Badge: Photo Crafts

Digital cameras open up an entire area of crafts to people of all ages. When photos are included in your crafts, they become more personal and a reflection of you. Try traditional crafts with your photos as well as digital ones.

This badge program features supplemental PDF files to help with ideas and more. Do not feel you must follow the PDFs. There are numerous photo ideas online that you can incorporate into your crafting.

Steps

1. No originals.
Never use your original photos. You do not want to take the chance of destroying the only photo you have. For this reason, digital photos are a great material for crafting. Whether you have traditional or digital photos, always use copies for crafting.

Likewise, do not use the only digital copy for adjusting. If you mess it up, your image is gone. Always do a “save as” and use a copy for image manipulation and artistic adjustments.

2. Cards.
Cards can benefit from the addition of photos. You can create cards digitally or by hand. Create one or more of these cards to start exploring photo crafting. Feel free to expand beyond this list.

Christmas cards
Friendship cards
Postcards
Birthday cards
Valentine cards
Recipe cards

Check out SUPP_PhotoCards.pdf for additional card ideas.

3. Bookmarks.
Start with including a photo to a traditional rectangular bookmark. Add words, stickers or other items to your bookmark before laminating. Lamination will help protect your bookmark. If you don’t have a laminator, use clear contact paper or clear packing tape. Check out SUPP_PhotoBookmarks.pdf for additional bookmark ideas and create bookmarks for yourself and others.

4. Calendars.
Calendars can be a great gift for friends and family. The number of photos you’ll need depends on the design. For ideas, check out SUPP_PhotoCalendars.pdf for calendar ideas and sample designs. Create one or more calendars.

5. Jewelry pieces.
You can incorporate photos in jewelry with charms, pendants and pins. SUPP_PhotoJewelry.pdf can be a start to your jewelry adventure. Create charms, key rings, zipper pulls or jewelry you can wear or give as a gift.

6. Fabric possibilities.
Incorporating photos with fabric can involve transfers, printing directly on fabric or iron-ons. Of course, creating stencils can be done, though it will be a lot more work. Choose one of the following to incorporate photos or try an idea of your own.

Tote bag
Purse
Quilt square
T-shirt
Sweatshirt
Wall art
Table linens
Towel
Pillow
Pillow case
Sachet
Eye pillow
Lunch sack
Apron
Bulletin board
Frame
Book cover
Wine bag
Dolls
Patch

SUPP_PhotoFabrics.pdf has some techniques for working with fabric.

7. Flower photos.
From SUPP_PhotoFlowers.pdf, select one of the versions of flower photos to create flowers using your photos. If you’d rather create flower photos from your own ideas or the Web, do that instead. This is a great idea for Mother’s Day.

8. Faux it.
Creating a magazine cover with your child’s sports photo or postage for a letter for your kids gives a personal touch to everyday items. Use photos to create faux items. Some ideas are included in SUPP_PhotoFaux.pdf. For a quick list, try any of these.

Magazine cover
Album cover
CD sleeve
Trading cards
Money
Gift card
Postage stamps
License

9. Fridgies or refrigerator magnets.
Use photos to decorate your refrigerator or other metal surfaces. Check out SUPP_PhotoFridgies.pdf for fridgie ideas. Don’t forget to check out the Web or jot down your original ideas as you try crafting photo fridgies.

10. Ornaments.
Ornaments might be for Christmas or everyday decorations. From SUPP_PhotoOrns.pdf or from an online project, create an ornament from one of your photos.

11. Puzzles and / or games.
You can make puzzles from your photos. Game pieces featuring the players might make a game more interesting. Explore ways to incorporate photos in your game life by checking out SUPP_PhotoPuzzles.pdf or projects you find on the Web.

12. Scrapbooks.
Scrapbooking is a craft that features photos. Create your own scrapbook or a page featuring your photos. A couple unusual ideas for scrapbooking are included in SUPP_PhotoScrap.pdf.

13. Frame it.
Crafting a frame is another way to incorporate your photos. Purchase frames that you can decorate that fit your photo or create a frame from everyday materials. Check out SUPP_PhotoFrames.pdf for some ideas.

14. Home décor.
Looking for ways to display photos around your home? Check out SUPP_PhotoDecor.pdf or search the Web for ideas. Try one or more.

15. Explore beyond this badge program.
SUPP_PhotoVarious.pdf gives you a lot of additional ideas for crafting with photos. If you find any additional on the Web you feel would fit into this badge program, feel free to share your links.