- 1 3/16-inch craft foam board
- 1 Fabric piece to cover foam board
- Spray adhesive
- Masking tape or hot glue
- Bulldog clips (Sometimes called letter clips or barrel clips) in 1-1/4 inch size for this project – larger clips could also be used for just one in a frame.
- Brass fasteners (the split pins for holding papers together).
Instructions
- Remove the glass and cardboard backing and then spray paint the frame (reserve the glass for another project or recycle it). Use the frame backing to draw an outline on the foam board that will fit your frame (if your frame didn’t come with a back, cut a new one out of tagboard or similar product).
- Use a ruler and craft knife to cut the foam board on the lines. (TIP: I completed the entire project on a large cutting mat to protect my table surface.)
- Lay the piece of foam board on the fabric and cut it 1-inch larger all around than the board. Spray adhesive according to manufacturer’s directions on the foam board and let dry a few minutes to create a temporary bond (this makes it easier to adjust your fabric if needed later). Then attach your fabric and rub to smooth. Check for straight lines, centered patterns, etc. and adjust as needed.
- Lay the fabric covered board face-down, clip the corners to lessen bulk, and fold the long sides over tightly, using masking tape or hot glue to secure. Yes, I taped them. What can I say? I was too lazy to get out the hot glue and I didn’t feel like burning my fingers.
- Fold the corners carefully before taping or gluing the ends down.
- Insert the fabric covered board into the frame and lay it face-up. Use a ruler and a pencil to mark where the clips should go. I also held up a 4×6 photo to make sure they were spaced far enough apart to hold two without overlapping.
- Use the pointy end of the scissors to gently push through the foam board at the pencil marks. Grab two brass fasteners.
- Insert a fastener through the barrel clip hole and into the hole in the foam board. Secure by splitting the fasteners flat against the back of the foam board.
- Reattach the frame backing.
