July-August 2008 Issue

• Storing and Backing-Up Your Photos

• Altered Frame Calendar: Days to Remember

• Lakbay Pilipinas!

• Product Feature: Bind-It-All

• Sketch of the Month: Jul-Aug 2008

• Altered Recipe Book

• 30-Minute LO: Luksong Tinik

• Same Products, 5 Ways

• Designer Spotlight on Lee Imao

• Adobe Photoshop Express

• Uniquely Pinoy

September 2007 Create Archive

• Why I Love to Use Big Photos

• Scrapfest 4

• Cool Finds: It's All About the Mini...

• 30-Minute LO: Believe

• DIY Travel Journal

• Altered Index Card Box

• Rolodex Card Swap

• Altered Easter Bottle

• Altered Items Galore!

• Care for chopsticks, anyone?

I think I am not the only one who loves to keep extra chopsticks, and just let them to sit in the cupboard for the longest time (unless you use it when eating peanuts just like I do J).

Anyway, I found a way of putting those chopsticks into good use.  So follow these easy steps and you’ll never look at chopsticks the same way again!  

Directions:

Basic materials needed: 2 sets of chopsticks craft glue nylon string ruler pencil a LO or a picture that you want to frame

Measure the chopsticks according to the dimension of your LO.  For this project, I made a 4x6 LO and measured one pair in 4 inches length, while the other in 6 inches.  Mark the chopsticks accordingly.

Split up the chopsticks.  Pair up half of the 4” and the 6” sticks. Using your craft glue, adhere the chopsticks as marked and form one corner.  Do the same to the other half then adhere it altogether, forming a frame.  Allow enough time to let the glue dry before touching it or else it will fall off.

Once dried, you may use a nylon string to tie the corners of the frame to ensure that it won’t break off.  You can buy nylon strings at NBS or any hardware store.  The thinner the nylon string, the better so it won’t be too noticeable.

Now you have a frame for your scrap LO! You may want to put mod podge and decorate the frame using paint or ribbons to conceal the nylon string or you may use it as bare as it is for a different look.

All you have to do is to adhere your LO to the frame and voila! You have made an eye-catching frame for your equally stunning LO!  I used nylon string to attach the LO to the frame.  Punch holes at the corners of the LO using a push pin, needle or a paper piercer.  The holes should be adjacent to the corners of the frame.   Tie the photo at the corners of the frame.

To display your frame, you may hang it, tack it in the corkboard in your office or just prop it up in your desk.  You may also attach an acetate or transparency to your LO to protect it from dust.  

Whether you use this frame to create souvenirs or simply to display your work, this is one affordable alternative. 

So the next time you walk in your fave Japanese restaurant, now you have all the reason to keep those extra chopsticks for your altered projects. J