Cinnamon Stick Frames

These rustic and simple frames are perfect to hang anywhere in the house that needs a little more Christmas cheer. You can make multiple frames and create a fun collage on a bare wall too. Or make a lot of frames as fun gifts for friends. Everyone will love them and you can customize them to match anyone’s holiday décor or personality by choosing a special greeting and coordinating background color.

What you will need:

1. Cinnamon sticks at least four
2. Old Christmas cards
3. Pencil
4. Glue
5. Hot glue gun and glue sticks
6. Red paper
7. Raffia, at least four strands
8. Paper cutter

Directions:

1. Choose a saying from one of the old Christmas greeting cards.
2. Measure about an inch on each side around the greeting.
3. Mark with the pencil.
4. Cut with the paper cutter at pencil markings.
5. Glue the greeting to the red sheet of paper. To make mating it easier glue the greeting about an inch in on each side in the corner of the paper then you only have to cut the paper twice.
6. Measure around the greeting so there is at least an inch of red border.
7. Cut the red paper with the paper cutter at pencil markings.
8. Use the hot glue gun to glue four of the cinnamon sticks onto the red paper.
9. Allow the glue to dry.
10. Take the three strands of raffia and line up the ends. Then tie it into a bow.
11. Glue the bow to the bottom cinnamon stick on the frame in the middle with the hot glue gun.
12. Get another piece of raffia make sure that it will be long enough to work as a hanger for the frame.
13. Tie knots in both ends of the raffia.
14. Glue each end to the top corners of the frame on the back with the glue gun to make a way to hang the frame.

You can make variations of this frame by tying bows in each corner instead of on the bottom. You can also do a double mat and add another color to the frame. You can also use the front artwork on greeting cards as a subject for framing. Add a little winter sparkle to your frame by gluing on small amounts of shimmering glitter.

These frames would also be a great way to exhibit a special treasure such as an ornament or collectible. If you want to display an ornament you can create a loop out of the raffia and have it hang from the inside of the top cinnamon stick then all you have to do is hang the ornament on the loop. Small cinnamon stick frames would also work perfectly as frames for school pictures. Have each child make their own and put their picture inside. Give them to grandparents as ornaments.