Christmas in 25 Days, the ButterNugget Way! (No. 1)

Today around lunch time I had an idea to do 25 days of Christmas crafts starting today, November 29th, and ending on December 23rd. I will do my best to do one every day, but if for any reason I can't I will do two the next day:) So, here it goes!

Christmas craft number 1 is scrabble-inspired picture frames. It only cost me $1 to make one of them and at that price you can make them to fill your whole house!;) Or you can give them as thoughtful, crafty gifts. Let's get started, shall we!

 


You will need:

• 3.5 in x 3.5 in unfinished frame from Michael's
• Scrabble game tiles (I happened to get mine from my local Freecycle and my grandma. I know you can order replacement tiles from Hasbro, and different Ebay, and Etsy shops.)
• Wax paper
• Mod Podge
• Hot glue Gun
• Festive ribbon
• Holiday scrapbooking paper and/or gift wrap
• Foam brush
• Nail file or emery board
• Buttons, rhinestones or other embellishments
• Scissors
• A Sharpie and a pencil

 First you are going to take the frame out of the package and NOT LOSE the little dowel that comes with it;) Set out your wax paper to cover the work area.

 Next you will want to position your frame on the wrapping paper or scrapbook paper of your choice to get a feel for how you want it.

Next you will apply a thin, even layer of Mod Podge with your foam brush all over the front of the frame.

Lay the side of the frame you just applied Mod Podge to down on the paper the way you want it. Press down firmly. It will look all bubbly like this:

Use something (I used the dowel the frame came with) to smooth out all the air bubbles and around all the sides so the paper is firmly on the frame.

Next take your nail file and at a slight (about 45 degree) angel and run the file down against the edge of the frame. The paper will smoothly separate from the frame.

If you use scrapbook paper it will be a lot harder to file the paper off. Don't get discouraged, it will come off!

Poke a hole in the center of the frame (where the picture will go) and cut to each side and corner with scissors (like a pizza cut into 8ths). Cutting it like that is much easier than just poking a large hole, especially if you use thicker paper.

File from underneath the frame through the hole using a downward motion like before.

Trace the insert of the frame on a different, but coordinating, piece of paper. I used some left over scrapbook paper from a different project.

With your frame back on the waxed paper, apply a thin, even layer of Mod Podge all over the paper with the strokes all going the same way (ie: horizontal or vertical).

Let it dry.

While that is drying, position and hot glue your scrabble words or saying. Try to make the words 4 letters long max because 5 or more will not fit in the window of the frame.

Make some fabric rosettes.

Once the Mod Podge has dried, glue on the rosette and put the "picture" in the frame!

Side Note: See how the paper is still kind of crinkly? That is why I prefer to use thicker paper (scrapbook) rather than very thin (gift wrap).

Cut a length of ribbon. I used a medium thickness gold ribbon (I don't know the exact because it was floating around in my ribbon collection).

Glue the ribbon to the back of the frame how you like it. This ended up being too wide for me and I moved the pieces in closer.

With the same color paper I used for the "Joy/Noel" picture above, I covered my other frame to match:) I positioned "Happy Holidays" and a fabric rosette above the window.

And hot glued it on.

For the Christmas tree "picture" I traced around the window insert with a fine-tipped Sharpie and cut it out.

Then I folded green ribbon strips, which I also found floating around in my ribbon collection, twice to make a "V".

Then I positioned them on one of the dowels that came with the frame

And glued them one on top of the other (I did 3 layers, I just forgot to take a picture!)

Then I wrapped the tip that was showing in left-over gold ribbon and added a rhinestone on top (not shown).

Viola!

Thank you for taking the time to read my first tutorial! Please feel free to leave comments/feedback in the comment section below. I look forward to tomorrow's tutorial!:)

Until next time, toodles!