I love giving close family and friends homemade gifts and I found a great way to incorporate my toddler's doodles by making these awesome custom word/name picture frames. Currently, my daughter's favorite new art medium is markers. I try to get her to use different mediums, for example crayons and markers. Sometimes she does, but she really likes working with just markers right now, especially the scented kind. Making these custom picture frames are my favorite gift I help Lily make. With Mother's Day just around the corner, these custom word/name picture frames would make the perfect Mother's Day gift.
Supplies
White and Black Card Stock Paper,
Paint, Crayons, or Markers (or all three),
Black Frame (I get mine at the 99 cent store),
Scissors,
Scrap Paper,
Pencil,
Cutting Board.
Step 1: Have your child doodle on white card stock paper. I give Lily at least a week to finish a doodle. It goes faster if she is using paint. She's a toddler, so sometimes she can't sit and doodle for a long time. I give her a week because she doesn't doodle everyday and the more she doodles on the paper the more the cut out word/name will stand out. Avoid letting your child use black markers because it will end up blending in with the background when you insert the black card stock paper, at the end.
On a side note, I found this great article on the importance of having your child doodle. Click here to read it. ]
Step 2: Grab your frame and remove the backing leaving the actual frame and glass only. Move it around the doodled paper until you find a background you like.
Step 3: Trace around the glass with a pencil. Then cut it out.
Step 4: Using your scrap piece of paper draw out the word/name you want. Cut it out and arrange it on your doodled paper.
Step 5: Trace the letters that make up the word/name on your doodled paper.
Step 6: Place your doodled paper over a cutting mat and very carefully cut out the traced word/name with an X-Acto knife.
Step 7: Use the doodled paper to trace over the black card stock paper. Cut it out and insert it behind the white paper. Put the frame back together and TA-DA you're done!
I have helped Lily make 4 of these custom word/name picture frames for very close family and friends and every recipient has absolutely loved it. When we made one for my parents, my brother suggested I cut out Lily's name on the doodled paper, that way they could display it near her photographs. Other good Mother Day themes for Grandma's would be Nana, Grammie, Grandma, I Love You (use the shape of a heart for love), or any other special word Grandma uses.
I have been wanting one of these frames for myself and I hope I can finally get Lily to make me one for Mother's Day. I think I want my picture frame to say Mama.
Please let me know if you find this tutorial useful. Better yet, let me know if you try it out with your child.
