My ReadyMade Post for June 4
This is an easy (and cheap) way to get all those pictures off of your hard drive, framed, and out for display.
The way this project started, I found an old traveling picture frame from my grandfather. They were these nifty folding frames that you could take with you on a trip, so you could look at someone special when you are away from home. Of course, the real ones were made from leather, but the design principle was the same. I added the ability to make the picture integral to the frame.
I hope everyone enjoys!
The problem with digital pictures is that to see one, you have to start up some device: a camera, a computer, a mobile phone. Everyone I know has a ton of pictures stored on a hard drive (somewhere), and very few pictures to actually look at now and then. Sure, you can print them out — but then what? Photo albums keep them hidden away, and picture frames from the store cost a lot if you want to display many pictures.
Here is a simple way to make your digital pictures self-framing.
Ingredients:
- digital pictures on a hard drive
- The template I designed for you
- 8.5 x 11 inch photo paper or cardstock.
Tools:
- Image editing application, like Photoshop or Photoshop Elements
- scissors and/or matt knife
- glue stick
Make it:
- Download the template.
- Use the background eraser tool to remove the picture of my dog. I find that using the Rectangular Marquee tool to select the area you want to erase first and then using the background eraser is the most accurate.
- Drag your picture to another layer beneath the template. The hole where you erased the picture will allow you to position the image.
- Print out the file, and trim away all the black bits.
- Using your matt knife, cut out the red square, carefully. The white part you leave behind becomes the “frame” for the picture.
- Fold the image so that it sits behind the frame.
- Glue and fold the wings on the frame to secure the image behind the frame.
- Fold at the other lines, and using the glue stick, glue the tab to the back of the image.
You can make three picture frames from one 8.5 x 11 inch cardstock or printable photo-paper, to reduce waste.
Great idea!
But first, may I borrow your dog so I have something worth taking pictures of? Oh, and I could use a camera, too!
Seriously, I love your creative craft ideas. Thanks for sharing them.
Thanks Xristim – no one ever leaves comments on this side of the blog, but when I track hits this is the real driver. Thurber and I would be glad to loan you a camera, but he is difficult to convince to sign the model release.
Tengrain, just my luck! A dog with artistic representation! Maybe sometime his agent and I can “do” lunch!
Just let me know when and where, and as Thurber’s agent (and yes, he is named after James Thurber), we will be glad to take a meeting, as they say.
[...] Photos with a stand – Print out a template with your photo on a foldable stand [...]