Make a Fabric Covered Photo Frame

Photographs displayed in fabric covered frames, made to suit any mood or theme, create a welcoming and personal focal point in a room.

Fabric-covered photograph frames are attractive accessories for you home or an admirable gift to accompany a family portrait. They are easily made by covering frame mounts that you can purchase from DIY, art shops or picture framers. Frame mounts with oval apertures are ideal for portrait photographs. For even quicker results, use a photograph frame kit in which all the card pieces are already cut.

No sewing is involved. To pad the front, wadding is simply glued to the frame. Then the entire frame and stand are neatly covered in plain or printed fabric, which is also held in place with adhesive. You can either buy a piece of fabric especially or use a favorite remnant.

For an added personal touch, you could decorate the frame with a pattern of roses using simple embroidery stitches, or sew or glue on embellishments.

Padded photographs are economical to make using remnants of fabric and inexpensive cardboard mounts. With a unique handmade quality they are a good way to display treasured family photographs.

To make a padded photograph frame you will need:

• Frame mount


• Craft knife


• Metal rule


• Card


• Fabric


• Medium-weight polyester wadding


• Spray adhesive or glue stick


• Scissors


• PVA adhesive


• Clear acrylic sheet

As a rough guide to fabric amounts, you need approximately four times the size of the frame plus ¾ inch (2cm) turnings all round. Choose closely woven, medium-weight fabrics. Avoid bulky fabrics that do not fold easily or slippery fabrics that are difficult to handle.

Use strong card for the frame back and stand. For an accurate, neat line cut the card with a sharp craft knife against a metal ruler. You can buy clear acrylic sheet in artists' supply shops.

1. Cutting the frame back: Measure the length and width of the frame mount and, using a craft knife and metal rule, cut a piece of card this sized less 1/8 inch (3mm) all round.