How to Make a Valentine's Day Picture Frame

For Valentine's Day, many people will give a photo frame to the person they love. But a better gift is to make your own Valentine's Day present. Not only does it save money, but it is personalized to the recipient. These tips will have you making your own picture frames in no time at all.

First, you will need to buy clay that can be baked in a normal oven. Use a rolling pin to smooth it out to about a quarter of an inch thick. Make sure the thickness is the same throughout the clay, and that you roll it out on a hard surface. Wax paper is best because you can peel it away. Then, you need to decide what shape and size of a frame to make. You will want to inside cutout area to be slightly smaller than the photo you want to use. For example, if you are making a 4"X6" frame, you will need to make the inside measurement slightly smaller than 4"X6". If you decide to use a special shape of cutout on the inside, you will need to take this added size difference into account. For the size you are using, cut out a piece of paper that is the size of the photo, and then trim a small amount from each side. This will be your template.

After you have decided what size photo you want to use and have your clay rolled out, you can begin cutting. There are special rollers you can buy at some kitchen or craft supply stores. This has a uniquely decorated edge on a wheel, which is rolled around the edge of cookie dough to give them an interesting look. If you cannot find one, feel free to use a butter knife and cut your own design around the edge. As mentioned above, you can also cut the inside edge of your picture frame too. Also, you can use a special shape. For a Valentine's Day picture frame, you can use a heart shape where the photo will be displayed in the middle. Place this clay in the oven and bake it according to the manufacturer's instructions.