May DIY Photo Crafts

The month of May is home to National Photo Month with National Family Week, National Pet Week, and National New Friends/Old Friends Week. So what better way to celebrate these great observances than to make photo gifts for our home and friends and family? I have come up with three fun and unique ways to make gifts from you photos for your friends and family.

Timeless Photo

Material List:

1 photo frame any size
Scrap wood
1 clock kit
1 Picture in the size to fit the frame

Instructions:

Remove the backing of the photo frame.

Place the picture on the backing and poke 1 hole in the center of the picture and through the backing. The hole should be only big enough for the clock arm spindle to fit through.

Install the clock mechanism through the picture and backing as instructions with the mechanism indicate.

Place the picture back in the picture frame. If the clock arms do not fit with the glass of the picture frame installed, simply remove the glass.

The clock mechanism will need to be supported. This is where the scrap wood comes in handy. Cut 3 pieces of scrap wood long enough to fit length wise across the back of the photo frame.

Nail or glue 1 of the pieces of scrap wood across the top of the back of the picture frame and attach the picture hanger in the center of this piece.

Nail or glue another piece of scrap wood across the middle of the back of the picture frame under the clock mechanism to support the mechanism.

Nail or glue the remaining piece of scrap wood across the bottom of the back of the picture frame, this piece is just to support the bottom so it stays level against the wall.

Hang your new handmade photo clock or give it to a friend or family member!

Light of My Life

Materials:

1 lamp and lampshade
White Fabric
Photo transfer sheets
Computer and printer
Ribbon
Spray adhesive
scissors

Instructions:

Using the lampshade as a template, mark the fabric for the top and bottom of the lampshade and roll the lampshade along the fabric for the length.

Now print off sepia or black and white photos onto transfer sheets using your computer and printer.

Transfer the pictures onto the fabric as the transfer sheet paper instructions recommends.

Cut out the lampshade piece from the fabric.

Use spray adhesive to apply the fabric with the photos on it to the lamp shade.

Apply ribbon to the top and bottom edges of the lamp shade to cover up the edge of the fabric and add a finished touch to the lamp shade.

Wall Tiles

For this project you will need to go to a local ceramic shop that will apply pictures to ceramic wall tiles for you.

Materials:

9 ceramic wall tiles
1 picture 8×10 or 11×14
Scissors

Instructions:

Cut your picture into 9 equally sized squares.

Bring your picture pieces to your local ceramic shop and have them apply them to the ceramic tiles.

When they are completed you can hang the tiles on the wall for a really cool piece of art work that everyone will love!

If you would rather have a collage of pictures on tiles then use 9 different pictures that are cut to a 6 inch by 6 inch size and are all the same tone (for example all 9 pictures in sepia tone).