Make a Theatre Inspired Picture Frame

If there someone in your life (a friend or family member) who is involved with the local live theatre, making a theatre inspired picture frame that adorns a special moment on stage is the perfect gift to give the person. The actual frame base itself can be as ornate or as simple as you like it, although an ornate one will give the added decoration a distinct Victorian look to it. The frame can be gilded in an antique gold, brass, or even silver. Thrift stores are a great place to seek out picture frames like this. Make sure the frame itself is sturdy and not loose at the corners. Imagine a full sized photo of your theatre person dressed up as Hamlet's ghost in that frame. Decorating the frame is very easy and requires easy to find supplies with which to decorate it.

You will need:

a theatre mask in black or another color (from a costume store)

a comedy/tragedy mask duo (this can be a computer generated image printed on card stock and cut out)

¾ yard of metallic multicolored ribbon, or a lace and mauve satin ribbon

a theatre program

a matte plastic acid-free cover for the program

one decorative picture frame, 8 x 10" in size

small bunch of silk roses with dew drops on them (try Michaels craft store)

hot glue gun and glue sticks

Wipe off the picture frame with a damp cloth to remove any dust or dirt, then allow it to dry. Place the frame on the table in front of you. Arrange your theatre items around the frame but do not glue anything yet. Experiment with how you want to place everything so that the decorations do not obscure the photo that will be placed inside the frame. The masks can be placed at an angle at the corners of the frame. The bouquet of roses, something usually given to the lead actor or actress on stage, can be placed near the mask or by the program. Save at least one corner of the frame to attach the program. You do not want to glue the program directly to the frame as this will cause damage to the paper. Instead, slip it into the protective plastic cover before attaching to the frame. Take the ribbon and make it into a bow with the ends hanging loose. Once you have everything in place, you are ready to start gluing them to the frame.

Hot glue each object to the frame, holding each piece in place until the glue dries. Once the frame is finished you can wrap it up and give it to the theatre person in your life. He or she will appreciate the gift!