Framing games is a great way to preserve family memories

Jun 12, 2020 | Family Framing, Projects

Framing games is a great way to preserve family memories

It’s time for framing games!

We hope that you and your loved ones remained healthy during the Covid-19 pandemic. For some of you, the stay-at-home order was extra time to spend with your spouse and/or children. What did you do to keep yourself and everybody entertained? Did you put a puzzle together as a family project? Did you play board games or card games? Were you able to throw a frisbee around in the yard? Activities like these always create great family memories.

Did you know that framing games and puzzles is possible? In fact, it’s pretty fun. Board games, puzzles, cards, and even random game pieces lend themselves very well to a framed display, especially considering most of them have eye-catching design and a flat profile. What a great way to remember a happy memory in the midst of troubled times.

Board games

Don’t let anyone forget that you won the epic four-day Monopoly game by owning Indiana Ave! You can even include game pieces, cards, and money. Framing games can help keep your fun family memories alive, while adding some fun decor to your family room.

Puzzle time!

You did it! You finally finished that 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle you’ve been meaning to tackle for years. Such an effort needs to be rewarded. Frame it! (So that you won’t need to put it together again…)

There are special glues you can purchase that are specifically made for puzzles and will help keep them preserved for many years to come. If you have questions about this, we are happy to help with all your questions regarding framing games and puzzles.

Vintage games

Look what you found while you were cleaning closets! An old game you used to play with your siblings. It’s a little too worn now to be played, but by framing games you can bring back those old memories. Copy the rules and put them on the back or in a pocket on the back. You could even frame the rules and game pieces in a matching frame. If you’re at a loss for ideas, just bring your vintage game to Frame Depot and we can give you lots of ideas for displaying and preserving it.

elsie and her family board game - framing games

Some fun game trivia

In Monopoly, Jake the Jailbird is the guy behind bars and Officer Edgar Mallory sent him there.
Chutes & Ladders, a game about Karma, was invented in India in the 2nd century. It was originally called Snakes & Ladders. The phrase “back to square one” originated in the game.
The game of Clue was invented in 1947. Mr. Green was originally a reverend, but Parker Brothers objected to a reverend being suspected of murder, so he was changed to a businessman.
The Game of Life was the first and only board game invented by Milton Bradley in 1860, although he singlehandedly launched the board game industry. Because using dice was associated with gambling, a six-sided top was used instead.

← Are the walls closing in? A new framing project can help. Hide or disguise it with a stylish frame! →

Your holiday home

Dec 4, 2019 | Family Framing, Gift ideas, Picture Framing

Your holiday home

Add a magical touch to your decor this holiday season!

You’ve made the cookies, addressed the cards, cleaned the house, and planned the party. Now it’s time for the best part — decorating your home for the holidays. It’s easy to remember to trim the tree or light the candles, but what about your walls? Deck the halls this holiday season by using custom framing to add a festive touch. So put on some Christmas music, grab your favorite holiday drink, and get framing!

Photo of dog in santa hat

Visiting Santa

Dig out the old photo of Santa & the kids from years ago. Guaranteed Smiles!

Winter Landscape

Winter landscapes can be breathtaking. Frame your favorite winter scene.

Family Portraits

Use last year’s family holiday photo to brighten up your walls.

Drawings

Remember the drawing your child drew and it was too priceless to throw away? Framing it makes it even more special.

Try something different this year – hang an empty frame on your door instead of a wreath. You can decorate the frame with bows, greenery, Christmas flowers and ornaments…or just keep it plain. This will turn your front door into a unique work of art.

← Holiday collection to benefit The House Color trends for 2020 →

It’s all about the kids

Jul 2, 2019 | Family Framing, Kids art, Picture Framing

It’s all about the kids

Celebrate the creative children in your life!

There are many benefits associated with creating art. It can be relaxing to paint, draw or color. Art allows your imagination to run wild and your inner child to emerge. But for kids, creating art can teach them so much.

It encourages innovation & out-of-the-box-thinking

It fosters imagination and creativity

It builds confidence & self-esteem

It provides an outlet to express thoughts and feelings

Framing your kid’s art encourages your child; it lets them know they are important, and their talents are worth exploring. Let them be part of the design/frame process – after all, they are the artist!

Kids Portraits: Many parents have their children’s photos tucked in a wallet. Add some joy to your walls! Put a frame around that carefully posed portrait or the snapshot that makes you smile every time you look at it.

Endless Framing Ideas

Children provide endless framing possibilities…birth announcements, baby clothes, sonograms, sports games, religious rites of passage…so many milestones and achievements happen in such a short time.

Celebrate Them!

Frames For Kids

Remember how much fun it was to match colors and patterns when you were a kid? Involve your child/artist with the process of designing the frame package; they will take pride in their accomplishment. We’ve got lots of fun, colorful mouldings that will match your kid’s art perfectly.

← Does a frame make a difference? Framing oil paintings →

Honoring our heroes

May 1, 2019 | Family Framing, Gift ideas, Military Framing, Picture Framing, Projects

Honoring our heroes

Custom Framing lets you cherish the memory of your favorite Hero.

What makes someone a Hero? Courage? Strength? Heroes come in all sizes and shapes and are all around us. Firefighters, police officers, and soldiers selflessly perform their jobs without thinking about the danger involved. Maybe your grandpa was a war veteran, or your daughter is active military. Show them they will always be in your heart by transforming their picture into a framed display.

Did You Know?

Memorial Day, formerly known as Decoration Day, began in 1864 when women decorated the graves of those who died in Gettysburg. The tradition continued after the Civil War in which 620,000 soldiers died. On May 5, 1868, it became a national holiday. In 1971 the date was changed to the last Monday in May.
President Ulysses S. Grant presided over the first Memorial Day ceremony on May 30, 1868 at Arlington National Cemetery with 5,000 people in attendance.
Today, 1,200 soldiers place flags on 260,000 graves at Arlington Cemetery every Memorial Day
It is customary to fly the flag at half-staff until noon on Memorial Day, and then raise it until sunset.

For all the heroes out there…

Thank you for your service!

FiremanBadges

FlagPresentation

MilitaryMedals

PolicemanBadges

PolicePortrati

WW2NavyUniform

Military Document Framing

We can frame military documents, certificates, and discharge papers using conservation materials. Don’t let these important pieces of history go unprotected! Frame them properly. May might mean Memorial Day, but it’s also graduation season! A framed diploma makes a perfect gift for the graduate in your life.

← Framing textiles Does a frame make a difference? →

Framing textiles

Apr 1, 2019 | Caring for artwork, Family Framing, Picture Framing

Framing textiles

Fabrics, Clothing & Needlework can be Framed!

Just because a sentimental item is made of fabric doesn’t mean it has to spend a lifetime balled up in your closet. Textiles like autographed sports jerseys, handmade cross-stich pieces, delicate embroidery and heirloom clothing can be protected with custom framing. Fabric pieces make for rich visual displays so you can cherish your memories every day.

Clothing

Favorite clothing like baptismal gowns, wedding dresses, and sports jerseys make for excellent framed displays. Capture a long-gone moment or vintage style – relive a winning sporting event, a beautiful wedding day, or a baby’s first outfit each time you see these pieces framed.

Souvenirs

Besides memories, the best souvenirs from travels are pieces of art; once framed, the art lets you remember your travels every day! Many travel destinations have fabric-based souvenirs unique to that region. The bonus? It fits in your suitcase for the journey home.

Crochet Needlework

Hand-made crocheted pieces can be delicate, beautiful….and hard to display without proper framing. Crocheting, tatting & knitting are quickly becoming a lost art. Whether these were passed down through generations or machine- made in the modern era, show them off in a custom frame.

Cross-Stitch & Embroidery

Countless hours are spent sewing an embroidered piece – it is a labor of love – but once the stitching is complete, it still needs to be properly mounted & pinned. To display a cross-stitch or embroidery, it must be framed.

Heirloom Creations

The afghan that your great-grandmother knitted became so fragile that you packed it away. Wouldn’t it be a show stopper to display it for everyone to enjoy? Create not only a conversation piece, but an heirloom.

Should You Put Glass On Textiles?

YES! Glass provides Protection. If the piece will be in direct sunlight, UV-filtering glass will reduce damage from harmful UV rays. Glass also protects the art from dust, dirt, smoke and other indoor pollutants.

Acrylic Vs. Glass: Both materials come with UV protection, but…

PROS:
Acrylic: available in larger sizes than glass, it is not as heavy as glass.Glass: usually not as expensive as acrylic

CONS:
Acrylic: has static, can lift fibers and distort the look of the piece, needs a special cleaner
Glass: if broken, shards can permanently tear fibers, does not come in oversize pieces

Conservation Materials Are Important For Textiles

Textiles need the same acid-free protection

that art on paper needs. If mat and backing boards have acids in them, they can ‘burn’ into textiles, causing damage to the fibers.

What Is Behind Your Textile?

Your textile is stitched or pinned onto acid-free matting or backing board to ensure that it will stay in place. This process does not harm your piece and is reversible. Spacers (usually a thin strip of acrylic) are used to keep the glass off your textile.

Four steps to creating a memorable project

Mar 4, 2019 | Family Framing, Picture Framing

Four steps to creating a memorable project

Taking a project from conception to completion

When you bring your framing project to us, you expect the best, and that is exactly what you will get from start to finish. We organize, design, and create complex framing projects from your treasures. From creative ideas to hanging hardware, we provide innovative design and quality workmanship, so you can enjoy your piece for years.

A collection of keepsake items may seem overwhelming to safely store and keep track of, while still being able to enjoy them. Custom framing will solve these challenges and create a beautiful display you will be proud to show off.

Shadowboxes are sometimes called memory boxes, and for good reason. They are the perfect way to showcase special objects and photos that celebrate a memory, achievement, event or person. We are experts in creating artistic presentations from your items — just bring them in and we can create a truly one-of-a-kind memory for you.

Follow these four steps to create a memorable framing project!

STEP 1: Select your project theme. Some examples include Grandpa’s Army Days,Child’s Hand Print, Grandma’s Scarf,or Dad’s Passion.
STEP 2: Gather all items that relate to your theme — photos, clothing, mementos, medals, certificates — anything that’s scrapbook-worthy.
STEP 3: Bring your items to us. We will help you arrange them in an aesthetically pleasing manner.
STEP 4: We’ll work our framing magic and present you with a completed framed project, so you can cherish your memories for a lifetime!

Here are some examples that illustrate how complex projects go from concept to completion!

Grandma’s Scarf

It was early fall. My Mom and I were going to take a short walk to the local bakery for some yummy scones and a cup of coffee. Mom threw on her wrap that had been passed down three generations — and would eventually be mine someday. It was beautiful, and perfect for the crisp chill in the air. As we were chatting, I noticed the scarf had become threadbare in some places. I told Mom that when it was mine, I would like to honor it by framing it in a shadowbox, so that it would not become any more damaged. She thought that was a wonderful idea, and suggested I add pictures of the women who had worn it. Every time I look at grandma’s scarf, I think of that fall day when Mom and I were at that cozy coffee shop enjoying each other’s company.

Family heirlooms are beautiful items passed down from generation to generation, and it is our job to capture their beauty and preserve their sentimental importance. Heirlooms like textiles, scarves, wedding dresses, and handkerchiefs are hand-sewn and protected behind UV-filtering glass. History and tradition come together in a design that mimics the vintage colors and textures of old photographs and fabrics.

Child’s Hand Print

The day my son brought home his little hand print in clay, I didn’t know what to do with it. I wanted to hang it, but didn’t trust the ribbon used for a hanger. So, I gushed over it, and a week later put it in a box so that it wouldn’t get broken. Eight years later, I was cleaning the closet, and opened a box that I had forgotten about. Seeing that clay print brought back the day he brought it home. I never wanted to forget it again. Now when I look at that precious handprint, I can remember that day every day!

Kids grow up in the blink of an eye, but the art — and memories — they leave with us lasts a lifetime. Frame your child’s greatest masterpiece and you can enjoy those memories every time you look at your finished piece. Their first scribbles, handprints, and school art projects make for memorable framing projects. For this ceramic handprint, we used neutral mat colors so the design would always remain in-style; the frame is a soft off-white to match the ceramic.

Dad’s Passion

Many times in my childhood, I remember my Dad grabbing his fishing pole to spend a day at his favorite lake. Some days he caught something; some days not. But he didn’t care; it wasn’t about the bounty — it was about being outside and having the hope & faith that something would catch the end of his line. Many years after having some of his favorite fishing pieces framed, it is a bit of history passed to my children about my Dad’s Passion.

Some hobbies come with a great deal of collectibles or representational items that define our personalities. Framing is a great way to honor and cherish those collections (and the person attached to those memories). Whether it’s fishing lures, coin collections, or spoons, we can create a beautiful display to celebrate that person. For this project, we opted for neutral colors and rustic finishes to highlight the sport and vintage style.

Additional Topics

Conservation/Preservation Framing

We use the very best materials for your projects because we want your art and heirlooms to survive for a lifetime without change of color, damage from glues, or out-gassing from materials that are not acid-free.

Museum Glass

Is there anything worse than getting something framed and not being able to see it? That won’t happen with Museum Glass. Not only does it have 99% UV protection to keep your art and objects from fading, it has exceptional clarity so that you can really SEE what is behind your frame!