DIY Mini Picture Frames (quarantine project)

So I’ve worked from home for almost 20 years for various companies and have some nice work spaces set up. Once the Stay at home order came into play, I found myself having to share my spaces with my two sons. I suddenly found myself confined to my bedroom to work during the day and on many many more video meetings than ever before. I set up my desk against an open wall but didn’t have much on the wall. With the stores being closed I decided to make my own mini picture frames and use pictures that I had taken in Paris that were on my iPhone.  

This was a quick and fun project. I had to be resourceful. I wanted a pop of teal on the frames and I found the perfect way to do that. I used nail polish! Yes, that’s right. I had some nail polish that I hadn’t used much.  It had a shimmer to it and was perfect!  

Here are the steps and do it yourself instructions: 

• I decided that I wanted to make 7 mini frames, so I selected the pictures that I wanted to use on my phone and emailed them to person email address. You could also just download them from your icloud or google accounts as well.  
• I then used Microsoft Word and created a new blank document. I inserted the 7 pictures. When you do this, it will put them in at whatever size the file is and will likely take a page per image. I wanted small prints, so I adjusted the size to fit 4 pictures on the first page and 3 on the second. To resize an image in word right click on the image and select size and position. A new window will open up and you can change the length and width or the picture. I used 4.67 inches tall by 3.5 inches wide. That allowed me to fit 4 pictures on one page.  
• I then printed the document on my home printer in full color. If you don’t have a printer you can use an online print service like Fedex/Kinkos or stop at a store and take your file on a flash drive and use one of their printers.  
• I then cut the images out. A paper cutter or scissors are fine.  
• I found some report covers in one of my drawers that had clear fronts and black backs. They were perfect! I cut them the same size as the pictures and then layered them. Clear plastic on top, picture in the middle and black paper on the bottom.  

• I used scotch tape and taped all 3 layers on each side making sure only a small amount of tape was on the front side.  
• Now I set those aside and started working on the frames. I had some mini quarter round pieces that were left over from another project. You can pick them up at any home improvement store. I purchased mine at home depot.  
• I used a manual miter saw box kit to make the corner cuts after I measured them to be just a smidge smaller than each picture. 
• I used a combo caulk/glue to join the wood pieces together. This was coming together quickly! The caulk dried within a few hours.  
• Now you can paint your mini wood frames whatever color you choose. I used some leftover dark brown paint. Once I had put on 2 coats and it dried, I was ready to add my pop of teal!  

• I used narrow craft painters’ tape and taped around each frame that I wanted to add the teal to, to create a border. You can get the tape on Amazon.  
• I added 2 coats of nail polish and then removed the tape. I decided that I wanted every other frame to have the border. It was super subtle which is what I was going for.  
• Now time to put the frames together with the pictures and add the damage free velcro hangers.  
• I used Gorilla tape to tape the pictures to the frames. This tape is so tough and worked like a charm.  
• I then used Command damage free velcro hanging strips, created a level line and hung the frames!