Altered Frame: My Creative Scrapbook

One of my favorite projects to make are altered photo frames. They are fun and easy to do.  I keep my eyes out for unusual shaped frames when I am out and about and pick them up on clearance or at thrift shops.  A little tip: the best frames have a thick photo mat. Just remove the photo mat and you have working room under the glass to use chipboard or pop dots.

This frame originally had a bamboo mat with openings for two square photos. It was on my bookshelf, actually, sporting two small black and white photos.  Perfect for repurposing!

To start, I traced the back of the picture frame on patterned paper.  I used Bo Bunny's Mistletoe line, which was part of the December kit at My Creative Scrapbook. Then I trimmed the paper and inserted it into the frame, gluing it down.

I put my photo on the right side of the frame, leaving the left side open for decoration. I tucked a journaling card under the photo. Then I added a couple of chipboard gifts on the left. They will fit here under the glass because they were the same thickness as the photo mat I discarded.

I put the Santa scene under the glass then started decorating the black frame. On the right, I added a reindeer. I used a glitter brad for a hanging tag and wrapped a bit of wired tinsel around his neck as a winter scarf.

On the left, I added a big Christmas tree, the word "believe" and some gifts. Under the tree, you can see the other gifts that are beneath the glass. Decorating both under and above the glass gives a nice dimension to the frame.

That's it. A quick project and a happy addition to my bookshelf.