Save on Frames!
Framing is expensive! Framing large things gets ridiculously expensive. Not to mention transporting your gigantic painting/poster/picture. And who doesn’t like to save money?
I devised three ways to save on framing at my house:
Cheap Already-Framed Pictures
Okay, so this one’s easy and useful. I go to the Goodwill, or a similar reseller, when I need a regular sized frame. They have plenty to choose from, just ignore the picture that’s already in it! Find a frame you like and bring it home. Take out the glass by removing the back. (It may need to be cut off.) If you don’t like the color of the frame, this is a good time to paint it.
Color is a good way to make mismatched frames look like a set.
Put the glass back in, then your picture. There might be space in the margins around your picture, so use blank paper as a backing, or fancy it up with some glitter, fabric, paint, etc.
A Wooden Crate
I think shadow boxes are so rad! They have a dimensional aspect and allow for more variety, such as being able to display non-flat items. Sometimes wooden crates can be found or purchased inexpensively, especially if damaged or dirty. Damage adds character and dirt can be cleaned! When I moved into my house, the previous owners left us several interesting items. One of them was this shallow crate I used as a frame.
It was covered in spider webs and dirt, but I saw potential. I had recently picked up this amazing giant squid print at the Emerald City Comic Con and I knew the box was the perfect way to display it. I cleaned and oiled the wood and cut the edges of the print so that it would fit perfectly inside. I struggled with a way to fix the print to the wood, I didn’t want it to just sit at the bottom. It turns out that oiled wood is difficult to get something to adhere to (like tape). I was finally able to get it stuck on with hot glue.
Frame with Trim Board
I especially liked this idea because it potentially saved me hundreds! I don’t know how much it would have cost to frame this giant map. I wracked my brain for months to figure out how to frame my map without forking over a large sum of cash. (Plus transporting the thing!) I finally realized that I could just tape the laminated map onto the wall with painters' tape and nail trim boards around it to create a “custom frame”.
I bought the boards and the paint I wanted for the frame. I measured the lengths that I would need from each piece. I wanted the two side pieces for the outside edge that was the ends wouldn’t be visible at eye level. After the boards were cut to the right lengths, I painted them. I used a nail gun (and a lovely assistant) to fix the boards in place and filled in the nail holes with putty. Lastly, I painted over the putty and any blemishes.
