That's a shame. Because buried in that heap are probably some priceless photos of your beloved pets; real smile-inducing shots that deserve to be displayed and enjoyed.

All they really need is a great frame. One that complements their individual personalities, but doesn't cost too much. In other words, this project: a frame that you can decorate yourself, in one afternoon!

Materials for your masterpiece.

Before you can begin, you'll need one important object: a cheap, basic wooden frame. Your local drugstore or craft store probably has dozens of them, so hunt one down. The frame you get should be big enough to house your prized photo comfortably. It could even be a little too large for your photo (just center the photo, and fill the rest of the frame with an attractive piece of wrapping paper).

As for what you can decorate your frame with, materials may include:

acrylic paints
pet tags
crunchy dog or cat treats
maps
spike- or rhinestone-studded collar
interesting wrapping paper
cheap book about dogs or cats
newspaper
craft glue
polyurethane finish

Which of the above materials should you use? Well, that depends a lot on the photo you select.

Your framing inspiration.

The purpose of a frame is not only to display a picture, but to enhance it. So the photo of your dog or cat should set the tone of the frame you create.

Does your pet look playful? If so, then your frame should feel playful, too. Formal portraits call for an appropriately elegant treatment. Or maybe the photo's background setting (a beach or the woods, for example) suggests a certain decorating theme.

Don't be intimidated by whether you're "artistic" or not. When in doubt, just remember that your photo has the answer. Stick with its personality -- whether casual or formal, urban or outdoorsy -- and you can do no wrong.

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