Make a Popsicle Stick Picture Frame

Eating a lot of popsicles yet? We’ve gone through a pack already. Now, what to do with the sticks? What about making a picture frame for Father’s Day?

How to Make a Cool-Looking Picture Frame with Popsicle Sticks

Children and Popsicles seem to go together in the summer time. If your children are like most, they throw the sticks away when they’re done. Here’s how to make a cool-looking picture frame with Popsicle sticks, whether you buy them by themselves or you allow your child the fun of cleaning the sticks of their goodness.

You’ll need:

* A bunch of Popsicle sticks (used or from a store)
* Tacky glue or school glue
* Laminate paper or piece of thin plastic large enough to protect the picture
* Poster board
* Paint
* Foam shapes or letters
* Stickers

Start by deciding what size picture frame is needed. Popsicle sticks can make a frame small enough to fit a wallet-sized photo or big enough to place an 8” by 10” picture. Place a piece of cardboard or paper down on the table which is the same size as the picture.

Lay the sticks out, end to end, along the edge of the paper so that they barely cover the edges. Lay another stick to cover every two sticks, with the center of the top stick covering where the two sticks met. Glue the top stick down. Repeat the procedure all the way around the frame. For the corners, you may need to cut the sticks in half or use smaller sized sticks to join the corners together. You will have two layers of sticks. Let the glue dry a little before going on.

Cut a piece of laminate paper a little larger than the frame size. Glue this in place, being careful not to use too much glue. Glue another layer of sticks over the edges of the laminate, being sure to leave an opening to place your picture at the top.

On a piece of poster board the same size as the outside of the frame, lay out Popsicle sticks to fit the entire board and glue them down. Place a hanger on the back and then place glue on the second layer of sticks for the front, creating a sandwich of the front of the frame, laminate, and back of the frame.

Decorate the frame using paint, stickers, foam letters or shapes, or whatever you choose. Try to find foam shapes or stickers which will match the subject of the photo. Using letters, you can also put the name of the subject on the frame.

You may be able to find different and better ways of how to make a cool-looking picture frame with Popsicle sticks. Let whoever is making the picture frames use their imagination to create a unique frame. Be prepared – after one picture frame is made from Popsicle sticks, don’t be surprised if there are many pictures that end up with this type of frame.

Want to make more popsicle stick crafts? Ask your local library for a copy of Craft Stick Mania (Craft Mania)