We used donated wallpaper books, a cardboard box, cardboard, glue, and a piece of ribbon to make this inexpensive gift. The nice touch is the family portrait drawn by the child and inserted into the frame.

Parental supervision is recommended.

What you'll need:

How to make it:

 

1. Cut a piece of ribbon that is double the length of the frame that you will cut. Set aside.
2. Cut a piece of cardboard 6x8". (This can be any size, adjust accordingly.)
3. Cut a piece out of the middle measuring 5x7".
4. Trace around the outside and inside of the cardboard on the back side of the wallpaper. Note: Push the frame at least 1" in from the side of the wallpaper.
5. Draw a line 1" around the outside of the outside line on the wallpaper.
6. On the inside rectangle, draw a straight line from one corner to the next. (see Step 1)
7. Cut on the outside line.
8. Cut on the X. Note: Do not cut anything out of the inside. You may cut off the tips of the triangles if the tabs are too long to fold to the inside. (see Step 2)
9. Lay the cardboard on the wallpaper in the center.
10. Put glue on one flap (inside triangle).
11. Fold the flap to the inside and smooth across the cardboard.
12. Repeat for other 3 flaps. (see Step 3)
13. Take one outside corner of the wallpaper and fold over the corner of the cardboard. Glue in place. Crease the wallpaper flat. (see Step 4)
14. Repeat for other 3 corners.
15. Apply glue to the sides of the wallpaper that is laying flat on the table.
16. Take the ribbon and tie the ends together in a knot.
17. Place the knot in the middle of one side (wrong side) of the cardboard.
18. Glue the ribbon along the side. It should form a circle to hang the frame. (see Step 5)
19. Fold the wallpaper onto the cardboard (over the ribbon) and press flat.
20. Add clothespins to hold in place, if necessary, or lay flat and add a book for weight.
21. Take a piece of white cardboard from a shirt you buy in the store (or other similar cardboard). Use the cardboard frame to LIGHTLY draw the inside dimension and outside dimension of the cardboard frame onto the white cardboard.
22. Cut the cardboard on the outside dimension.
23. Let the child draw a picture of their family and glue to inside of frame. Make sure you tell the child to draw inside the box so it will show through the frame.
24. Glue the picture to the inside of the frame. By making the white cardboard the size of the frame, it will cover all the cutting and gluing of the wallpaper to the frame.
25. Have the child autograph and date the back of the frame.
26. Wrap the frame up in either another piece of wallpaper or their own creative wrapping paper. See tips area below for links to our favorite wrapping paper crafts.

Tips:

Visit our Wrapping Paper, Bags, and Gift Tags for ideas on ways to wrap your gift.