I usually make these with standard size 11° seed beads for necklaces and bracelets and pony beads for anklets, but you can use any size you want as long as the beads are not so large that they leave a lot of thread showing in between beads. For this example you will need: 

     • 3 colors of seed beads (I will use green, purple, and yellow to match the diagrams) 
     • nymo 
     • size 12 needle 
     • beeswax 
     • clasp (A hook and eye is good for a necklace, lobster claw for bracelets and anklets.) 
 

It's best to start with as long a piece of doubled thread as you can handle. Wax it well, so that the two strands of nymo stick together. It's much easier to handle this way. Make a small loop of beads through the hole of one side of your clasp, go through the loop several times to strengthen it. Tie a square knot and leave a loose end to hide later. Add 5 green beads, 4 purple, and one yellow. Go back through the first purple bead like so: 

Materials You Will Need: 
    • Plain paper picture frame (available at craft stores) 
    • Photo to fit your frame 
    • Scraps of colored paper 
    • Rubber stamps or markers/colored pencils 
    • Scissors 
    • Masking tape 
    • Glue stick or glue 
    • Scrap of colored ribbon 
 
 

Directions: 
To make the fancy corners like our example on top, look at the pictures to the right. 

In Figure 1, I cut a small square of scrap colored paper. 

Figure 2 shows how I cut the paper diagonally in a fancy pattern.  You could use fancy scissors for this part if you have them. 

Figure 3 shows how I glued the paper onto the corner of the frame.   The extra paper gets folded under the frame and glued on. 

That was the easy part!  Now comes your imagination... 

In my example above, you get to see my two turtles Zippy and ZugZug!  I used letter stamps to put their names on the frame.  If your picture is of you and a friend, why not put your names on the frame!?!  Don't have letter stamps?  Try printing the names or words you want to use with colored pencils or markers! 

Like those little hearts on my frame?  I cut them out using a paper punch and scraps of the paper I had left over from my corners.  If you don't have a paper punch, try cutting out shapes using a scissors...you don't have to cut out hearts, try circles, squares, triangles or free-form shapes! 

I also used a mosaic stamp on the corners and turtle stamps on the frame.  If you don't have stamps that match your picture, try drawing pictures or use stamps that can go with any idea! 

Once your frame is done, carefully tape your photo to your picture frame on the back and tape a small piece of ribbon to the top of your frame.  You could also make a stand for your frame if you would rather have it sit out on a table. 

I hope you enjoyed this project for creating a simple frame!  Pictures make great gifts too, so maybe create another frame for a birthday present...someone special is sure to love it!