DIY Panorama Photo Frame: A Step-by-Step Guide to Displaying Your Epic Memories

Do you have a collection of stunning panorama photos capturing breathtaking landscapes and unforgettable travel moments? Like many, I found myself with a growing pile of these would-be masterpieces, often hidden away due to the challenge of framing their unconventional shapes. These panoramic wonders deserve to be displayed and appreciated!

After some brainstorming, I devised a simple yet elegant solution: crafting custom panorama frames using affordable and readily available materials. The result is a streamlined and orderly display, reminiscent of vintage film reels, that perfectly complements the epic nature of the photos. The use of cotton twill tape and embroidery thread adds a handmade touch, creating a personalized piece of wall art. This DIY project not only showcases your cherished memories but also adds a unique touch to your home decor.

This tutorial provides a step-by-step guide to creating your own DIY panorama photo frame, allowing you to transform those forgotten landscapes into captivating displays. Get ready to unleash your creativity and bring your travel memories to life!

Materials and Tools You’ll Need

Panorama photos – The star of the show! Choose your favorite panoramic shots.
Black foam core board – Provides a sturdy and lightweight base for your frame. A cutting mat is helpful but not essential.
Dry adhesive, double-sided tape, and brayer (or spray adhesive) – Ensures your photos are securely attached to the foam core board.
Black cotton twill tape – 1” wide – Adds a decorative border and a unique texture to your frame.
Mod Podge and application brush – Seals the cotton twill tape and gives it a polished finish.
Embroidery thread and needle – For adding decorative stitching that enhances the handmade aesthetic.
X-Acto knife and scissors – For precise cutting of the foam core board and cotton twill tape.
Ruler and measuring tape – Essential for accurate measurements and creating a straight, even frame.
Nail – Used to create small holes for the embroidery thread.
Pencil – For marking guidelines and measurements.
3M Picture Hanging Strips (or similar) – For easy and damage-free wall mounting.

Project Costs

The total cost for this project is approximately under $37, and the purchased materials can be used to create multiple frames, making it an incredibly budget-friendly way to showcase your panoramic photos.

Black foam core board: $3.25
Dry adhesive: $11.24
Double-sided tape: $5.49
Brayer: $7.75 (Alternatively, spray adhesive can be used for around $8.99)
Black cotton twill tape – 1” wide: $4.75
Mod Podge: $2.60
Embroidery thread and needle: $1.50 + $1.29
3M Picture Hanging Strips: $2.68
Everything else: Likely free or readily available around the house

Step-by-Step Instructions

Arrange Your Photos: Begin by arranging your panorama photos on the foam core board. Experiment with the placement of the cotton twill tape to visualize the final frame design. Cut the tape, leaving an extra inch or two on each end for securing it to the back of the board. Adjust the photos and tape until the length of the board is divisible by an inch. This will ensure that you can create even, one-inch stitches along the length of the frame.
Align the Photos and Tape: This step requires careful attention. Ensure that the cotton twill tape will effectively cover the jagged, mismatched edges of the photos and meet the edges of the foam core board. You may need to position your photos at an angle to achieve a straight, clean frame. Note: In some cases, like the one pictured, angling the photos is necessary. However, for most panoramas, a straight alignment will work perfectly.

Mark the Frame Boundaries: Using a pencil and the loosely laid cotton tape as a guide, mark the boundaries of the frame on the foam core board. I chose to use two horizontal strands of tape at the top and bottom and one vertical strand on each side. Leave a small strip of space between the two top and bottom strands, just wide enough to accommodate a row of nail holes for the stitching.
Mark Photo Edges: Remove the cotton tape and carefully mark the edges of the photos on the foam core board. These markings will serve as a guide for cutting the board to the correct size.

Cut the Foam Core Board: Using the X-Acto knife and a ruler, carefully cut the foam core board along the marked lines. This will create the base for your panorama frame.

Apply Adhesive: I opted for a combination of dry adhesive strips and double-sided tape to ensure a secure bond. However, spray adhesive would also work well. Pre-cut the dry adhesive sheets to match the length of your photos.

Use a Brayer: A brayer ensures that the adhesive is evenly distributed across the back of the photos, preventing bubbles and ensuring a strong bond.

Add Double-Sided Tape: For extra security, apply permanent double-sided tape to the corners of the photos. This will provide additional reinforcement and prevent any lifting or peeling over time.

Secure Your Panorama: Carefully align your panorama photos with the edges of the foam core board and press them firmly into place. Ensure that the photos are straight and evenly spaced before fully adhering them.

Draw a Stitching Guide: Using a pencil, draw a guide line where you will be creating holes for the embroidery thread. This line should be positioned between the two horizontal rows of cotton twill tape. Double-check that the cotton tape will still cover the photo edges and meet the foam core board’s edge when laid down. Make any necessary adjustments (such as trimming the foam core board) at this stage.

Mark and Create Stitching Holes: Mark a dot every inch along the guide line. Use the nail to push through the foam core board at each marked dot, creating the holes for the embroidery thread. If you are using a thicker thread, use a correspondingly thicker nail to create larger holes.

Glue the “Interior” Cotton Tape: When gluing the cotton tape, begin with the tape that will most closely border your photos horizontally – the “interior” frame. Apply Mod Podge with a foam brush, smoothing it from the center outward towards both sides to prevent bubbles.

Glue the Vertical Cotton Tape: After applying the horizontal tape to the top and bottom of your photo, glue the cotton tape to both vertically-oriented sides. Ensure that the tape is aligned properly and adheres smoothly to the foam core board.

Glue the “Exterior” Cotton Tape: Now adhere the top-most and bottom-most cotton tape – the “exterior” horizontal frame. This layering technique creates sharp, clean corners and a professional-looking finish.

Secure the Ends: Flip the board over and secure the loose ends of the cotton tape to the back, being careful not to cover any of the pre-made stitching holes. This will ensure a clean and finished look.

Stitching the Frame: Inspired by tutorials on Japanese stab stitching, I opted for this technique to add a unique, handmade detail to the frame. You’ll need roughly 6.25” of embroidery thread for every 1” in length of the frame. To be safe, cut approximately 7” per inch. Note: Working with long lengths of thread can be challenging. I found it easier to use shorter lengths and simply knot new lengths together in the back as needed.
Start Stitching: Thread your embroidery or cross-stitch needle and begin from back to front on the bottom left corner of the board. Tie a secure knot at the end of the thread and pull it all the way through. Note: The following stitching photos are from a panorama in which I left an inch between the “interior” and “exterior” frames. The framed panoramas without the gap between horizontal lengths of cotton twill tape look better, so the earlier steps reflect this more refined design.

Create the Vertical Stitch: Pull your needle back through the same hole (from back to front), creating a vertical stitch that binds the bottom edge of the board.
Stitch to the Left: Pull the thread all the way through to the front. Then, pull the thread to the left, over the left edge of the board.

Move to the Next Hole: Moving to the back of the board again, push the needle through the hole one to the right of where you started.

Double Back: After pulling the thread all the way through to the front, double-back through the same hole (from back to front).

Stitch to the Left Again: Once you get that thread pulled all the way through (in the front), stitch to the left again, pulling the thread over the edge of the board.

Repeat the Process: Repeat this process, first making the vertical stitch, then following with the horizontal stitch (backwards towards the left) – all the way across the length. Finishing at the far end is no different. Tie a knot after the final stitch to secure the thread.
Hang Your Masterpiece: Add 3M Picture Hanging Strips to the back of the frame and affix it to your wall.

Here’s what my wall looks like with the addition of my framed panoramas:

The top right panorama was taken in the Huayhuash region of Peru, and the bottom right was taken from the viewpoint at Gokyo Ri in the Solu Khombu region of Nepal (Everest is the tall one left of center).

I hope this inspires you to unearth and DIY frame your panoramas!

And check out this happy accident – my film reel hand-stitch look mirrors the frame of the red Umphreys poster on the left:

I would be lying if I passed this similarity off as pre-meditated. One more great victory for my subconscious autopilot.

About the Creator

I’m Lynn, the (benevolent) mastermind behind Constitutionally Modern DIY. I make modern, funky craft/DIY creations that are affordable and accomplishable. Any average Jane/Joe can make these things, which are particularly well-suited towards urbanites lacking power tools or even a kitchen table.

I’m an Urban Planner by training, and a maker of random items by vocational calling. My eclectic sense of style derives from constantly coming up with budget solutions to design quandaries or gift giving.

Follow me at http://constitutionallymoderndiy.tumblr.com/