Haute Crafty Creations: Picture Frame to Zebra Print Post Note Holder Craft Project

This project was EASY and FUN! The supplies list and instructions are included for your review below. Wanted to do this for a very long time and finally got around to it shortly before Christmas. It actually ended up being a Christmas gift for one of my son's teachers. I had the pleasure of watching her open it at his Christmas party. She seemed to really like it. Thought it would be a good idea to share with all of you for a creative gift idea.

With projects like this, I usually do all the painting one day and let it all dry over night. Then, I add the fabric and bling the next night. This project can be completed in one night. Due to family, work, etc, I prefer to break each project down to about an hour a night. Of course, on weekends, it is a different story. I may paint them in the afternoon and then finish them in the evening, while working on a few other projects in between. In my opinion, it is easier and faster to have several projects working at the same time.

Helpful Tip: From personal experience, if you have children or pets, it is best to dry and store your projects in an elevated place where they cannot be knocked over by a wagging tail or handled by curious, little fingers. Several projects later this is a well learned lesson! LOL :)

The supplies and instructions for this project are included for review:

Supplies

Black or nude picture frame (Size of your choice. 4" x 6" Frame pictured above.)
Small, nude wood cross
Black paint (Will not need if your picture frame is already black or try using a different color!)
Turquoise paint (Or your own desired color.)
Zebra print fabric cross patch
Turquoise fabric heart patch

Heat N Bond Lite Iron on Adhesive, Sewable
Iron
Scissors
Large, medium and small clear bling
Large turquoise bling
Heart shaped bling (1 piece)
4 x 6 Piece of zebra print felt fabric
Wood glue
Fabric glue
Regular or Extra Sticky Post Notes in your desired color
Cross template
Heart template

Instructions

(Note: Skip first three steps if the picture frame is already your desired color.)

Remove the glass, cardboard backing and other paper materials from the frame.
Paint the frame your desired color - 2 paintbrush coats or spray paint with 2 coats
Let the picture frame dry and move onto the cross.

Paint the small, wood cross turquoise or your preferred color.
Let the cross dry.

While the paint is drying, begin work on the patches.
First, plug in and begin warming up your iron.
Once the iron is well heated, follow the instructions on the Heat N Bond Lite packaging. Iron the Heat N Bond Lite material to the back of your zebra print and turquoise (or your preferred colors) fabric. ( I usually make a full 8 x 10 sheet. Leaving plenty left over for more crafty projects.)
Let the fabric cool.

Check your painted items, if not dry and you are in a hurry to complete your project, you can put them directly under a fan on high speed. (Not recommended until almost dry.)

In the meantime, go ahead and start tracing your cross and heart templates onto the back of the zebra print fabric and accent color fabric patch materials. I use templates from a huge stock pile, collected over many years. You can make your own (see instructions below) or I included a copy of my templates for your personal use (at the end).

      How to make your own templates:

     Simply copy, paste and print the image on regular printer paper. Carefully cut out the paper template, glue it down to poster board or cardboard and carefully cut out the template. Label it "Template - KEEP". In the future, when you have supplies spread out every where for a project, the label will remind you to keep the template for future use on another project. Plus, the poster/cardboard template will last much longer and will be much easier to trace around than paper.

     ***Recycle Tip: I often use my Sonic cardboard drink carriers for templates instead of having to purchase poster board. They are actually sturdier than the poster board. Instead of a Sonic drink carrier, you could also use cereal boxes, pasta boxes, laundry detergent and dryer sheet boxes, 12 and 24 pack soda packaging, cardboard backing from retail items and children's toy packages. If it is cardboard or poster board and big enough to hold a few of my smallest templates, I recycle it. Takes just a few minutes and it will be very useful for many more projects and years to come, as well as environment friendly.

Carefully cut out your fabric patches. Use wood glue to secure the cross fabric patch, centered, to your wooden cross. Then use fabric glue to secure the heart fabric patch, centered and on top of the fabric cross.

Now it is time to add bling bling! Include your desired color of bling all the way around the outside of the frame. By this time, the glue should be dry on the cross. Add bling bling to the wood cross, cross fabric patch and the heart fabric patch to an extra special sparkling effect.

Add the 4 x 6 piece of zebra print felt fabric to the inside of your picture frame, just like you would a picture. Stick a pack of post notes to the front and you are finished!

Now you have a SUPER cute gift for family, friends or teachers.

Templates I used for this project (may need to resized for your own project):