Puzzle Piece Picture Frame Christmas Ornament

As a teacher, I look for crafts that families will treasure and want to keep forever. This year, each student glued puzzle pieces onto a jumbo popsicle stick frame. Then, I took each student’s picture by our classroom Christmas tree. With their picture framed, these personalized Christmas tree ornaments were sent home with the student as a gift to their family.

Supplies:

3 Jumbo Popsicle Sticks

Puzzle - 500 piece (I got mine at the thrift store for cheap. Incomplete sets are even better because it’s up cycling them).

12” Ribbon

Gold Nontoxic Paint Pen

Gold Glitter Spray Paint

Gold Metallic Sharpie

Construction Paper for Backing (approximately 4 X 7 1/2”) I rounded the corners.

Wood Glue

Regular Elmer’s School Glue

Blue Painter’s Tape

Low Heat Hot Glue Gun

Pruners or Strong Scissors to cut popsicle stick in half.

Have an adult cut one popsicle stick in half. Next, either have an adult or an older student, wood glue the popsicle sticks together to form a frame. (My nine year old did great with the wood glue) Allow to dry.

Next, have the student use regular school glue and attach the puzzle pieces, as they wish, onto one side of the frame. Allow this to dry.

*** (For preschool children you might want to pour small amounts of school glue into short cups and then have them use a Q-tip dipped in glue to spread it onto the frame - sometimes they don’t have enough strength to squeeze and control a glue bottle).

For initial painting, I would recommend having an adult or an older student use the nontoxic gold paint pen and cover over each puzzle piece. This will ensure a better look at the end. (If you only used the gold spray paint, it might not cover evenly). Allow this to dry.

For the next step, I would recommend having only an adult spray paint. Please read all the instructions on the can and only spray paint in a well ventilated area. Allow to fully dry.

Now you can turn the frame over and an adult or older student can use a low heat hot glue gun to attach the ribbon. Then attach their picture face down with painters tape.

Now you are almost done. Have an adult or older student write their message on the construction paper. Then they can use the low heat hot glue gun to attach it onto the back of the frame.

**These frames could also be made for other special pictures too, not just as an ornament. The colorful puzzle pieces could also be left as they are and not painted. Hope you enjoy this fun craft. It’s a great use of incomplete or reused puzzles.