{DIY} Personalized Photo Frames

For the past year, both my nanny and my good friend, Jo Ann, (who the babies sweetly refer to as Jojo) have helped me so much on a regular basis. Though the husband and I find a lot of support from both our parents, we also could not have survived our transition from Houston to Dallas and settling into our new home without the helping hands of these two women.

Both were attending the quad's second birthday party that we hosted last weekend, so I wanted to give them a little token of our appreciation and one that they could keep on display, which I know will make them smile every time they look at it!

I started off with two simple 5X7 frames from Hobby Lobby, as well as some tiny chipboard letters, a couple decorative chipboard hearts, some craft paint and a mini-sized pennant banner. I had come up with the embellishment idea on my own—probably after midnight while laying in bed trying to turn off my brain and go to sleep!—and loved how it came together. First I painted all the chipboard letters in the colors I'd selected...

...and while those dried, I used some twine I had on hand to string the pennant pieces and then used a hot glue gun to affix the ends of twine to the back of the frame.

Then I glued on all my chipboard letters and hearts with very small amounts of hot glue...

...and admired the results!

I truly believe in the small things.  A handmade frame, a freshly baked loaf of bread, a personalized thank you note, roses trimmed from the yard. Simple but thoughtful gestures can mean so much!