Make a Straw Photoframe

What can I use instead of plastic straws or thick cardboard if I can't find them?

If you don't have plastic straws, use paper straws, cut-up craft sticks, or rolled magazine tubes and follow the step where you cut straws into 2 cm pieces and glue them to the cardboard frame, and if cardboard is scarce, use a flattened cereal box or poster board for the frame.

My inner window cut looks messy or rips—how can I fix it?

For a clean inner cut, place the marked cardboard on a cutting mat and use a sharp hobby knife to follow the traced rectangle, or reinforce the frame by gluing a second piece of cardboard to the back before adding straw pieces so it won't tear when you slide the photo in.

How can I adapt this activity for younger or older kids?

For younger children, pre-trace and pre-cut the inner and outer rectangles and pre-cut 2 cm straw pieces for them to arrange and glue, while older kids can measure and cut their own tracing, paint or pattern the straws, and add a ribbon hanger or battery LEDs before taping the back cardboard.

How can we personalize or upgrade the finished photoframe?

To personalize and enhance the frame, add stickers or drawings with your colouring materials, glue on buttons or beads between straw pieces, attach a ribbon loop after taping the back cardboard for hanging, or glue tiny battery fairy lights around the inner window and then let the glue dry completely before sharing on DIY.org.