Craft Project: How to Make a Reversible CD Photo Holder

Photo Holders are great for an office desk, hallway entrance table, or displaying a beloved picture on a fireplace mantel or bookshelf. They not only make great little decorations, but are a great gift idea for a birthday or holiday or other special occasion. This clever little photo holder can be made in less than 30 minutes and will cost you nothing if you have these common household items lying around. You have probably seen photo holders selling for $8 and upward in department stores, and unlike those photo holders, this unique design will reflect your decorative tastes and can be created in colors that match your decor. Additionally, this is a reversible photo holder, and because a CD jewel case is used, the picture is protected from air and harsh sunlight, so it won't quickly fade, nor will it gather fingerprints. And, just like store bought photo holders, you can switch the pictures any time you desire.

Here is what you need to create your very own reversible photo holder.

A knit cap or if you don't have a knit cap, a large fabric square about the size of a bandana will do. Or even a piece of burlap will work.

Something for weight, such as a Ziploc bag full of sand or some loose pebbles.

Something to poke the holder into, such as a ball of soft clay or florist foam

A stick to attach to the CD jewel case, such as a tongue depressor, or 2 popsicle sticks glued together for strength. Or you can use a a thin piece of cardboard cut with an exacto knife.

A hot glue gun

A picture or 2 cut to the size of the CD jewel case

A string or ribbon to tie off the sack.

Scissors

How to Make a Reversible Photo Holder

1. Use a hot glue gun to attach the tongue depressor or Popsicle sticks to one side of the CD jewel case. You can decorate your stick with glued on beads or glitter or wrap with ribbon. If you are using cardboard cut into a strip, you can cover it with glued fabric or wrapping paper or aluminum foil or foil star stickers. Once you attach the stick to the CD jewel case, let dry and set aside your photo holder.

2. Fill your knit cap with something weighty such as the Ziploc bag full of sand, or pebbles. Then place a ball of clay or piece of florist foam inside. Now gather the open end of the knit cap and tie it off with a decorate string. If you are using a piece of fabric, or burlap, tie it off with a decorative piece of ribbon or string or even jute for a natural country look. You can use pinking shears on fabric to give an added design effect for the edges of cloth that hang over.

3. Take your stick attached to the CD jewel case and slide it into the ball of clay or florist foam. Slide it in deep to get a good grip. Now test how your photo holder stands. If it is a little wobbly on one side, then readjust your inner weight to make it stand up straight.

4. If you are giving this as a gift and don't want to determine what personal photo will go inside the photo holder, you can find a couple of pictures from a magazine or old book and cut to size to place in the clear plastic frame. Choose a picture of interest for the gift recipient. For example, if it is a person who likes to skateboard, use a skateboard photograph. If it is a person who likes pug dogs, use a picture of a pug dog. If it is a person who loves sports, use a basketball picture. You get the idea. They will be nice pictures the gift recipient can display until they find their own photos they want to use.

That's all there is to it! Enjoy making several for various rooms of the house or create some extras for a gift stash for last minute gifts.

Gift wrapping idea:

You can use clear or colored cellophane to make a see-through gift wrap and tie it off with a colorful ribbon.