Make an Accordion Frame for Beach-Day Photos
Three photos can stand on a shelf without three separate frames. Fold a strip of cardstock into a shallow zigzag and attach each print with removable photo corners. A horizontal 4-by-6-inch print fits on each panel, with room for a caption below.
Choose and score the board
Gather one piece of 220 to 300 gsm cardstock cut to 21 by 6 inches, three horizontal 4-by-6-inch prints, 12 self-adhesive photo corners, a ruler, a pencil, and a blunt scoring tool. If using textured cardstock, check that the corner adhesive sticks on a scrap before assembling. Use spare prints rather than irreplaceable originals.
Lay the strip landscape and mark 7 and 14 inches from the left edge at both top and bottom. Align the ruler between the marks and run the blunt tool lightly along each line. A score should indent the surface without cutting it. Fold the first crease toward you and the second away, then open the board until it stands in a shallow zigzag. Check which faces are visible before mounting the photos.
Mount the pictures
- Lay the strip flat with the chosen display face up. On each panel, center one photo side to side, with its top edge half an inch below the top of the board. Make faint pencil marks just outside the corners.
- Slip a corner mount onto each corner of the print. Peel the mount backings, align the assembly to the guide marks, and press only the mounts to the board. The adhesive should not touch the print.
- Add a short caption in the space beneath each photo. Let ink dry before folding the frame closed for storage.
Keep the display standing
If the board falls flat, increase the angle of the folds and place it on a level surface. If the folds crack, test the score on an offcut and rotate the layout so the fold lines run with the grain, in the direction the cardstock bends more easily. Move the display out of direct sun to reduce fading.
