Its really hard for me to throw away picture frames even if the glass is broken or the frame is marred. Thats because I happen to know that there are literally dozens and dozens of crafts and decor projects you can make from picture frames. If youve been saving frames, thinking youll have the glass replaced one day, never mind that. Get out the frames and make an impressive basket centerpiece for Easter. Youll love how easy it is to create, how inexpensive it is, and how beautiful it will look on your table.
Frames that are all the same, particularly plain wooden ones, work perfectly for this project. As long as the frames can be easily stacked, though, they will work. If you have many of the frames, you can make one particular type of basket but if you have only a few frames, you can make a completely different creation. No matter which design youll be creating youll first paint the frames or just use them as-is.
After the paint has dried youll stack and glue the frames. If you have many identical picture frames youll simply stack and glue them. Lay the first one on the table then glue on a piece of thick cardboard. You can cover the cardboard with fabric, if you wish, before gluing it to the picture frame. Now glue the second frame on top of the cardboard. Continue gluing on another and another frame. Youll make the basket as deep as you wish, depending upon how many frames you have, but five or six inches deep is sufficient for the centerpiece. If you only have a few of the picture frames youll still stack and glue them, but with this particular design, youll use "spacers". The spacers allow you to glue the frames together but to leave spaces between each frame. The spacers can be flat beads, strips of thick cardboard, or even pencil erasers! The only requirement of the spacer is that it have a flat surface and be no wider than the picture frame. Lay one frame on a flat surface and glue the cardboard piece on top. Position the spacers on the frame. If using beads as the spacers, for instance, glue one on each corner of the frame. Now glue the second frame on top of the spacers. Glue on four more spacers then add another frame. Continue this until the basket is as deep as you wish. When youve finished gluing your frames together you can then begin adding the items that will make the centerpiece itself. Glue a square of Styrofoam to the cardboard bottom of the basket. Make the Styrofoam somewhat smaller than the size of the picture frames. This will allow you a space between the Styrofoam and the sides of the basket so that you can add Easter grass or shredded paper. This is only necessary for the picture frame basket that uses spacers. For either design cover the top of the Styrofoam with the grass or paper. Place a stuffed Easter bunny or other novelty at the back of the basket, in the middle of the frame. This will be the main focus of the centerpiece. Now tape peanut butter eggs, wrapped chocolates and other candies on skewers, and push the opposite ends into the Styrofoam. All the candies dont have to be on long skewers; attach some of them to toothpicks instead. Besides candies you can attach small novelties to the skewers, or even curled ribbon pieces. Position plastic eggs amongst the Easter grass. Jelly beans and other candies can be sprinkled in the grass, too. Craft stores are full of items you can glue to the front of the basket to give it an Easter theme. Painted wooden shapes, flat plastic bunnies, and similar items can be found by the hundreds. Make similar baskets for other holidays or make them for everyday use. Large frames make a great basket for a bathroom. Tiny picture frames can be used to make cute potted plants. Make tall stacks of the frames to hold kitchen utensils. Make squat creations, turn them upside-down, and use them as plant stands. This craft has so many possibilities that it would be a shame to only use it for an Easter creation. Watch out, though! Youll get so addicted to this project that you might find yourself removing relatives pictures
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