DIY Christmas Picture Frames: 20 Easy Christmas Frame Ideas for 2026
DIY Christmas picture frames made easy: 20 ideas for decorating a picture frame for Christmas, from rustic wood and candy cane frames to ornaments and wreaths.
Looking for DIY Christmas picture frames you can finish in an afternoon? These 20 DIY Christmas frames turn plain or thrifted frames into holiday decorations and gifts, from rustic wood and candy cane stripes to sparkly snow globe and twinkle-light frames. Each idea has a picture and a short how-to, followed by a step-by-step guide, photo sizes, and a quick way to make a 2026 Christmas frame online.
Short answer: decorating a picture frame for Christmas takes three steps: paint the frame in a festive color, glue on a theme (pine and pinecones, candy cane stripes, mini ornaments, buttons, or lights), and add a printed photo. A Christmas picture frame DIY like this takes about an hour plus drying time, and a dollar-store frame works as well as an expensive one.
What You Need for a DIY Christmas Photo Frame
| Item | Why it matters | Budget tip |
|---|---|---|
| Plain frame (wood, plastic, or metal) | Wood takes paint and glue best | Thrift stores and dollar stores |
| Acrylic paint and a flat brush | Base color for the frame | White, red, green, and gold cover most ideas |
| Hot glue gun or strong craft glue | Holds ornaments, pinecones, ribbon | Low-temperature glue for kids |
| Decorations | The theme of your frame | Leftover ribbon, buttons, broken ornament sets |
| Primer and clear sealer (optional) | Helps paint stick to slick frames and last | Spray versions are fastest |
| A printed photo | The whole point | Order prints or print at home on photo paper |
Before you start, remove the glass and backing so paint and glue stay off them. Lightly sand glossy frames and wipe them clean.
Rustic DIY Christmas Picture Frame Ideas
Natural textures like wood, burlap, plaid, and pine look cozy and work with any decor. These are the easiest Christmas DIY frames to make from things you may already have.
1. Rustic wood and pine
Dry-brush white paint over a wood frame, glue faux pine along the top, dust it with faux snow, and add a small red bow.
2. Plaid and burlap
Wrap the frame in burlap ribbon, add a strip of red plaid, and finish with a pinecone and berries. Perfect for pet photos.
3. Christmas village
Line the bottom edge with miniature houses and bottle-brush trees, then fill the gaps with faux snow.
Bright and Playful Christmas DIY Photo Frame Ideas
Bold colors and fun shapes are made for kids’ photos, cookie-baking snapshots, and gift-opening moments.
4. Candy cane stripes
Paint the frame white, wrap it diagonally with painter’s tape, paint red, and peel. Or glue real mini candy canes around it.
5. Gingerbread house
Cut a roof shape from cardboard, paint it brown, pipe puffy white paint for icing, and glue on candy buttons.
6. Elf frame
Glue striped felt legs and curly shoes to the bottom corners and a pointy hat with a bell to the top.
7. Reindeer antlers
Attach felt or twig antlers to the top corners and a red pompom nose at the bottom center.
8. Gift-wrapped frame
Cover the frame in wrapping paper with decoupage glue, then add a crossed ribbon and a big bow in one corner.
9. Ornament cluster
Hot-glue shatterproof mini baubles in clusters of three sizes, mixing matte and shiny finishes.
Sparkly and Elegant DIY Christmas Frame Ideas
Glitter, gold, lights, and lace give a frame a dressed-up look for the mantel or a party table.
10. Snowflake sparkle
Paint the frame icy blue or silver, stencil white snowflakes, and add a thin line of fine glitter sealed with clear glue.
11. Twinkle lights
Wrap a strand of battery fairy lights around the frame and tuck the battery pack behind it. Use LEDs only, never near candles.
12. Metallic starburst
Paint the frame white and add gold stars in a few sizes, with one big starburst ornament on a corner.
13. Gold trim minimalist
Keep it simple: a gold or silver frame, one sprig of holly, and a winter landscape or black-and-white photo.
14. Vintage lace
Antique gold paint, a lace ribbon trim, and a sepia or old family photo for a nostalgic look.
15. Snow globe frame
Use a clear acrylic box frame, add faux snow and a few mini figures in the bottom, and slide the photo in behind them.
Holiday Picture Frame Craft Ideas Beyond the Photo
A frame does not have to hold a photo. These holiday picture frame craft ideas turn frames into ornaments, wreaths, and wall decor.
16. Bead picture-frame ornament
Glue a photo onto a wood circle, ring it with wood beads, paint them gold, and add a bow and a ribbon loop.
17. Bauble string frame
Remove the glass, zigzag twine across an empty frame, and hang mini baubles or wooden letters from it.
18. Picture frame wreath
Cover an empty frame with pine garland, add pinecones, a burlap bow, and a word like JOY in the middle.
19. Picture-Frame Christmas Tree Wall
Arrange 10 to 15 frames in a triangle on the wall (one at the top, more in each row below), fill them with Christmas photos from past years, and add a star or a paper star at the top. Lay the frames out on the floor first and photograph the layout, so hanging is quick.
DIY Picture Frame Christmas Ornaments
Mini frames make the best tree ornaments. Use dollar-store 2x3 frames, wood circles, or even jar lids. Glue a small photo inside, edge it with twine, buttons, or beads, write the year on the back, and add a ribbon loop. A set of these with a new photo each year becomes a family tradition, and they double as gift tags on wrapped presents.
20. Kids’ Craft-Stick Frames: A Christmas Photo Frame DIY for Kids
This Christmas photo frame DIY is a classroom favorite. Glue three large craft sticks into a triangle and let them dry, then:
- Santa: paint the top of the triangle red for a hat, add a cotton-ball pompom, and glue fluffy cotton around the rest for a beard.
- Reindeer: paint the sticks brown, twist two pipe cleaners into antlers, and glue a red pompom nose at the bottom point.
- Snowman: paint the sticks white, add a black paper top hat and an orange paper carrot nose.
Cut a photo to fit behind the opening, glue it to the back, and add a pipe-cleaner loop to hang it. Kids can make these Christmas DIY frames with white glue; an adult should handle any hot glue.
Decorating a Picture Frame for Christmas, Step by Step
Whichever idea you choose, the process is the same. This is a quick Christmas frame DIY you can do at the kitchen table.
- Pick the frame. Wood is easiest. Check that the opening fits your photo size (see the table below).
- Prep it. Remove the glass and backing. Lightly sand glossy wood, or wipe plastic and metal with rubbing alcohol. Prime slick surfaces.
- Paint the base color. Two thin coats look better than one thick coat. Let it dry fully.
- Add patterns. Use painter’s tape for stripes, stencils for snowflakes, or a sponge for a snowy dabbed edge.
- Glue on the decorations. Start with the biggest pieces (pine, pinecones, a bow), then fill in with small ones. Keep weight at the bottom corners so the frame does not tip.
- Seal it. A light coat of clear sealer keeps glitter and paint from rubbing off.
- Add the photo and display. Put the glass, photo, and backing back in, then stand it on a mantel, hang it, or wrap it as a gift.
Tips for Decorating Picture Frames for Christmas
- Choose two or three colors (for example red, white, and gold) so the frame looks planned rather than busy.
- Mix textures: something soft (felt, burlap), something natural (pine, wood), and something shiny (baubles, glitter).
- Leave the photo clear. Decorations should frame the faces, not cover them.
- Think about the photo’s colors. A red-heavy frame suits a black-and-white or soft-toned photo.
- Use battery LED lights only, and keep any frame with lights away from candles and heat.
- Store frames in tissue paper after the holidays so 3D decorations survive for next year.
What Photo Size Fits Your DIY Christmas Frame?
Print the photo to match the frame opening, not the outside of the frame. These are the most common sizes:
| Frame | Photo size | Pixels at 300 DPI | Crop and print |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mini ornament frame | 2 x 3 in | 600 x 900 px | Crop to 2x3 |
| Tabletop frame | 4 x 6 in | 1200 x 1800 px | 4x6 photo size guide |
| Desk or mantel frame | 5 x 7 in | 1500 x 2100 px | Crop to 5x7 |
| Wall frame | 8 x 10 in | 2400 x 3000 px | 8x10 photo size guide |
| Social post | Square | 1080 x 1080 px | Use an online frame (below) |
If an old or small photo looks soft at the size you need, sharpen it first with the image enhancer.
Make a 2026 Christmas Frame Online
Want to send the frame to family far away, or post it? A digital 2026 Christmas frame needs no glue at all. The Christmas photo frames tool draws the frame around your photo right in your browser: choose holly and berries, candy cane stripes, twinkle lights, snowfall, gift wrap, buffalo plaid, gold stars, or an evergreen garland, add a greeting, and download.
Holly and berries
A deep green border with holly corners and a Merry Christmas banner.
Use this frame
Twinkle lights
Colorful bulbs around a navy border, with a Happy Holidays greeting.
Use this frame
Snowfall
Blue snowflakes and a snowdrift along the bottom for Season’s Greetings.
Use this frame
Have more than one favorite photo? The Christmas collage maker puts 2 to 9 photos into a tree, ornament, grid, or instant-print layout with a greeting, ready to print and slip into any of the DIY frames above.
Want the photo itself to look festive before it goes in the frame? The AI Christmas photo generator restyles a portrait with a fireside, snowfall, or ugly-sweater look, or lays it out as a greeting card or inside a pine-and-lights photo frame. You can also add a Santa hat with the Santa hat editor or falling snow with add snow to photo.
What to Put in Your DIY Christmas Frame
- A first Christmas photo of a baby, a new home, or a new pet.
- The grandkids together, a classic gift for grandparents.
- A handwritten family recipe for holiday cookies, framed for the kitchen.
- Kids’ artwork: see our Christmas drawing ideas for inspiration.
- A small painting: our Christmas painting ideas include watercolor cards that fit a 5x7 frame.
- Ticket stubs and a photo from a holiday show or trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I need to make a DIY Christmas picture frame?
A plain frame (wood is easiest to paint and glue), acrylic paint and a brush, a hot glue gun or strong craft glue, scissors, and decorations such as ribbon, mini ornaments, faux pine, pinecones, buttons, or glitter. Add a printed photo in the right size and you are done. Thrifted and dollar-store frames work perfectly.
How do you decorate a picture frame for Christmas?
Remove the glass and backing, sand or wipe the frame, and paint it in a festive base color. Once dry, glue on a theme: candy cane stripes, mini ornaments, faux snow and pine, buttons, or a ribbon bow. Keep heavier pieces at the bottom corners, leave the photo opening clear, then put the glass, photo, and backing back in.
What glue is best for decorating picture frames?
Hot glue is fastest for pinecones, ornaments, ribbon, and faux greenery on wood or plastic frames. For flat paper, fabric, or glitter, use a decoupage glue or white craft glue brushed on thinly. For glass or metal frames, choose a clear adhesive made for those surfaces, and always let the frame cure before you hang it.
Can kids make DIY Christmas photo frames?
Yes. Craft-stick frames are ideal: glue three large craft sticks into a triangle and turn it into Santa with red paint and a cotton-ball beard, a reindeer with pipe-cleaner antlers and a pompom nose, or a snowman with a paper hat. Glue the photo behind the opening and add a loop to hang it on the tree. An adult should handle the hot glue.
What size photo fits a Christmas frame?
Most tabletop frames take a 4x6 or 5x7 print, and wall frames often take 8x10. At 300 DPI, a 4x6 needs 1200 x 1800 pixels, a 5x7 needs 1500 x 2100 pixels, and an 8x10 needs 2400 x 3000 pixels. For square social posts, 1080 x 1080 pixels is the usual size.
How do I make a picture frame ornament?
Glue a printed photo onto a small wood circle or a mini frame, then edge it with wood beads, buttons, twine, or ribbon. Paint the edging gold or white, add a small bow at the top to hide the seam, and glue a ribbon loop to the back so it can hang on the tree or a gift.
Can I add a Christmas frame to a photo online for free?
Yes. The Christmas photo frames tool on EzImgMaker runs in your browser: pick one of eight frames such as holly, twinkle lights, snowfall, or gold stars, type a greeting, and download the framed photo as JPG or PNG. It is free and your photo is not uploaded. For a collage or an AI-styled card, the collage maker and AI Christmas photo tools are also available.
Is a picture frame a good Christmas gift?
A decorated frame with a meaningful photo is one of the most personal gifts you can make: a first Christmas, the grandkids together, a family trip, or a pet. Handmade frames feel even more special, and the photo can be swapped every year so the frame stays on display.
Use low-temperature glue guns and battery LED lights for crafts with children, and follow the label on paints, glues, and sealers.