Make these nature inspired photo frames from recycled materials.
My favorite season is the Spring. I love all the new life and new blooms on the trees, and every year I take lots of pictures of the kids in front of the new brightly colored trees that were so cold and bare just a few weeks ago. This year I decided to let the kids have a chance to be the photographers and take lots of pictures of their own. So, each with a camera in hand, they went out into the neighborhood to take pictures of nature.
When they got back, I thought it would be fun to display the photos in a fun way that wouldn’t require buying new frames. So, we came up with these nature inspired recycled frames made from plastic lids from Pringles cans (my kids love Pringles) and sisal rope for decorative trim. They are affixed to the wall with Command poster strips.
Supplies you will need:
Camera
5 Plastic lids (we used lids from Pringles cans)
Sisal rope
Photo paper (or regular printing paper)
Marker or pencil
Scissors
Glue
Wall mounting strips (I used Command poster strips)
Instructions:
Print your photos using photo paper, or regular printing paper if that’s what you have on hand. If you use paper that has been recycled, even better. I happened to have photo paper on hand and to be honest, I love how shiny and glossy it looks for this project.
For each photo, turn the photo over and center the plastic lid on the back. Use a pencil or marker to trace around the lid and then cut out the circle. You will have to cut a little bit inside the line of the circle so that it will fit properly inside the lid. Use glue to affix the photos to the inside of each lid.
Then take the sisal rope and tuck it along the interior edge of the lid, cutting the rope so that it just meets the other end. Take the rope out and add glue along the inner edge before tucking the rope back in place. Attach poster mounting strips to the back of each new photo frame and line them up on the wall for a beautiful addition to your Spring décor.
This project is great for Earth Day or any day where kids can go outside and appreciate nature and its beauty! I hope you enjoy this fun project with your kids:)
Check Out My Books
Check out my books on My Books page or click on an image below to find out more about each book.
Writing Tips
Are you interested in writing for children? You may be interested in my Writing Tips page where I post articles about some of the writing techniques I have learned along the way.
Tools I Use
Stop by my Tools I Use page where I share tools and resources I use to help me with my writing projects. I will add to it as I learn more about software and digital tools that make life a little easier for today’s writer. You can also find links to some of my favorite art supplies.
Stay Updated
If you want to stay updated about new writing tips, craft projects, and book releases, sign up in the subscription box below. I look forward to sharing my latest news with you!
Those are so pretty. What fun for the kids to gather the materials and then to be able to display it.
Thanks Tammy! They love taking pictures, and then displaying their work on the wall added to the fun:)
What a cute way to display nature pictures!
Thanks Amanda!
I love these they are really cool! They definitely brighten up the room!
Thanks Ronda. I love the way they look in the room:)
Getting the material would be the best part for my kids. (:
Same here! Thanks Sara!
I love spring too (in fact, I’m pretty dirty right now from planting things!). and I love these frames.
Getting dirty is definitely part of the fun. Thanks so much Leslie:)
That’s actually a really good idea! I love it. I am decorating a new house so this is perfect.
Decorating a new house is so much fun. Thanks Ali!
I love this DIY. I shared it on my feed.
Thank you so much, Agy!
This is such a neat idea. I love that it requires our children to observe nature with the added bonus of honing their photography skills. Great project.
Good point about the photography skills, my kids love photography. They have been asking for their own fancy cameras!
Love this! This is amazing and so creative! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Cristi!
Awww, this is so perfect for Mother’s Day. So perfect for my kids to make for grandma.
Great idea for Mother’s Day! Thanks Tirralan!
I love this idea! They have a really natural look to them
Thanks Annabel!
That is so neat. You are very creative. Love it.
Thanks Lynndee!
I love this! So very cleaver. Thanks for the idea.
Thanks so much, Mary!
I absolutely love these and they would look wonderful on my front porch. Thanks for the inspiration <3
Thank you Sara!
Now that the weather is warming up we are outdoors more so this will be a great, fun project to do with the kiddos. Thanks for sharing.
It is great fun. The kids keep asking to do it again! Thanks Yanique!
what a great idea! Including the kids… Slowing things down and having them appreciate nature is awesome!!!! The rope detail is perfect too.
Thanks Sara! It is hard to slow down sometimes, especially during the school year. We’re hoping to do this again soon:)
I love these and the sisal rope really looks great with the beautiful pictures your kids took. I bet your kids had fun looking for the animals and the different things out doors to photograph. Pinned!!!
Thanks so much Kim!