• Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • Tumblr
  • Amazon
  • Email



Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Winter and Sparrow

Create. Nourish. Inspire. Located in Richmond, Virginia.

  • Home
  • About Us
    • Where We’ve Been Featured
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosure Policy
  • Health
  • Crafts + DIY
    • Free Images & Printables
      • Terms Of Use {Images/Printables}
    • Free Fonts
  • Home Life
    • Recipes + Food
    • Pets + Animals
      • Adopt A Shelter Pet
    • Fashion + Beauty
    • Entertainment + Tech
      • Blogging
  • Travel
  • Shop
  • February 19, 2019
You're here » Home » Crafts + DIY » How To Turn A Boring Photo Frame Into A Vintage Ruler Inspired Keepsake

How To Turn A Boring Photo Frame Into A Vintage Ruler Inspired Keepsake

September 15, 2017 by Kim Dickerson (Winter + Sparrow) 18 Comments

129
SHARES
FacebookTwitterPinterestYummlyTumblr
LinkedinGoogleRedditBufferPocket

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #MomentsShineWithWindex #CollectiveBias

How To Turn A Boring Photo Frame Into A Vintage Ruler Inspired Keepsake #MomentsShineWithWindex AD winterandsparrow.com

 

As children head back to school this month, parents may experience a whirlwind of emotions. They may feel relieved, happy, proud, sad, and/or nostalgic as they think about just how fast their kids are growing up. Although my child is now an adult, I remember feeling all of the aforementioned emotions at the beginning of every school year. To capture and soak in the memories, I took a ton of back to school photos. Who am I kidding?! I took a ton of photos period.

I have a gallery wall in my home where black and white photos of my daughter’s childhood span the years and the hallway. I love revisiting those memories and I love the black and white uniformity of the gallery wall but sometimes, you want something unique and distinctive. What if I turned a boring photo frame into a keepsake? According to the Cambridge Dictionary, a keepsake is defined as something that helps you remember a person, place, or occasion. So today’s tutorial is inspired by remembrance. And a whole lot of love.

How To Turn A Boring Photo Frame Into A Vintage Ruler Inspired Keepsake

Materials Needed:

  • empty frame
  • 2 packages of Tim Holtz ruler pieces (or similar)
  • scissors
  • superglue
  • twine
  • Windex® Original Glass Cleaner (to clean the frame glass)
  • sandpaper block

 

How To Turn A Boring Photo Frame Into A Vintage Ruler Inspired Keepsake #MomentsShineWithWindex AD winterandsparrow.com

 

Instructions:

Empty the first package of Tim Holtz ruler pieces. Using very sharp scissors, cut the wood into uniform smaller pieces. The size is up to you and it will depend upon the dimensions of your frame but since I was using a 4 x 6-inch frame, I cut my ruler pieces to approximately .5 inches each.

 

How To Turn A Boring Photo Frame Into A Vintage Ruler Inspired Keepsake #MomentsShineWithWindex AD winterandsparrow.com

 

Note:  For this project, I used a frame where the glass inserts in the front so I didn’t have to worry too much about the placement of the ruler pieces. If you’re using a frame where the glass inserts in the back, leave the glass inside the frame when you attach the ruler pieces. 

Lay out the ruler pieces onto your glass until you’re happy with the appearance. If you need to cut pieces to size to cover edges, use the ruler pieces from the second Tim Holtz package.

 

How To Turn A Boring Photo Frame Into A Vintage Ruler Inspired Keepsake #MomentsShineWithWindex AD winterandsparrow.com

How To Turn A Boring Photo Frame Into A Vintage Ruler Inspired Keepsake #MomentsShineWithWindex AD winterandsparrow.com

 

If your ruler pieces have rough edges, sand them down using your sandpaper block.

 

How To Turn A Boring Photo Frame Into A Vintage Ruler Inspired Keepsake #MomentsShineWithWindex AD winterandsparrow.com

 

Once you’ve arranged the ruler pieces on the top and bottom of your frame, start arranging pieces on the side.

 

How To Turn A Boring Photo Frame Into A Vintage Ruler Inspired Keepsake #MomentsShineWithWindex AD winterandsparrow.com

 

You’ll notice that there’s a gap between the ruler pieces and the edge of the glass frame. I did that intentionally so that the glass will be able to fit back into the frame.

 

How To Turn A Boring Photo Frame Into A Vintage Ruler Inspired Keepsake #MomentsShineWithWindex AD winterandsparrow.com

 

Once you’re happy with the layout of the ruler pieces, place a few drops of superglue on the back of each piece and secure to the glass.

 

How To Turn A Boring Photo Frame Into A Vintage Ruler Inspired Keepsake #MomentsShineWithWindex AD winterandsparrow.com

 

To give the picture area a more defined appearance, I super glued twine along the interior edges of the ruler pieces.

 

How To Turn A Boring Photo Frame Into A Vintage Ruler Inspired Keepsake #MomentsShineWithWindex AD winterandsparrow.com

 

This is how the frame looked when I was done. It totally has that vintage ruler vibe thing going on, wouldn’t you agree?

 

How To Turn A Boring Photo Frame Into A Vintage Ruler Inspired Keepsake #MomentsShineWithWindex AD winterandsparrow.com

 

Now the hard part…choosing which photo I want to display!

 

How To Turn A Boring Photo Frame Into A Vintage Ruler Inspired Keepsake #MomentsShineWithWindex AD winterandsparrow.com

 

I ended up selecting a photo of my daughter taken during first grade. First grade!! She’s currently a senior in college which is really hard for me to wrap my head around!

Since the photo frame is probably full of fingerprints and twine lint, you’ll need to use some Windex® cleaner to clean it off.

 

How To Turn A Boring Photo Frame Into A Vintage Ruler Inspired Keepsake #MomentsShineWithWindex AD winterandsparrow.com

 

Because of the convenience, I used Windex® Original Glass Wipes I purchased at Kroger. As you can see, Windex® made the glass appear almost invisible!

 

How To Turn A Boring Photo Frame Into A Vintage Ruler Inspired Keepsake #MomentsShineWithWindex AD winterandsparrow.com

 

To help you with your glass cleaning and photo needs, Windex® brand currently has a special offer available: Buy 2 Windex® products and get $20 to shop at Shutterfly®. Disclaimer: Offer valid 7/15/17 – 12/1/17. Visit here for terms and conditions.

If you want to see the gorgeous photo book Shutterfly® helped me create, click here. I already have a few ideas in mind for the $20 credit (from Windex® brand towards Shutterfly®). Christmas is coming after all!

 

How To Turn A Boring Photo Frame Into A Vintage Ruler Inspired Keepsake #MomentsShineWithWindex AD winterandsparrow.com

 

Why Windex® brand?

I’ve always used Windex® Original Glass Cleaner just like my mother and grandmother. Generations have relied on it for its famous streak-free shine. Windex® Original is perfect for cleaning windows, mirrors, glass shower doors, glass top stoves, and more. Because it’s formulated with Ammonia-D®, Windex® Original starts working on fingerprints, dirt, and other messes even before you wipe. That’s good news in my household where fingerprints on glass and mirrors seem to run rampant.

 

How To Turn A Boring Photo Frame Into A Vintage Ruler Inspired Keepsake #MomentsShineWithWindex AD winterandsparrow.com

 

 

I have to admit that I feel a bit emotional every time I look at my new keepsake. It’s a reminder to cherish each and every moment with your child because time flies by in the blink of an eye.

 

How To Turn A Boring Photo Frame Into A Vintage Ruler Inspired Keepsake #MomentsShineWithWindex AD winterandsparrow.com

 

 

What photo would you place in this DIY Vintage Ruler Inspired Keepsake?

 

How To Turn A Boring Photo Frame Into A Vintage Ruler Inspired Keepsake #MomentsShineWithWindex AD winterandsparrow.com

 

 

129
SHARES
FacebookTwitterPinterestYummlyTumblr
LinkedinGoogleRedditBufferPocket

Filed Under: Crafts + DIY Tagged With: keepsake, make a photo frame from rulers, photo frame projects, rulers project ideas, school projects, update a photo frame, vintage rulers, what can i make with rulers, windex, windex glass cleaner

Kim Dickerson (Winter + Sparrow)

About Kim Dickerson (Winter + Sparrow)

Kim is the founder of Winter & Sparrow (formerly known as Saving More Than Me). She's a writer, content creator, and social media influencer. When she's not online, you can find her crafting, traveling, or herding her four pets. Kim's also a British TV junkie, drinker of all.the.tea., avid book reader, thrift store magnet, and Multiple Sclerosis warrior. She resides in beautiful Richmond, Virginia. P.S. Want to know more? Click here to find out what profession Kim previously worked in and discover what subjects her Master's degrees are in. P.S. While you're there, check out the official pets of the W & S blog.

Previous Post: « DIY: Amazing Pumpkin Pie Body Scrub + Free Printable Labels
Next Post: 5 Ways Walmart Is Helping Military Veterans and Veteran-Owned Businesses #VetSource »

Reader Interactions

More Posts You Might Like

Mermaid DIY Idea: Valentine Card Box or Birthday Party Decor [Video]
Easy To Make Spring Wreath: Ranunculus + Succulents

Dollar Tree Love Sign DIY: From Plain to Pretty [VIDEO]
Easy 10-Minute Whipped Body Butter Recipe

Comments

  1. Louise says

    September 21, 2017 at 9:12 am

    I absolutely LOVE this idea! It’s perfect for keeping the kids school pic in 🙂

    Louise x

    Reply
    • Kim Dickerson (Founder & Creator)Kim Dickerson (Founder & Creator) says

      September 22, 2017 at 7:02 pm

      TY <3

      Reply
  2. Jacqui Odell says

    September 19, 2017 at 3:32 pm

    How cute!! I would have never thought about using rulers this way but it turned out great!

    Reply
    • Kim Dickerson (Founder & Creator)Kim Dickerson (Founder & Creator) says

      September 20, 2017 at 1:27 pm

      Thanks, Jacqui! I like to think outside the box ?

      Reply
  3. Jasmine says

    September 18, 2017 at 11:41 pm

    I love frame DIY’s like this! Windex is my go to for all my window and glass cleaning needs and has been for many many years!

    Reply
    • Kim Dickerson (Founder & Creator)Kim Dickerson (Founder & Creator) says

      September 19, 2017 at 12:13 pm

      Windex totally rocks!

      Reply
  4. Dena says

    September 18, 2017 at 10:33 pm

    What a cute idea repurpose a broken ruler. So perfect to display school photos. Looks easy to make.

    Reply
  5. Dawnn Nieves says

    September 18, 2017 at 10:32 pm

    Oh my goodness. I love this idea! Such a great keepsake and perfect for school photos! I have to make one of these!!

    Reply
  6. Lois Alter Mark says

    September 18, 2017 at 8:49 pm

    What a great idea! It’s so cute, and perfect for a back to school photo. I definitely want to make one of these!

    Reply
  7. Catherine Sargent says

    September 18, 2017 at 7:44 pm

    What a cute and creative idea. I need to make some for my parents and put a update photo of my son in it.

    Reply
    • Kim Dickerson (Founder & Creator)Kim Dickerson (Founder & Creator) says

      September 19, 2017 at 12:31 pm

      What a sweet idea, Catherine!

      Reply
  8. Rebecca Bryant says

    September 18, 2017 at 7:44 pm

    That is so cool. I love this. And yes Windex is a must for all glass cleaning in our house.

    Reply
  9. Shirley Wood says

    September 18, 2017 at 7:02 pm

    Your frame is fun and clever. This would be a fun way to make over a Dollar Store frame. I have a bottle of Windex in the cabinet of all my bathrooms and under the kitchen sink as well. We love it.

    Reply
  10. Ashley says

    September 18, 2017 at 6:01 pm

    What a CUTE frame idea for school pics. I love that the ruler pieces look a little retro too.

    Reply
  11. Nicole Aguilar says

    September 18, 2017 at 5:40 pm

    That’s really cute! It has sort of an old timey look that i love! Great job.

    Reply
  12. Brandi Crawford says

    September 18, 2017 at 5:35 pm

    This is such a creative idea. The frame turned out wonderfully! And that photo is so adorable.

    Reply
  13. Adriana Lopez Martin says

    September 18, 2017 at 5:24 pm

    How lovely this is perfect idea also to reuse those rulers that are broken or damaged. Windex is my favorite cleaner always in my cleaning list when shopping at the supermarket.

    Reply
  14. Alicia says

    September 18, 2017 at 5:06 pm

    This is such a awesome idea for a DIY frame. I know my kids would enjoy this.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Footer

What’s Trending

Free St. Patrick's Day Printables: Four Leaf Clover Template, Irish Wall Art, Word Search and More
Dream Catcher Origin: The History and Story Behind Dream Catchers
DIY Peacock Dreamcatcher
Keto Turkey Soup Recipe: Perfect For Turkey Leftovers

Search

Categories

Tailwind Visual Marketing Suite
Everywhere

What We’re Pinning

CONTENT PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT. KIM C DICKERSON. WINTER AND SPARROW. 2009-2019