A Frame Art DIY Anniversary Gift For Him

This month was my husband and I’s 3 year wedding anniversary, and if I’m being really honest I have become awful at gift giving let alone finding gift ideas in general. I’m more of the sentimental type, so I love giving gifts with meaning or that have homemade sentimental value. If you’re looking for a DIY anniversary gift for him, follow this easy tutorial!

I know 3 years isn’t forever, but there are times where I can’t even believe that much time has flown by. I wanted to give him something memorable and fitting for our third year as husband and wife. So I originally thought about personalizing and buying the frames that contains three different maps – where we met, where he proposed and where we said our I Dos. They’re just so.rediculously.expensive for the simplicity.

Instead I decided to create my own. I wound up spending less than $10 on this little project (not in any way to be cheap, either) but it beats spending over $50 on the same exact . So if you have an abandoned frame, a printer and a computer – make an anniversary gift that has meaning and sentimental value.

A Frame Art DIY Anniversary Gift For Him

Supplies You’ll Need

Picture frame

Spray paint

Decorative letter

Printer (or use a printing service)

Hot glue gun

Double sided tape

Cardboard

Scissors

Sticker letters

Decide on frame shape + color

Start by deciding your frame shape and the color you plan to spray paint the frame. Choose a frame shape based on how you will arrange your maps on the frame. You can do square or elongated, as well as implement the initial of your married last name (like I did) – this can also be painted your color choice.

Unfortunately I had to strip my frame down to the studs and do without the glass front for this DIY. If you have better luck without having to destroy your frame for this project then you are more than welcome to implement the glass front as an added professional touch, except you won’t be able to implement the next step to your maps (you will have to do without it). But you will definitely need to have the back portion of the frame intact, and may also need to be spray painted your desired color.

If you decide to use the glass front, take apart the frame and set it aside when you are spray painting the frame.

Allow to dry overnight for best results!

What, cardboard?

So why did I use cardboard? Well, it was accessible, cheap and honestly no different than anything else I could have used for this part of the DIY. It’s purpose is to create some depth for your maps and adds a subtle drop shadow to make the templates pop against the frame.

You’ll need to cut three consistent pieces that you will use as a template for your maps. Use any shape and size you like, though keep in mind you will also be using sticker lettering underneath these so you will need to leave enough room.

If you are using the glass front to your frame, you will be skipping this step because the templates will not fit to enclose the frame.

Printing, cutting + adhering the maps

If you own a printer – win, win! If not there are plenty of ways to get cheap prints for pennies.

Use Google Maps to find your locations. Make sure the precise location you want is zoomed in or out enough to fit within your cardboard template (if you are using one). I adjusted the zoom enough to be able to indicate text locations on the map. Then click [PrtSc], paste into any editor and print on high quality.

NOTE: You may have to adjust the saturation, clarity and contrast of the maps in order for the images to appear crisp and clearer on paper.

If you are using cardboard templates, trace and cut the desired portion of your maps.

DO NOT use glue when adhering the maps to your cardboard templates. I made this mistake and it ended up visibly bleeding through the paper. I advise using regular or double sided tape for this part.

If you are not using the cardboard templates, simply trace and cut the shape you want for your maps (ensuring they’re the same size). Again, it is still recommended to use double sided tape when adhering these to the backing of your frame.

Putting it all together

At this point you will essentially be gluing everything to the backing portion of the frame.

If your frame has those sliding divets that hold everything together, great, you’re good to go. If not, like mine, I had to hot glue the backing of my frame to the actual framing itself (do this before any further arranging/gluing).

On the backing of the frame, figure out how you want to arrange your map templates, letter initial (if you went with it) and the sticker lettering. Glue everything down using a hot glue gun, then apply the sticker letters last.

And viola!

How did yours turn out? I’d love to see it, so shoot me an email or message me on Instagram!