Recycled Game Piece Picture Frame Craft Idea for Kids

Kids can easily make a unique and decorative picture frame with old game pieces with this recycled material craft idea. This craft idea for kids uses items you already have in the house, and aren't using anyway, like the extra game pieces at the bottom of a toy box. You might as well clean out the toy box or your toy storage crates and find the games you no longer play because they are missing pieces. Don't throw out the unplayable games. Instead, recycle the game pieces to make a unique picture frame.

Age Appropriateness

This craft is appropriate for adults, for teens, and for school-aged children. Preschoolers can accomplish this easy craft with help and supervision. Children under three should not do this craft if the recycled toy items you will be using pose a choking hazard.

Materials

A Cheap Picture Frame - Find an only wooden picture frame that you are not using. Sources for this cheap arts and crafts supply include your own cellar or attic, or closet. Or, you could purchase one at a flea market or local yard sale. Another cheap alternative is to find a wooden picture frame from the local dollar store.

A Sheet of Sandpaper - It is best to have an adult use a bit of sandpaper to go over the entire front of the wood frame. This will remove any splinters. Also, roughening up the wooden surface will make it easier to adhere the craft glue and the objects.

Unused Game Pieces - There is a lot of freedom in which cheap and recycled game pieces you choose to use on your homemade picture frame.

Here are just some ideas:

wooden letter tiles from a game of Scrabble
playing tokens from a discarded game of Monopoly
stray checkers
old dominoes
backgammon game pieces
ships from You Sank My Battleship, for a nautical theme
Mahjong tiles
dice

A very strong craft glue like Gorilla Glue

Preparation

Paint the wooden frame if it needs a different color or a better finish. You won't need to paint the frame if you you will be covering all the empty space on the frame.

Place the picture frame on a flat working surface. Work on the frame itself or on the side of the frame.

Design Ideas

1. Four Corners Design - One option for the recycled game piece picture frame is to select four large game pieces and place each one in a corner. You can glue the pieces on and be done.

2. Four Corners and More - Start with placing the biggest or best game pieces in the four corners, and then place one more game piece half-way between each of those, adding four more game pieces to the design.

3. Four Corners Filled In - Follow step two above, and fill in the spaces with some smaller unique game pieces.

4. Freestyle Design - Another option is not to plan out the design first, and just start gluing the recycled game pieces all over design.

Have an adult cover the entire picture frame with Mod Podge, an acrylic medium, or other craft sealer. Now you have a recycled game piece picture frame for your room or to give as a gift.