Back to School Picture Frame Craft * Moms and Crafters

Craft this fun and adorable back to school picture frame that looks like notebook paper – using basic craft supplies! When you’re done, try these back to school Shrinky Dinks too! This post contains affiliate links.

Those last few days before the new school year starts can be long and empty, which is why they are the perfect time to craft things for back to school!

And what better way to get crafting than to use very basic craft supplies to make a clever little “first day of school” picture frame?!

This back to school picture frame is so simple and forgiving, and we made it look like notebook paper with a fun pencil detail. It uses a clothespin to hold the photo in place, making it simple, unfussy, and clever!

Tips for using craft sticks to make a back to school picture frame

The sticks: We used jumbo craft sticks to make this, but you can make it in smaller using regular craft sticks if that’s what you have handy!

Painting it: We used a mix of craft paint for the larger areas and Posca paint markers for the details. You can color the whole thing with paint markers or even washable markers if you’re okay with an opaque more child-crafted look. You can even use colored pencils on wood.

And if you want to spare the pricey Poscas, you can get a cheaper brand of paint marker, such as Ohuhu or Sharpie. In fact, Sharpie’s new creative markers don’t require any pumping, making them more puddle-resistant and easier to use.

Glue: Wood is a porous material, which means that it absorbs glues and attaches very easily. We used a hot glue gun because we don’t want to wait for it to dry. But you can totally use regular school glue – just leave it in place till it’s totally dry. Tacky glue or wood glue are even stronger options.

How to make a back to school picture frame

You’ll need

Jumbo craft sticks
Mini clothespin
Wooden star (optional)
Paint markers in blue, black, and red
Hot glue gun (read my best hot glue guns for crafts here) or school, tacky, or wood glue
Acrylic craft paint in: Pink, White, Yellow, Black, Silver (or Grey)
Paintbrush – I recommend a fine round one and a smallish flat one
Good scissors
Pencil (optional – if you like to pencil things in first)

Instructions

1. To create the notebook paper, line up ten jumbo craft sticks on your work surface. Using scissors, trim additional jumbo craft sticks to the height of the combined craft sticks and glue on the back. I used a hot glue gun (adults only), but you can make it more kid friendly by using regular school glue. If you do that, you will have to wait for it to dry. Tacky glue holds together a bit better while you wait.

2. Basecoat the notebook paper with white acrylic craft paint. Let dry, and apply a second coat, if necessary.

3. Cut a triangle into the end of a jumbo craft stick with scissors to create a pencil tip. Note: craft sticks are a harder to cut, require strong scissors, and can produce some splinters. I recommend that a grown up do all cutting on this project.

4. Paint the pencil with yellow for most of the body. Add a pink eraser at the round end, and a silver band between the eraser and body. Paint the triangle shaped point with tan or white paint (or leave it the natural craft stick color) and then paint a black point. You can fine tune details on a second coat if you want.

5. I recommend using a good quality paint marker to make your notebook paper – you’ll have more control over the results! Draw horizontal lines with a blue marker at the nine intersections of where the jumbo craft sticks meet.

Draw one vertical line with a red marker on the left-hand side of the notebook paper. Use a ruler as your guide.

7. To add a fun little detail (optional) paint a wooden star with yellow acrylic craft paint, and let it dry. Draw a #1 on the star with a black marker.

8. When everything has dried, attach the star to the top and the pencil to the bottom of the notebook paper with your preferred gluing method.

9. Print the words FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL with a black marker on the pencil. Draw three holes on the left-hand side of the notebook paper with a black marker.