While Photo Crafts I goes over the photos themselves, this badge program focuses on easy craft projects. If you want more of a challenge, check out Photo Crafts III.
Steps
1. Notes.
As you work through this badge program and create your own photo craft projects, take notes of any ideas you have to make your own unique photo crafts. As your experience grows, you’ll find many ideas and possibilities come to you. If you don’t write them down, you may lose them.
2. Kit.
Many of these projects require basic tools. Creating your own paper craft tool kit allows you to have the tools in one location, making it easier to craft when you feel like doing so. Create your own paper craft kit with the tools you use all the time. As your experience grows, you may find yourself changing the items in your tool kit.
For an example, this is what is in my standard paper craft tool kit:
- Adhesive, paper – Archival
- Bone folder
- Craft knife
- Eraser
- Hand punch (circle)
- Metal ruler
- Needle / pick tool
- Pen, pencil and black permanent fine-lined marker
- Replacement blades (for craft knife)
- Scissors, small
- Tape, blue painter’s
- Tweezers, reverse
After this, I add the items I need depending on the specific paper craft I intend to do.
General Projects
3. Bookmarks.
A simple bookmark is a rectangle you can place between pages. Add a photo to a traditional rectangular bookmark for a simple photo bookmark. Add words, stickers or other items to your bookmark before laminating. Lamination will help protect your bookmark. If you don’t have a laminator, use clear contact paper or clear packing tape. Check the supplements that go with this badge program or search online for ideas to make your personalized photo bookmarks.
4. Cards.
When you think photos and cards, you probably are thinking about greeting cards. The most notable photo greeting cards are for Christmas when children or families are part of the card. You can create cards digitally or by hand. Create one or more of these cards to start exploring photo crafting.
5. Recipes.
A photo is one way to make a recipe personal. Seeing the face of a relative with the food you remember them making is a memory you can share. Look at ways you can incorporate photos onto your recipe cards. These cards do not have to be put into a recipe box. They can go on a scrapbook page or framed for display in your kitchen. How else might you share and display this type of photo craft?
6. Frame.
Frames come in a wide variety of shapes and materials. Adding a photo incorporates a personal touch. You can go beyond that by decorating the frame itself with color-coordinating elements. Non-traditional items can be used for frames including Altoid tins, jars and bottles. Explore ways to pair a photo with a frame and then decorate it.
7. Holder.
Making a way to hold a photo might be seen as a photo craft since it’s designed to display one. A couple different ideas are included in the supplements. Try one of these or find one online that better suits your taste.
8. Fridgies.
In some crafting circles, fridgies is a shortened term for “refrigerator magnets.” A photo can be placed in a bottle cap or a pre-made magnet frame designed for your refrigerator. You can also put a magnetic sheet on the back of your photos. Look for ways you can take photos and make them part of your refrigerator display.
9. Ornaments.
Ornaments might be for Christmas or everyday decorations. You can put photos into ball ornaments, use everyday items such as juice lids as frames or even put photos between microscope slides. Dating these ornaments will also allow you to see your kids grow up if you do it yearly. Photo ornaments can also serve as a way to share your kids with extended family. Find ways to make photos into ornaments.
NOTE: Ornaments can be used in garland, on wreathes or displayed different ways. Don’t limit yourself to trees.
10. Flowers.
Photos can be used in the center of faux flowers. They can also be punched as a layer in the flower. A collection of photo flowers can be a great gift. We’ve done this a couple times for Mother’s Day. Explore ways to either make flowers from photos or as added elements into a bouquet of flowers to make a simple gift mean so much more.
11. Simple.
The above photo crafts are relatively simple. Keep looking for other simple ways to incorporate photos into your craft projects. If you want something more challenging, check out the next level of this badge set — Photo Crafts III.
Badge and Supplement Files
Member Level
- 0EP_B_BPG_PhotoCr_II_2in_12up_MS1_larajla — generic badge printable
- 0EP_BLIST_PhotoCr_II_MS1_larajla — badge items per membership level
- 0EP_BSET0_PhotoCr_II_MS1_larajla —badge set and related badges
- 0EP_SUPP0_PhotoCr_II_Journal_MS1_larajla — badge journal
- 0EP_SUPP0_PhotoCr_II_Planner_MS1_larajla — badge planner
- 0EP_SUPPL_PhotoCr_II_MS1_larajla — supplements currently available per membership level
Supplement Fun
- 0EP_SUPP0_Craft Fun_Bkmrk_Rect Photo I_MS2_larajla — Using a photo as a rectangular bookmark
- 0EP_SUPP0_Craft Fun_Bkmrk_Rect Photo II_MS2_larajla — Putting a photo on a rectangular bookmark
- 0EP_SUPP0_Craft Fun_Bkmrk_Shaped Photo I_MS2_larajla — Using a shaped photo to put on either side of a page
- 0EP_SUPP0_Craft Fun_Bkmrk_Shaped Photo II_MS2_larajla — Using a shaped photo to “hang” inside your book
- 0EP_SUPP0_Craft Fun_Bulletin Board_Rubber Band_MS2_larajla — Bulletin board to hold your photos / switch them out easily
- 0EP_SUPP0_Craft Fun_Card_Photo Greeting_One_MS2_larajla — Card with one layer of colored cardstock and photo
- 0EP_SUPP0_Craft Fun_Card_Photo Greeting_Two_MS2_larajla — Card with two layers of colored cardstock and photo
- 0EP_SUPP0_Craft Fun_Flowers_Photo I_MS2_larajla — Round photos with construction paper and chenille stem flowers
- 0EP_SUPP0_Craft Fun_Flowers_Photo II_MS2_larajla — Shaped photos with construction paper, chenille stem and popsicle stick flowers
- 0EP_SUPP0_Craft Fun_Frame_Book Photo_MS2_larajla — Recycle a book into a photo frame
- 0EP_SUPP0_Craft Fun_Frame_Glass Jar Photo_MS2_larajla — A recycled holder for your photo
- 0EP_SUPP0_Craft Fun_Frame_Lucite Photo_MS2_larajla — Pre-made lucite (acrylic) frame allows you to slide in a photo and decorate
- 0EP_SUPP0_Craft Fun_Frame_Popsicle Stick Photo_MS2_larajla — Simple popsicle stick frame and a photo
- 0EP_SUPP0_Craft Fun_Frame_Single Photo_MS2_larajla — Create a flat photo with a frame
- 0EP_SUPP0_Craft Fun_Frame_Themed Photo_MS2_larajla — Create wall art with a photo and frame
- 0EP_SUPP0_Craft Fun_Fridgie_Bottle Cap Photo_MS2_larajla — Photo in bottle cap as a refrigerator magnet (fridgie)
- 0EP_SUPP0_Craft Fun_Fridgie_Magnetic Photo Doll_MS2_larajla — Your fridgie dolls can be puzzles as well
- 0EP_SUPP0_Craft Fun_Fridgie_Personalized Photo_MS2_larajla — Personalize your fridgies with shapes and more
- 0EP_SUPP0_Craft Fun_Holder_Wire and Bead Photo_MS2_larajla — Using beads and wire to make a single photo holder
- 0EP_SUPP0_Craft Fun_Holder_Wire and Clay Photo_MS2_larajla — Using clay and wire to make a multiple photo holder
- 0EP_SUPP0_Craft Fun_Holder_Wire and Rock Photo_MS2_larajla — Using a rock and wire to make a single or multiple photo holder
- 0EP_SUPP0_Craft Fun_Orn_Glitter Photo_MS2_larajla — Simple photo ornaments with a glitter bling
- 0EP_SUPP0_Craft Fun_Orn_Family Tree Photo_MS2_larajla — Create a “family tree” ornament set for display
- 0EP_SUPP0_Craft Fun_Orn_Juice Lid Photo_MS2_larajla — The juice lid serves as your base as you layer cardstock and your photo
- 0EP_SUPP0_Craft Fun_Orn_Microscope Slide Photo I_MS2_larajla — Photo in a microscope slide holder
- 0EP_SUPP0_Craft Fun_Orn_Microscope Slide Photo II_MS2_larajla — Photo in microscope slides with soldered edges
- 0EP_SUPP0_Craft Fun_Recipe_Photo Craft_MS2_larajla — A recipe card featuring a craft / beauty / etc. item (non-edible)
- 0EP_SUPP0_Craft Fun_Recipe_Photo Food_MS2_larajla — A recipe card featuring a food item (edible)
- 0EP_SUPP0_Craft Fun_Recipe_Photo Heritage_MS2_larajla — A recipe card that looks like it was passed down (vintage)
- 0EP_SUPP0_Craft Fun_Recipe_Photo Index_MS2_larajla — A standard index card with a photo
- 0EP_SUPP0_List Fun_Greeting Cards_MS2_larajla — Types of greeting cards and holidays
- 0EP_SUPP0_List Fun_Paper Craft Supplies_MS2_larajla — Paper craft supplies — items you might use during paper crafting
- 0EP_SUPP0_List Fun_Paper Craft Tools_MS2_larajla — Paper craft tools — items you can put into your paper craft kit
Sites to Explore
- homebnc.com/best-diy-photo-picture-frame-crafts-ideas
- www.bhg.com/decorating/do-it-yourself/fabric-paper-projects/easy-crafts-with-photos
- bigdiyideas.com/38-fun-photo-and-picture-frame-crafts
- stylesatlife.com/articles/photo-frame-craft
- decozilla.com/2015/02/photo-craft-ideas
- forcreativejuice.com/creative-handmade-photo-crafts-tutorials
- www.itsalwaysautumn.com/best-list-diy-photo-crafts-gifts-tutorials.html
- www.pinterest.com/sherron/photo-crafts
- www.pinterest.com/fotobridge/diy-photo-craft-projects
Get the infographic here > larajla blog post
Get the PDFs of the badge program / supplements here