How to make a photo frame from Popsicle ice-cream stick

I think almost all of us love eating ice-creams. We eat Popsicle ice-creams (also known as choc-bar ice-cream) and throw the sticks in dustbin. But, have you ever thought that you can use it to make beautiful photo frames? Today I’m going to tell you how to make a photo frame from Popsicle ice-cream sticks.

Things you’ll need:  1) Popsicle ice-cream sticks (at least 4 for a simple square shaped frame. You may need more for different shapes)

                                      2) Poster color

                                      3) Instant glue (like super glue)

                                      4) Cardboard or hard paper

                                      5) Scissors

                                      6) Pencil

                                      7) Ruler

                                      8) Paper

                                      9) Objects for decoration according to your theme of the photo

                                    10) Transparent plastic sheet for protecting the photo from dust and humidity)

                                    11) A photo that you want to frame

Step-1: Think about the shape and color of your photo frame. Use your imagination power. I’ll recommend a simple square shape for the beginners as it’s the easiest shape to create. You can make different shapes once you have practiced and become an expert. I found a photo frame in a website that looked like a doggy house which was pretty cool. Think how many sticks you’ll need to make it. It takes 4 to make a square. You have to add more sticks at sides if you want to make the outline broader.

Step-2: Wash the Popsicle sticks with water and dry them. Color the sticks with poster color as you designed in mind and dry them properly.

Step-3: Set the sticks as your design on a smooth flat surface. For making a square place two sticks paralleled. Place two more parallel sticks on two ends of them to creating a square. Add a stick beside each stick if you want to make the frame broader. But whatever is the shape of your frame, make sure each end of the sticks should join with at least one stick. The sticks should join in a way that one end should be on top of the other, so that you can glue them each other properly. No ends should be open and unglued. Sometimes you’ll need to cut the sticks in a smaller size according to your design. But you don’t need to cut the sticks to make a square.

Step-4: Now carefully use instant glue to attach the sticks according to your design. You need to be careful that you don’t spoil your design. Because instant glue can attach sticks in seconds and you won’t be able to separate the sticks after gluing. Now dry the whole structure properly.

Step-5: Place your photo frame structure on the cardboard or a hard paper. Draw the outline of the structure on the cardboard using a pencil. Take the structure away and draw a smaller outline inside the previous outline. The distance between two outlines should not exceed the half of the width of a Popsicle stick. Cut the cardboard using scissors according to the smaller outline. Now cover the cardboard with paper using glue. You can use white or colorful paper as your wish, but when using colorful paper choose color according to your design. Otherwise it will make the whole thing look worse.

Step-6: Take the cardboard. Place the photo on the center of it and then place the stick made structure on it. If you can see that the photo is larger than the card board, then cut and reshape the photo to fit it in the frame.

Step-7: Now attach the photo carefully on the cardboard using glue. Make sure that any part of it is not outside the cardboard. Dry it properly.

Step-8(this step is optional):  Take the transparent plastic sheet. Cut the sheet according to the shape of the cardboard. Put instant glue on the sides of the sheet and attach it on the cardboard carefully covering the photo. Make sure any part of the plastic sheet is not outside the cardboard. Be careful not to wrinkle the plastic. Dry it.

Step-9: Glue the stick made structure on the card board. Your photo frame is almost ready! But you still need something to support it for standing. To make a supporting flap, draw a rectangle approximately 4 inch long and 1 inch wide. Cut it out. Fold 1 inch from the end of the rectangle to make a surface for gluing. Put instant glue on the folded part and glue it with the back of the cardboard to make a flap. Dry it. Now the photo frame is ready. But don’t you think that we need some decoration?

Step-10: For decorating the frame use objects as your wish. But the object should not be so big that it covers the photo. Try to create a theme according to the photo. It will make the frame look cool with the photo. For example: the photo is about a sea beach. Then you can use seashells, small plastic starfish etc. if the photo presents someone’s birthday, then you can use hard paper to make little cake, candles, balloons, gifts etc. (Draw them on the paper, color them and cut out from paper). Be creative. Use your world of imagination. If you want write something on the frame, use glitter or poster color. But choose the colors according to your design. Then dry it. Once you have collected or prepared the decoration objects it’s time for gluing. Attach the objects according to your design using instant glue. Dry it.

Now you have created a beautiful photo frame. You can use it for yourself or gift it to anybody. It’s a perfect gift for everyone.

How to make you own mini garden

Gardening is a great hobby. It also brings peace to mind. Many of us love gardening. But as modern life is busy and we don't have enough time for making a garden, we forget the idea of gardening. If this is also a problem for you too,then a "mini garden" is perfect for you. A mini garden is a small garden. It contains only a few plants. So its easy to take care of them and it takes less time.

What you need : 1)small or medium sized pots for plant (you can also use old coffee mug for small   plants.I love this because it looks nice and you don't need to decorate it.)
                             2)your favorite plants( it can be flower plant or cactus or as you wish.But the size of the plant should not be large.)
                             3)soil
                             4)fertilizer
                             5)water
                             6)a little space for your garden where sunlight can easily come

Step-1 : Choose your favorite plants that you want to keep in your garden. You can buy them from shop.You can also buy seeds. I love to see a little baby plant raising from a seed. Small or medium sized plants are perfect for a mini garden.

Step-2 : Now choose pots for your Garden. The pot size should be according to your plant size. If you pot is small and your plant is larger than the pot, then the plant will drop and the pot will break.

Step-3 : Fill the pots with soil. Make sure to keep 3 inch space empty for watering. Make a hole in the soil. The hole should be big enough for your plant. Cut the poly-bag of the plant. Carefully put the plant into the hole of the soil that you kept in the pot. Now level the soil. Pour a little water near the soil and wet the soil. Never pour too much water. Pouring too much water will do no good to your plant. Rather it can kill your plant.

Step-4 : Repeat step-3 until all of your plants are planted. Now arrange the pots according to your wish. You can use shelves for arranging or you can keep them on floor.

Now your mini garden is ready! Water the plants daily. Watering at afternoon is best, because the plant gets enough time to drink the water. Use fertilizer regularly as directed in the pack. Weed soil regularly. Love your garden and it will love you back by giving you flowers.

***Tips : You can use stand for pots. It will give your garden a modern look. Decorate the pots using color. Be creative. Draw as your wish. Don't worry. Its your own garden. Clean the pots regularly. Your garden will look gorgeous.