Homemade {cheap/free} Picture Frames

I was desperate to get some pictures that I had from a long time ago up on our walls. But you usually need funds to buy picture frames. We were/are fresh out, especially for picture frames. So I let my imagination go for a walk through our house. {Light bulb moment!!!} Hey, I said to myself {since no one else is listening}, you have cardboard, semi-cute scrapbook paper, hot glue and ribbon. I'm pretty sure I can make this work. So I did. Enjoy!

Cut out some cardboard (not too thin, but you could certainly go as thick as you wanted) to whatever size your picture is. All of mine were 8x10.
Lay it out just to make sure it fits. Depending on the picture you may want to trim some cardboard off.

I have learned a few things since I took this picture. It would be way easier, if possible, to use one big piece of paper and cut a hole for the center and fold it over the edges. I didn't have any paper THAT big. Scrapbook paper wasn't big enough to fold over the edges.

Anyway, if you're like me, just cut strips with enough extra paper to fold over the edge and use a hot glue gun to glue it down.

{Our camera's viewing screen has a crack in it, so I can't preview the pics before I upload them. Sorry this one is blurry.}
I was trying to show that I folded the corners over.

This is after I assembled them, but before they got a good coat of modge podge.
For the modge podge, apply 3-? however many coats you think looks good. My number was 3. Let dry for about 15-20 minutes between coats. Then let dry for a few hours before continuing on to the next step.

Then I put each picture in a page protector and taped it to the back of the frame.
Then I cut a piece of ribbon and hot glued that on, it's the frames hanging device. I'm kinda in love with ribbon, just so you know :)

Tah-dah! Black frame with red ribbon.

Red and black frame with striped ribbon. I'm super in love with the red frame. I'm just bummed I didn't have more of it.

Black frame again and the striped frame is red, black and white tissue paper I had on hand and I also heart.
Note to self: tissue paper wrinkles a lot, duh. Stick with card stock.
Note to self #2: Off white paper looks really bad, stick to darker colors. {I'll be refinishing the off white frames you saw in the other pictures}.

Wall in my dining room.

It was pretty fun to come up with a free project that was needed in our home. I will be making a lot more of these bad boys.