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Silver dollars, vinyl LPs, Oreos — So many of the best things in life are circle-shaped.

Isn’t it about time your picture collection got with the program?

Circularize your photos and show them off in a urban-chic constellation of modular cardboard rings.

Snappy-lookin’, expandable, and keeps a coupla paper towel rolls out of the landfill. What’s not to like?

Photojojo’s DIY Cardboard Ring Frames

Photo credits: Fabulous Muscles, Digital Sophia, ’stpiduko’, and moriza.

Why, You Ask?

Save the rolls from your paper towels, wrapping paper or, erm, hygienic waste removal tissue. Instead of throwing them in the trash you can make these modular ring frames.

Keep an eye out for tubes of different sizes and widths. Every time you get a new roll, add a few more photo rings to the collection on the wall!

What You’ll Need

• An assortment of cardboard tubes: toilet paper rolls, paper towel rolls, shipping tubes, even oatmeal boxes!
• Sandpaper (optional)
• Ruler
• Pencil
• X-acto knife
• A whole bunch o’ photos
• Scissors or circle cutter
• White glue

Step 1: Clean Up the Rolls

Remove any labels or leftover paper from each of the cardboard rolls.

If the paper doesn’t peel off readily, you can scrub it away with a small piece of sandpaper.

Step 2: Mark Rolls

Now to divide those rolls into rings of varying widths. Make many different sizes so you have a good mix when you put them on the wall.

Using a ruler and pencil to mark the width of each ring will help you keep the cuts straight and level.

Step 3: Cut Tubes Into Rings

Use the X-acto knife and/or scissors to cut the tubes into many different-sized rings.

Step 4: Trace Circles

Trace around the ring to mark a circle on the photo you want to frame.

Cut out the circle using scissors (or a circle cutter). The circle should be just a bit wider than the outside of the ring.

Step 5: Glue Photos to Rings

Draw a thin bead of glue on the rim of the cardboard ring and glue the photo circle in place.

You can glue the photo to the front of the ring so it stands out from the wall, or to the back of the ring so you can peer in at it.

Step 6: Repeat

While the glue dries on the first ring, repeat Steps 4 and 5 with the remaining cardboard rings and photos.

Step 7: Glue Rings Together

When all the rings are done and dry, use a little white glue on the side of the rings to glue them together.

Arrange them in a circle, a random pattern, or any dang ol’ way you like!

Step 8: Put ‘Em Up

Hang the rings on the wall by putting up a few pushpins or small nails and slipping the rings over them.

More Ideas

• Use a few different colors of paint to color the inside and/or outside of the cardboard rings before you glue on the photos.
• Glue the rings together in small groups of three or four so you can easily rearrange your collection.

Photo credits: Fabulous Muscles, Digital Sophia, ’stpiduko’, and moriza.

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