How To: Customize a Picture Frame with Scrabble Letters

Custom picture frames can be a fun and thoughtful way to display pictures in your home, but they can also cost a lot of money. Here's how you can create unique picture frames without spending a lot.

What You Need

• Picture frame (The frame should be larger than the photo, as you'll want space around the photo for your letters.)
• Photo (Any size, just make sure the frame is bigger than would normally be necessary.)
• Letters from a game of Scrabble
• Colored paper or paper with a design (that will go nicely with your photo)
• Glue gun
• Scissors
• Pencil

Tip: Thrift stores are great places to look for frames, as well as old Scrabble games.

Step 1 Choose Your Word

Choose the word or phrase you want to have with your picture. Shorter words are usually better and variety may be limited by what's included with the game. If you want a longer phrase, choose a larger frame or a smaller picture.

Step 2 Take Frame Apart

Take the frame apart, removing the glass. Make sure the glass is clean and free of smudges. If necessary, use a soft cloth and a little Windex to clean the glass.

Step 3 The Right Layout

Play around with picture and word placement while the frame is apart. You can center your photo or put it off to one side. Try the letters at different angles.

Step 4 Cut Paper

Trace your background paper to the exact size of the glass. Cut it out.

Step 5 Assemble the Frame

Place the glass in the frame. Place your photo against the glass, exactly as you want it positioned, then your background paper, and finally the frame backing.

Step 6 Glue Your Scrabble Letters

Place the letters onto the glass precisely as you want them to look when finished. With the hot glue gun, glue each letter down one by one. Wait for the glue to dry and display your photo in its custom frame!

Alternate Style

An easy alternate customization is to glue the letters directly to the frame. Simply place a photo into a frame that fits its size and glue your word or phrase onto the frame itself, instead of the glass.