| Bird Frames |
From "DIY Kids"
episode DIK-110 |
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If you enjoy taking photographs or drawing pictures of birds, here's a way to make your special pictures stand out by gluing natural decorations to inexpensive acrylic frames or photo mattes. Kent Lindsey, host of DIY Kids, and the DIY Kids show how easy they are to make, using a low-temperature glue gun. Materials:
Acrylic frame
Photo mat
Low-temperature glue gun and glue
Scissors
Large plastic paperclip
Natural decorations such as twigs, pinecones and dried ornamental grasses
Cording or ribbon
- Pick a photo mat that you think would look good with your picture (figure A). Photo mats are cardboard cutouts that come in different colors. They're used with pictures when they're framed, and they help make pictures look more finished. Mats also make great frames all by themselves when you decorate them. You can buy them from almost any store that sells picture frames.
- Make sure the mat is placed the right way before you decorate it. If your picture is tall, it goes up and down. If the picture is wide, turn the mat so it's wider than it is tall.
- Choose decorations for your mat (figure B), and trim them to fit the mat if necessary.
- Arrange the decorations on the mat until you're happy with the way they look. Using a low-temperature glue gun, squeeze a little glue onto the back of the decorations (figure C), and attach them to the front of the mat (figure D).
- Glue your picture onto the plain cardboard piece that comes with your matte. Then squeeze glue onto the front of the cardboard edge (figure E) so you can lay the decorated mat on top (figure F).
- To make a hanger for the frame, you need a giant plastic paperclip. Squeeze glue onto the wide part of the clip (figure G), then press the clip onto the back of the picture frame so only one loop sticks out over the top of the picture (figure H). You can slide the loop over a nail or picture hanger in the wall.
- If you'd like your picture to sit on a desk or a table, decorate an inexpensive acrylic frame with twigs found in your yard or at a craft store. Line the twigs along the edge of the frame, and mark how long you want them to be (figure I).
- Scissors won't cut through the dry twigs. Instead, use the scissors to score the twigs (figure J): cut into each twig several times with the scissors until you make a mark in the twig. Hold the twig with both hands on either side of the mark you made, and snap the twig in two (figure K). Score and break all the twigs you'll need.
- Squeeze glue onto the back of your twigs (figure L), and stick them to the frame. Use extra glue at the corners where the twigs meet.
- If you like, use other natural objects, such as tiny pinecones, to decorate the corners where the twigs meet. This helps hide the glue and makes the frame even more interesting.
- You can also use twine to decorate the corners for a different look. Twirl cording or ribbon around the corners of the twigs (figure M), and glue down the ends to keep them from raveling.
- If you like, finish your frame by gluing your picture to a photo mat before putting it in the frame. Lift the back edge of the acrylic frame until you can get the corner of the mat into the picture, then slide it in (figure N).
RESOURCES :
Make Your Own Birdhouses & Feeders (Quick Starts for Kids! Books)
Model: 1885593554
Author: Robyn Haus
(2001)
To order this title from Amazon.com, click here.
Williamson Publishing Company
Charlotte, VT 05445
Email: info@williamsonbooks.com
Easy To Build Birdhouses (Storey Country Wisdom)
Model: 1580172334
Author: Mary Twitchell
(1999)
To order this title from Amazon.com, click here.
Storey Books / Storey Communications Inc.
Website: www.storey.com
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