If you’re like me, you have a jar of spare pennies somewhere in your house. “One day I’ll take them to the bank,” you say. Well, I know the Earth will freeze over before I ever get the motivation to count the pennies and roll them up into paper sleeves. So those pennies will be materials for crafts.
Here’s a picture frame project using pennies and some pieces of scrap cardboard. I love how the coins have different patinas, which add richness to the copper, or rather zinc, finish. And if anyone scoffs at your using pennies in this manner, you can reassure them that the frame can be disassembled, and the pennies will be good as new. Ready to sit in a jar for another 10 years.
What you’ll need:
Pennies
Cardboard
Glue
Hobby knife
Ruler
1. Cut two pieces of cardboard to 6 1/2 inches by 8 1/2 inches. I trimmed two flaps of a used cardboard box using a hobby knife and scissors. Keep hobby knives away from children and klutzy adults.
2. Cut an opening in one of the cardboard pieces, leaving a border that is 1 1/4 inches on all sides. Save that piece you cut out for later.
3. Position the pennies on the cardboard piece with the opening to make sure they line up evenly. Then glue each penny to the cardboard. With these dimensions for the cardboard, you’ll have room for two rows of pennies on each side.
4. Glue a row of pennies between the two rows to cover up the empty spots.
5. Glue the second piece of cardboard to the back of the frame. Only glue three sides, leaving the top edge open so you can insert a photo.
6. Remember that opening you cut out? Fold that piece in half and glue one half to the back of the frame as an easel.
Jonathan Fong is the author of “Flowers That Wow” and “Parties That Wow,” and host of “Style With a Smile” on YouTube. You can see more of his do-it-yourself projects online.
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