Fabric picture frame tutorial

I want to show you how you can make a picture frame with cardboard and fabric.  Keep reading for the tutorial.


Materials needed:

• Cardboard
• Craft sticks
• Fabric
• Scissors
• X-acto knife
• Ruler
• Pencil
• Photo

Start with cutting out a piece of cardboard bigger than your picture.  The size is up to you, I used the width of a ruler to help with cutting out my shape.  Then you’ll trace around your photo onto the middle of the cardboard.

Next, make a smaller rectangle inside the one you just traced.  I did mine about a quarter of an inch smaller. 

Ok, time to cut out the inside.  Make sure you cut out the small rectangle you just traced and NOT the one you first did.  This is so there is a lip to hold the picture in.  It’s easier to use your blade instead of scissors.



Now you can start covering the cardboard with fabric.  Lay out your fabric face down with the cardboard on top.  Cut an X in the middle from corner to corner and trim away excess fabric. 



Please ignore my ugly glue mess, I am haphazard with the glue.  So now, fold in the inside fabric and glue it down.  Easy.

Then, on the outer edges, to get a nice mitered corner, fold the corner in first, glue, and then…

fold the sides in.  Repeat on all corners and sides.

Now this is where the craft sticks come in.  Remember those lines you first drew when you traced around the photo?  You may not be able to see them now but try to place your craft sticks where those lines were.  You may have to measure or use your photo as a guide.  These sticks will hold your photo in place correctly when it is finished and will also create a small slip-in space for your photo to slide in nicely.  Just be sure to only glue down three sides.  The open side will be where you insert your photo.

Then cut yourself another piece of cardboard somewhat smaller than your frame but large enough to be glued to the craft sticks.  After that is glued, you’re done!

I rarely use the stands that are attached to the backs of frames so I didn’t make one for mine. I usually just prop them up or hang them. It wouldn’t be hard to add a bit of string to hang or make a cutout triangle for a prop in the back piece of cardboard.

Happy crafting!