Tag: Pinterest

October 18, 2018

How to Prepare for an Art Exhibition

As an artist, getting accepted into an art exhibition can be super exciting but also overwhelming. You’ve put the hours into creating your artwork, but now it’s time to make it presentable. The work itself is what got you accepted into the show, but your presentation is what will help you sell.

Arranging Your Work

One of the first things to consider is how much space you have. If you know the dimensions of the wall or room you’ll be displaying in, you can make a mock-up of how you want to arrange your pieces. This way you don’t have to worry about whether or not everything will fit once you’re ready to set up. You can do this by measuring each piece and drawing a to-scale diagram of the space. Or if you want to see how it will really look, you can measure the actual size in your home or studio, arrange your pieces in that space, and take photos to reference when you’re setting up.

Photograph Before Framing

Before getting your art display-ready, you’ll want to make sure you have high quality documentation of each piece. Depending on the kind of work you’re showing, you should photograph or scan it before adding a frame with glass or any other distracting display materials. This way, if you sell any pieces during your exhibition you’ll still be able to use it in your portfolio.

Create a Price List and Business Cards

You’ll want visitors of your art exhibition to be able to easily find prices and information about your work. Before your show starts, create a list with each piece’s title, size, media, and price. This list should be displayed somewhere that is accessible to the audience. Depending on how big the show is, you might want to print multiple copies and set them in different places.

Business cards are also important to display at your show. This way if someone is interested in your work and wants to get in touch in the future, they’ll know how to contact you. People might walk into the exhibition on a whim without the funds to purchase something. However, if they have your business card it will remind them that they enjoyed your art, and they’ll be able to easily find you.

Frame Your Work and Prepare for Display

If your art is 2-D you’ll want to make sure it’s framed and ready to hang. There are tons of options for picture frames for your work. However, it’s important that the frame doesn’t out shine or distract from your art. Keep it simple so that no one is paying more attention to the frame than your art. Black or white frames are usually a safe bet. Depending on how you choose to use a frame, or if you go without one, you might need additional hardware to be able to easily hang your work.

Be Personable!

One of the best ways to make connections is to have genuine conversations with your audience. Let them know that you’re the artist and you’re open to answering questions. If they don’t have questions for you, ask them how they heard about the show or what made them stop by. If someone seems interested in your work at all, let them know you have business cards. Being likable in general will make people more engaged with your art.

September 7, 2018

Wedding Photography Framing Tips

Tips for Wedding Photography and Framing

I grew up believing there are a few important stages in life: graduating from college, finding your first “big kid job”, getting married, and then all the fun stuff that follows marriage. So when those steps fell into place perfectly in my life, I was over the moon! Right after getting my first big kid job post-college, my boyfriend of 3 years proposed to me. I could finally put that lengthy Pinterest board to good use.

Since I’m the baby of the family and all of my siblings had already been through wedding planning, I had plenty of help. Growing up, I remember being surrounded by wedding photos of my parents, siblings, and grandparents. So as I began planning, I knew immediately that finding a fantastic photographer was one of the most important things for me. In fact, it was the third thing I finalized.

So the question is – once you’re back to your normal routine after your wedding, what is the best way to display the hundreds of photos?

My personal favorite is a gallery wall! It’s a great way to display photos of all the people you love. Choose your favorite photography of you and your family, husband, or bridal party to display. Then mix them with action shots from the reception, like this lovely cake-in-the-face shot or your first dance.

The frames you choose for your gallery wall don’t have to all be the same. In fact, most of the time it looks best when you select frames of different sizes, textures, and styles. Here’s a tip for using our picture frames. If you love the style of a frame but the color doesn’t fit your needs, don’t be afraid to paint them! Painting the different frames all one color is a great way to take your wedding photographs and turn them into a conversation piece.

How Can Frames Be Used While You’re Still Planning?

If you stumbled on this post while you’re just beginning your wedding planning, don’t fret! You can still use our frames BEFORE you actually have the photos to put in them. Our specially crafted frames are perfect for decorating your reception. Print out your favorite love related quote or song lyric in a fancy font and frame it. Then you can place it on a table of other framed photographs of your family, your in-laws, or photos through the years of your relationship!

The latest craze right now is signature drinks. If you’re thinking of having one at your wedding, print out the recipe and stick it on the bar! This way when your guests love the drink, they know how to make it!

Framed Wedding Photos Make Great Gifts!

Use frames to gift family members the special photos from your big day for their birthdays, holidays, or just because. Something I’m going to do for my niece (who holds a special spot in my heart) when she’s older and getting married is give her this framed photo of her wearing my wedding shoes to her as her ‘something old’. I will tell her how for the entire summer leading up to my wedding she practiced her walk down the aisle for her wedding.

On your wedding day you are surrounded by not only the person you vow to cherish until your last breath, but also everyone who has shaped and molded you into the person you are. There really is no better feeling than being surrounded by love. After the buzz wears off and you go from the fantasy bubble to the real world, your wedding photos will be what brings you back to that love filled day. So don’t let those beauties get tucked away in a box and forgotten. Take the tips shared here, display them, and remember the love.

– Brooke Sanders

August 6, 2018

DIY Projects Using Picture Frames – Tips and Ideas

DIY Projects – Tips and Ideas using Picture Frames

Do it yourself projects are a huge trend right now. They’re a great way to bring out your creative side, manage stress, or decorate on a budget. I look at a picture frame and think the possibilities are endless. There are hundreds of styles and sizes that can be transformed into exciting DIY projects! We’ll start small and work our way larger.

Let’s take a 4×6 frame and place a photo in it. It might seem obvious, but this could make a great gift for grandparents or other family members. You could also use that same frame and place a gift card inside – now there is a great gift idea! Using a picture frame instead of a greeting card is not only more exciting and unexpected, but many frames are more affordable than the average greeting card. They can also reuse the frame themselves.

Frames make for great wall decor just by adding printed craft paper or chalk board material. Check out this photo below of one of our customers who decorates the outside of our frames and sells them on Etsy! Our Decorate-It frame series is perfect for this kind of project. These unfinished frames are great for your DIY project like painting or collage.

One of my favorite DIY ideas is to add mirror glass to picture frames. Large or small, they can sit on a table or hang on a wall. This makes your frame a one of a kind wall decoration. We have frames that can be stained, painted, any custom finish that one can think of.

Another favorite is the versatility of Frame USA’s natural Barnwood frames. This series has a great rustic look and can be filled with any style of photo, or decorated with paint or collage. We have even turned them into serving trays that can be customized by simply adding a seasonal paper or family photo.

Last year the employees at Frame USA had the opportunity to make a project from their favorite frame. Each project was unique, creative, and awesome!
We are always adding new mouldings to our frame lines. The possibility of new ideas for creative DIY projects is endless! Get creative and send us your photos of any projects you use our frames for on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! We love seeing how creative our customers are!

October 27, 2016

DIY Picture Frames – Hanging Photo Collage

As of late hanging picture collages have become increasingly popular. If you have an abundance of pictures laying around then this is a great way to display those pictures without cluttering your walls with a ton of picture frames. What also makes this diy picture frame project nice is that it’s very easy to swap out and update pictures whenever you feel the need, so you can change the aesthetic of your room as often as you’d like.

collage photo frames — Hanging Photo Collage

This project is rather simple and requires very few items. Things you will need to complete the DIY Hanging Photo Collage:

Picture Frame
Picture Framing Wire
Screws or Hooks (for attaching the wire to your frame)
Clothespins
Photos

To begin this project you need to figure out how many rows of pictures you want inside your frame. Once you decide that, you’ll need two hooks (or screws) per row in order to properly hang them. On the back of your picture frame is where you’ll attach the hooks. After the hooks are attached evenly on parallel sides, you fasten the wire to said hooks. Remember to make your wire as tight as possible, the less slack the better, so your pictures won’t sag.

Finally, you take the clothespins, clip the pictures to the wire and voila, you have successfully made your own DIY Hanging Photo Collage. There are other little things you can do to spice up your collage such as: painting the clothespins that you use to hold onto the photos, decorating the picture frame, printing the photos on different color paper, etc.

Send us pictures and let us know how your hanging photo collage turned out. Then check back in with our Frame USA Blog for more DIY Picture Frames and ideas.

April 2, 2014

Hanging Picture Frames

Interior Design Advice on Hanging Picture Frames

Thanks to our friends at the PPFA for retweeting and designer Fred Gonsowski, we found a great guide to hanging picture frames! Not only were there plenty of written instructions, but illustrations to help explain the best practices.

The first step in the process is to find the natural lines in your environment. How do the lines appear in your design space? Do they align well and lend themselves to aesthetics? If not, is there anything you can do to change the lines surrounding your frames? While not necessary. it will make your framing look much more professional.

Once you’ve found the lines, be sure to note the lines on illustration 4 through 6. The lines created by the frames should not be on the same architectural lines as the doors and windows — rather, your installations and furniture should create the lines you’ll be using for your framing. Cabinets, cupboards and vases can be used to make this.

What are some hanging tips that you have found in your interior design experience? Let us know below in the comments!

Source: Fred Gonsowski’s Home and Garden Blog

March 19, 2014

Personalized Picture Frame Options

Create and preserve memories with Frame USA’s Personalization options

So, we all know that personalization is a huge factor when it comes to finding the perfect gift. Maybe you’re looking for a new piece of jewelry for your significant other, or looking to get something special engraved for your parents. Personalizing these items will provide a constant reminder of why you find them to be an extra-special part of your life.

Personalizing isn’t just about words, though. Using different colors, imagery and personal flair can mean just as much as words. So how can Frame USA help you with personalized picture frames?

Build A Frame:

Perhaps the best personalization feature on our website is the Build A Frame web application. Our app will walk you step-by-step through the custom framing process, whether you’d like to upload your own image, give us your own dimensions or pick an image from our wide selection of Posterservice images.

Laser Engraving:

Engraving is a classic way of personalizing a wide variety of items. Literally anything with a wood or metal surface can be engraved with great effect. Our customers have been very impressed with the amount of detail our engraving machine can create, especially with our signature Engrave-It series. This is definitely the route to take if you’re commemorating a special event, remembering a wedding, or for anniversaries.

personalized picture frames — Engrave images and text — directly on the frame or on a metallic plate.

Unfinished Picture Frames:

Both our Unfinished and Decorate-It lines have the crafty folk in mind. These are great for both kids and adults alike, but you’ll definitely get your money’s work when you use these as kid’s craft projects. You can use all of your favorite crafting materials to make it, and a trip to your local art and craft store should inspire you to make some great artwork.

U-Frame Kits:

For when you want something that looks like it was professionally framed at a fraction of the cost, look no further than our U-Frame 1 and 2 kits. These require assembly upon arrival, but we promise it’ll take no more than 5 minutes to put together. We also include instructions on assembly (Just 3 easy steps). Then all that’s left is to drop in your art!

Metal Picture Frames — Our sturdy, easy-to-assemble U-Frame kits are great for that “Custom Framed” look… Without the price of custom framing.

What are some clever ways that you personalize your items? Let us know!

February 25, 2014

Shadow Box Frames as Fine Art – Exploring Dioramas

Shadow Box Frames and Fine Art Assemblage

Recently, we’ve seen a great shift between the realms of 2D and 3D art. Not quite paintings and not quite sculptures, these art pieces are more of an assemblage of 3D objects meant to be viewed on a 2D-plane. You may have even made these in school at some point.

Today, we are talking about dioramas.

Not your average middle school project

While popular for school projects, this Alice in Wonderland piece is proof that dioramas are every bit as capable of being fine art.

Before you get skeptical, these are anything but your average diorama. Shadow box frames are typically used to hang sports jerseys and personal memorabilia, and custom framers are great at arranging these objects to fit whatever the customer may need. Using shadow boxes for fine art, however, requires much more creativity and artistic know-how. You will need to experiment and try different methods of mixed media and sculpture to get the effect you’re looking for.

Don’t be afraid to experiment, though! Experimentation is how you become more advanced in your art, and trying a slew of different things is necessary to become more creative and technically skilled. Find our shadow box frames here to get started!

For a great inspiration board from pinterest, click here.

To see how Audra Krunkle from Oddities: San Francisco does her work, click here.

February 21, 2014

Craft Ideas – DIY Picture Framing Projects

Frame USA Offers Craft Kits for those who Love to “Do It Yourself”

We get it, we get it! Projects that start with a broken couch and an old rusted locomotive engine often DO make some of the coolest home design pieces. Just like we can’t get enough of lightbulbs turned into gardening fixtures or christmas wreaths made out of coat hangers. It’s fun, stylish, cheap incredibly creative.

We make it a point to offer a few DIY Picture Framing lines of products that our customers can tweak and edit to their heart’s desire. Below, we’ll list some sources of great products that you can use to make your own custom frame designs — but first, a video that should clarify the whole DIY process for beginners!

Once you’ve gotten the hang of the inspiration – create – share phases, you’ll be churning out great projects in no time. Here are some products we offer that have inspired some great customer creations in the past — we’re sure you’ll find them useful, too!

Unfinished Picture Frames: The ultimate favorite when it comes to complete personalization, the unfinished series can be oiled, glossed or stained to create the perfect look you’re trying for.

Decorate – It Picture Frames: A favorite for the kids, the Decorate-It series has always been a great success for ourselves and customers alike. The highlight of this frame is the totally open, flat surface which you can use to decorate in any way you’d like. We’ve really enjoyed taking these to local festivals and fairs, bringing craft supplies and letting kids decorate their own frames. You really can’t go wrong with Decorate-It, as a professional or as a craft-lover.

DIY framing — Just one example of the crafty things you can create with Decorate-It, such as this “gesso / painted coral” look.

U-Frame Kits: These metal frame kits are unique in that they do not come assembled, rather, they arrive to you in two pieces per item purchased. What does this mean for you? Total framing freedom! Our easy-to-use kits come with assembly instructions and come with two pieces of moulding per item bought. What this means is that you can buy a 24 inch U Frame Kit and a 36 inch U Frame Kit, then assemble them to create a 24×36 frame! Aside from the freedom in assembling your own way, you also have the ability to mix colors if your art piece calls for something outside of the traditional frame.

Shadow Box / Jersey Frames: Being in the home town of both the Cincinnati Bengals and the Reds, we see a pretty great amount of business from Shadow Box customers. Shadow box frames are also commonly referred to as “Jersey frames” among athletes and sports fans. These are good for many other purposes, however — dioramas, antiques, art installations and 3D assemblage pieces are among many other ways to use these frames to their fullest.

Acid – Free Mat Tape “Frame”: A relatively new method (popularity-wise) that involves wrapping the outside of the frame in tape, creating unique designs where the only limitation is your own creativity. Our mat tape is perfect for things like this! See some awesome examples here!

Custom Picture Frame Mats: We also offer custom mats to fit any frame you may already have built. Using MatDesigners, you can order mats that can fit into almost any picture frame with the exact style and opening you’re looking for.

Other fun series: Barnwood and Corporate always produce fun results for our customers, just because of their versatility and price. Barnwood is naturally a very earthy look, so this frame already fits the DIY description!

Follow us on Pinterest for more on some fun “DIY” projects. We would love to see what great things you’ve created with our frames!

January 24, 2014

DIY Art Projects

Sometimes, you need an extra little bit of motivation to get started with a new year – especially if you’re a creative type. Luckily, we have Pinterest to keep us in the know about simple DIY Art Projects throughout the year. If you haven’t joined the Pinterest community (or worse, haven’t heard of Pinterest), it may be time to crawl out of the rock you’ve clearly been under and join! Pinterest is a great resource for creatives, anyone from stay-at-home moms to small business owners and Etsy merchants.

Many of our Pinterest followers enjoy posting and sharing different DIY projects that they have done, or they’ll share ideas that we’ve shared. Framing is an art in itself, and there’s no doubt that many art projects of this type involve wall-mounted displays.

Monochrome Photo Wall — You’ll find many great inspirational images like this on craft blogs and Pinterest.

DIY Craft Materials

Etsy is a great place to find a supplier to get you started for materials. Depending on what you need for your project, you can find things for pretty cheap. Another great place to look is Amazon, but be wary about constantly-changing prices.

We also have some great products and accessories that give you the freedom to display in any way you want. From posterhangers to frame connectors; matting tape to mounting tape — we have it all. Find them here: http://www.frameusa.com/hangers-accessories

Unfinished/DIY Picture Frames

Along with having the right materials, you’ll need a starting point for a frame. If you’re the type to create a frame by hand, then big kudos to you! There are several great ways to do this. For the rest of us, though, it’s great to have a starting point.

Unfinished Picture Frames: These are shaped like a standard frame, but do not have any finish or stain to them (hence the name!) With these, you can alter the color, finish, neatness and anything else you can think of!
Decorate-It Picture Frames: This series has the sole purpose of being decorated. Perfect for fun crafts with the kids or for total customization. Several of our customers love them for Etsy and Pinterest projects!
U-Frame Kits: Made of metal and made to last, these metal picture frames come to you ready-to-assemble. Simply grab your closest screwdriver and start assembling! These babies can hold much larger artwork than the standard metal frame and look great for gallery displays.
Shadow Box Frames: The pinnacle of the “DIY” theme, shadow boxes give you the power to conceive the ultimate creative project. The challenge of creating a 3D composition for a 2D display can be tough, but is always rewarding. Use this for sports collectibles, historic documents, wedding ornaments, dioramas, or contemporary art pieces.

DIY Art Projects Inspiration

For all things creative and art-oriented, you can never go wrong with Pinterest and Etsy. Pinterest is the best place for discovering projects and (if you’re lucky) walkthroughs on how to complete the project. Etsy is great for seeing other completed projects and comparing them to your own. It’s a good milestone in reasoning and comparing whether your finished product could be received well on Etsy or not. Of course, if the DIY art project is for yourself, then you don’t even need this step! Create away!

Pinterest DIY Projects — Pinterest is always a good place to start.

What sorts of projects are on the horizon for February? Follow us on Pinterest and share what you have planned!