Gift Idea: DIY Book Picture Frames

DIY Book Picture Frames

DIY Book Picture Frames

Many of us like a good DIY project now and again. It’s fun to do and is easy on the wallet. DIY also gives gift givers the chance to add a personal touch to almost any gift. To make DIY Book picture frames, you don’t need fancy tools or expensive materials. They’re super easy to make! If you’ve got a couple of photographs but no frames to display them in, worry not. With these tips, your photographs will be on display in no time.

Those old hardcover books sitting in the basement can be repurposed. Chances are these books have become subject to wear and tear over time, making them perfect to use as picture frames. This project will only take about 15 minutes and the best part is that the frame of the book stands up on its own. You can still read the book even when it’s playing host to a photograph.

What You’ll Need

Take the hardcover book you’d like to use. If you’re not willing to use any of the books you have lying around the house, there are many book stores that sell second hand books in every colour. You’re likely to come across one with a design you really like. Both solid colours and different prints will work well; just make sure the portrait is the star and not the frame. The larger the photo, the larger the book needs to be. You’ll also need the portrait you’d like to frame, a utility knife, a ruler, pen/ pencil or marker, masking tape and a plastic page protector.

Preserve Your Family Images Today

  • Once you have your book, open the front cover and centre the portrait on it. Use a marker, pen or pencil and the ruler to trace around the edges.
  • The plan is to cut 3 mm inside the lines you’ve just drawn. Using the utility knife and ruler, begin scoring at the 3 mm mark. It may take a few tries to get the knife through the cover, but it is better to take your time with this process. Remember to protect your work surface so that the knife does not scratch it. Propping the rest of the book up against a wall is a good way to get it out of the way.
  • Once the knife has made scores deep enough to clearly outline the edges on the other side of the cover, turn the book over and slice through the front of the cover a few times to complete the cuts. You should be able to easily pop the cut portion out of the book at
    this point. Don’t worry if there’s some fraying of the edges, the charm in this DIY picture frame lies in its imperfection.
  • Open up the front cover again and lay the page protector down, lining up one side just outside the line that was originally drawn. Mark the rest of the rectangle out on the page protector and trim just outside the lines you drew.
  • Now your portrait has a perfect-sized protector to slip into.
  • Place the protected portrait face down on the inside of the cover and secure it in place with masking tape along the short sides.
  • Flip the book over and voilà! You’re done.

Let Your Imagination Run Wild

The great thing about DIY picture frames is there isn’t necessarily a right or wrong way to do things. The whole point of DIY is to add your own personal touch. The sky is the limit when it comes to choosing what to display your memories in or on. Anything from old picture frames to old door frames, maps, newspapers, glass, chalkboard and everything in between can be used. Go wild!

Talk soon,
Margherita :)

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