Make a Lace and Felt Fridge Frame!

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Make an inexpensive, pretty picture frame for the refrigerator to celebrate Valentine’s Day and beyond. In this activity, children get to practice measuring, cutting, and gluing materials, and show their appreciation for family members, best friends, or even favorite pets.

What You Need:

Ruler
Pencil
Scissors
Chalk
Thin cardboard or cardstock
Strong refrigerator magnet
Felt material
Small lace or other trim
White glue
Sewing pins (optional)
Masking tape

What You Do:

First, measure the picture you want to frame.
Based on the size of the photo, you’ll create a cardboard base for your frame. On your cardboard, draw a rectangle the same size as the photo.
Then, measure ¼ inches inside this rectangle on all sides and mark that. This is the interior you will cut out, so that it slightly overlaps the photo without any gaps.
Next, measure out from the new markings by 1 ½ inches, for the outer section of the frame.
Cut the cardboard according to the markings you made—the outer marking and innermost marking. Ignore the first marking you made, which is the size of your photo. Don’t worry about any pencil marks you’ve made, because you’ll be gluing felt over them.
Use chalk to draw the inner rectangle of your frame on your felt—the interior should be the same size as the cardboard. Then, measure and mark two inches out from your first markings, for the outside of the frame. Cut the felt frame out with your scissors.
Run the lace around the edge of the frame and optionally, pin it in place with sewing pins, to make sure to attach it neatly. Fold the lace over itself at the corners. Cut a longer length of lace than you’ll need—you can always trim the extra when you’re finished.
Glue lace to the front of the felt frame, so the edge of the felt is covered. (Alternately, use pinking shears to add a decorative edging to the felt, then glue the lace to the back so the glue doesn’t show.) Once it is glued on, cut any extra length off, wipe any extra glue away, and leave it out to dry.
Glue the refrigerator magnets onto the back (non-marked side) of the cardboard frame.
When the glue is dry on the lace and magnets, glue the felt to the non-magnetized side of the cardboard frame. Make sure it is evenly centered so no cardboard shows through from the front.
When the glue on your frame is dry, you can tape your photo in to the frame and hang it on the fridge!