Worry-Free Photo Frames

Acrylic Easel Frames
Fun Foam Sheets (we used browns and black for a nubuck leather look)
Pillow Cording or Sewing Trims
Craft knife and Cutting Surface (or scissors*)
Decorative Hole Punch (available in many shapes)
Craft Glue (we used Foamtastic, but Tacky Glue is fine, too)
Ball-point Pen

*Also try decorative finishing scissors to create unusual edges

Step 1: Measure
Design for your frame. Ours will be a tan frame with a brown inner border at the photo window and tan cord all around. We'll inset four brown stars in the tan area, off each corner of the photo window.

First, measure the frame and add at least ¾-inch off the top, left and right sides. The bottom edge of the fun foam should align with the bottom edge of the acrylic frame. Mark these measurements on the fun foam with a ball-point pen and cut with the craft knife.

Step 2: Cut Frame Panels:
For our design, we need three pieces of foam cut to the same size. Tan for the front, brown for the photo window border and brown for the back. Here, you can get very creative and use two, three or even four pieces of foam cut in shapes and borders to reveal the colors underneath. You will need one extra piece for the back.

Step 3: Cut Photo Windows
We've measured 1 ½-inches from each edge and cut our main photo window from the tan foam. Then we measured 1/8-inch inside all four edges of the tan window to create our brown border.

Remember, when complete, the top of the acrylic frame will be ¾-inch below the top edge of the foam, and the lower 1 ½-inch area of the frame will be covered. So, photos need to be high in the acrylic frame to be centered once the foam cover is slipped over.

Step 4: Embellish
Here, we've used a star-shaped decorative punch to create a star cutout in the tan foam panel. (Later, after gluing the two pieces together, we'll drop brown stars in each star-shaped hole to create an inset look.)

Step 5: Add Edge Treatment
Next we add the pillow cording to the outside edge of the tan foam panel. Using dots of glue, press the edge of the foam onto the cord flange, making sure the foam butts up to the cording. Rather than cutting the cord at the corner, we cut the flange to create a clean 90-degree turn.

Another edge option, use a flat trim to cover the outside edges of the foam once all pieces are glued together.

Step 6: Glue Front Panels Together
After the cording is glued to the front panel, we spread glue evenly on the second panel, avoiding the border area that will be revealed. Then, we carefully align front to back to ensure the brown photo border is even in the tan window and press firmly.

Step 7: Inset Star Cutouts
While the glue is still wet, we punch four brown foam stars and set them into the four tan star-shaped cutouts to create an inset.

Step 8: Glue Back Panel to Front:
Next, we run a thin bead of glue along the top, right and left edges of the front panel, then spread evenly to the edge, making sure the glued edge does not exceed ½-inch in width to allow ample room for acrylic frame. We don't glue the bottom edge so we'll have an opening for the acrylic frame to slip in.

Completed Frame - From the Back:
Let the glue dry completely before slipping frame into foam cover.

Step 9: Slip Frame Cover on Acrylic Frame:
Once the foam cover is dry, we place a photo in the acrylic frame and slip the cover over the top.

Safety Reminder!
As a craft item, Fun Foam is intended for use by children over three years old, because if chewed it can pose a choking hazard. While lightweight and break resistant frames made of
Fun Foam do reduce the risk of damage to furniture or injury to a child if dropped,
frames should not be treated as playthings.

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