Custom framing your family’s accomplishments

May 27, 2021 | Family Framing, Gift ideas, Graduation, Military Framing, Picture Framing, Sports Framing

Custom framing your family’s accomplishments

SO PROUD

Celebrate accomplishments with custom framing

There are few things more important than recognizing a person’s accomplishments, and custom framing is a perfect way to do that. As a child, it can set them on a path of confidence and self-esteem leading to success. For an adult, it is a grand ‘pat on the back,’ and who doesn’t need or want that? For a solider or veteran, it is recognition of what they sacrificed. And last but not least, for our essential personnel – healthcare workers, teachers, the staff at grocery stores, caregivers – there are so many that could use a show of gratitude.

Here are some custom framing examples of how you can show them you care.

EDUCATIONAL / LEARNING ACCOMPLISHMENT / DIPLOMA

“All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.”–Walt Disney

You worked hard for that diploma – show it off!

custom framing of debate ribbons from school

What an accomplishment! He’s going places!

Go for the Gold! Notice how the precious metal is highlighted?

SPORTS ACCOMPLISHMENT / INDIVIDUAL OR TEAM

“A little progress each day adds up to big results.” –Satya Nani

custom framing of sports medals and awards

Did you know we can include not only medals and pictures but plaques too?

Show your kids how proud you are of them!

Can you imagine all these medals being tucked away in a drawer?

Can you imagine all these medals being tucked away in a drawer?

MILITARY SERVICE

“The Army is the true nobility of our country.” – Napoleon Bonaparte

custom framing military medals and photos

Memories of noble military service, honor and sacrifice.

Who do you want to celebrate? We can help!

Do you have a special team member you’d like to celebrate? Consider a gift of custom framing.

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 (keeps your art & objects from fading), but has exceptional clarity, so that you can really see what is in your custom framing!

What is a CPF? It stands for Certified Picture Framer, an industry designation for framing knowledge and skill. It means that the framer is not only experienced, but must keep up with current methods and materials in the industry. The certification must be renewed annually to keep the designation. When a CPF builds your custom framing project, you know it’s in the best hands.

← Frame a special memory for Mother's Day It’s all in the details with quality framing →

Frame a special memory for Mother’s Day

Apr 28, 2021 | Family Framing, Picture Framing, Projects

Frame a special memory for Mother’s Day

Looking for some unique gift ideas for Mother’s Day?

Every year, as Mother’s Day is approaching, we all start trying to find the perfect gift. And we should, because mother’s are awesome and deserve far more than one special day a year to spoil and pamper them. As you are considering gift ideas, think about framing a special memory for your mom. This is something that will be completely original and personal to your mother. All you need to do is find a special item of your mother’s and bring it to us and we will help you design a beautiful frame to showcase it.

Here are some past projects that we have done for our customers. One of these could be the inspiration for the perfect Mother’s Day gift this year.

Was your Mom or grandma a fabulous cook?

Frame her apron along with a copy of a favorite recipe. Add a photo of her in the kitchen and you’ve created an heirloom that will be passed down through the generations. This is also a great way to preserve an antique apron that she may have saved from her mother or grandmother. Framing it will protect it and now she can display it and relive those happy kitchen memories every time she sees it.

Did she like to crochet, or do needle works?

Is your mother a whiz with a needle and thread? Does she create beautiful needle art that deserves to be framed and preserved? We can cut custom shapes with complementary colored mats to make her design stand out. With Covid-19 forcing people to stay inside this past year, we have seen an increase in needle works and cross stiches. Here’s your chance to make your mother’s hard work and creativity really stand out.

Does your mother have a favorite piece of art that needs some attention?

Maybe her favorite print could be accentuated with a design cut out of the mat. This customer loved ballet so we put a ballerina in the upper corner to add another custom element. Look around your mother’s house and see if there’s a piece of art that could use a little love. Then ask you mom if you can “borrow” it for a while and then wait for her surprise when she she’s how we’ve improved it.

painting of ballerina s in frame for Mother's Day

How about framing a beautiful painting of your mother?

Frame a painting of Mom. These paintings of this customer’s mom were done on silk when her mother was a child. She framed them to give as gifts to family members. If you don’t have a painting of your mother, you could find an old photo and have that framed in a special way.

Jan showing framed drawing of mother and girl

Did your mother enjoy quilting?

This is one of our favorite projects we have done. A customer brought in an old photo of her grandma working on a quilt with her daughter (the customer’s mom) and we framed it over a remnant of the quilt. What a cool piece to give to Mom for mother’s day. Now both the photo and the quilting square are beautifully preserved.

Quilting square in frame for Mother's Day

How about something playful for your mother?

Did your mom have a favorite toy as a child that she still has? Sneak it out of the house and let us make a custom shadowbox to show it off. This antique doll and all her accessories turned out beautifully, and once again a precious heirloom has been preserved to be passed down and cherished.

Baby doll preserved in frame for Mother's Day

Did Mom have a favorite book as a kid?

For this project, a customer brought us three children’s books and Jan painted the mat to make it more kid friendly for a guest room. What a delightful way to preserve a memory.

Jan is our resident “Shadowbox Queen” and following are a few more examples of her handiwork.

Kid's books and art in frame for Mother's Day

Consider framing some small treasures for Mother’s Day?

You can find all sort’s of tiny treasures in grandma’s jewelry box. Her buttons made an interesting collage and we can design a mat to highlight them. Our favorite is this project with items from her jewelry box. Just add a few photos and you have created a one-of-a-kind memento that will bring smiles every time she looks at it.

Mother's antique jewelry in frame for Mother's Day

Does your mother have any special mementos in a box somewhere?

These beaded gloves came out of a box to a place of honor on the wall where everyone can enjoy them. We used museum glass so each bead can be seen clearly without the reflection of normal glass, and it’s UV protected to preserve the art. Talk about some beautiful heirlooms!

And finally, we can’t forget kid’s art

Mom’s and Grandma’s love kids art! Seriously, they go ga ga over the drawings and paintings you made when you were a kid. We can even design a frame you that makes it easy to change out the art as the kids grow up. You’ll never go wrong giving a mother her child’s art as a present, only now it will be beautifully framed and preserved.

So no matter what you frame for Mom it will make her smile and after all isn’t that the point.
Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there from the Frame Depot.

← Specialty mat cuts add a creative look Custom framing your family's accomplishments →

Specialty mat cuts add a creative look

Apr 2, 2021 | Picture Framing

Specialty mat cuts add a creative look

Add a creative touch to your framing project

What is a specialty mat cut? Most mat openings are cut in a typical rectangle shape but specialty mat cuts are unusual shapes or designs cut into the mat instead of the usual right angles. A carefully chosen specialty mat cut can creatively enhance the art. There are so many shapes from which to choose, how do you know which one is the right one? As with most framing designs, there is no one right answer.

We took the same art and added different mat cuts. Which one do you like best?

There are no bad options! It just depends on what you are trying to emphasize.

Octangle
It has a feminine, vintage look.

Persian
It has a soft formal look.

Angle Array
It mimics the frills in the dress.

Grecian Notch
It has a geometric formal look.

Camelback Flair
Its flowing lines match the dress.

Nouveau
It has a bold, timeless look.

Specialty mat cuts can complement your framing project in many ways:

Hide unwanted items in the image

Add softness and warmth to an image

Reflect a period of time

Mimic the feel of the image

Frame Depot can create custom specialty mat cuts for your project — just ask!

Color Tip:

As you can see, a lot of specialty mat cuts require two mats, but you can play with the color for different effects. Use two layers of the same color for a subtle look. Or, make one layer much brighter than the other to highlight something in the art. There is no limit to how many mats can be used!

Design Preview:

See it framed before you buy it! We know how hard it can be to make a decision from just a corner sample. But not anymore! We can show you what that corner sample will look like all around your art before you say yes. Let us show you!

← Small pieces for small places Frame a special memory for Mother's Day →

Small pieces for small places

Mar 8, 2021 | Picture Framing

Small pieces for small places

small pieces of art for small spaces banner

No room or area is too small for artwork!

Can you name all the small places in your home that are a bit bare? Probably not, because there are more than you think. Take look around your home – do you see them now? How many of those small spots could use a touch of art?

The small wall space by the door
Open shelving in your office
On a tabletop
Above the cabinets in your kitchen
A windowsill
… the list goes on and on!

You’ve found a small place that needs art, you’ve got the perfect small piece for that space, and now you need to frame it. Here are a few ideas.

How about that small piece of art you picked up on vacation? It works well in your powder room. It is simply framed, but the contrast between the art and the mat makes your eye go right to the image, creating a noticeable piece.

This cross-stitch says it all, and it’s perfect for your dressing table. The cross stitch itself measures 4” x 4”, but by framing it with the same silver color used on the outside of the cross stitch, it ‘extends’ the size. Using a matching purple fillet makes it stunning.

"It's expensive to be me" crossstitch in small metal frame

These small antique images are the kinds of photos you see sitting on a piano, shelving, table or desktop. The framing doesn’t need to be much larger than the photo already is, so forget the mat – just add a wide frame around it so it doesn’t get lost with all the others photos on the piano.

Small places in your home where you could put artwork

small spaces to add artwork on kitchen wall

small spaces to add artwork on bathroom wall by door

front door from inside, showing small spaces to add artwork

How to frame small pieces for small places

The key is to not introduce multiple elements, such as color, size or frills. Because this pocket watch is so small, it could have easily been over-powered. The frame is proportionate to the watch. Only one color of matting was used so that the watch didn’t get visually ‘lost’.

How small is too small to frame?

This tin-type photograph only measures 2” x 3”, but the framing takes your eye in, making the image noticeable. We added a small frame (fillet) around it and kept to one solid color of matting.

Nothing is too small to frame! Let us show you how a small piece can become a noticeable piece.

ornate frame with tiny photo in the middle, frames for small space

Paint Colors

Paint colors that make small places feel larger

Go bold, go dark: Dark colors can actually make a space feel larger since they draw in your attention

Make it dynamic: Choose colors that change with lighting, such as Mint or Sage Green or a Pearl Gray

Classic white: White reflects the light and makes the walls recede, which makes a small space feel large and airy.

← What’s Your Style Identity? Specialty mat cuts add a creative look →

What’s Your Style Identity?

Jan 29, 2021 | Gallery Walls, Picture Framing

What’s Your Style Identity?

Your design preferences make up your own personal style identity!

We all have a style identity when it comes to interior design. You know what you like, but you might not know the name or the specific characteristics of that style. Have fun answering a few questions to find out what your style is.

What is my style identity?

Does your house look like an English garden or a beach house?
Do you love the casual look as opposed to straight lines?
Do you enjoy natural light to indoor lighting?
Would you rather be outdoors or at the beach instead of stuck inside?

Your style is Shabby Chic / Coastal

Characteristics: Casual furniture in natural materials such as wicker and rattan and worn looking white-washed woods. Stripes and florals dominate fabric patterns.

Color palette: Layered blues, crisp whites, rosy reds and greens.

What is my style identity?
Does city-living appeal to you?
Do you like the linear look of urban architecture?
Do you have suspended lamps with Edison bulbs in your home?
Do you like bare building materials seen in old factories and converted lofts?

Your style is Industrial

Characteristics: Spacious, simple design that includes wood and metal elements. Exposed pipes, ducts and brick walls are often seen. High ceilings are common.

Color palette: Neutral palette – gray, brown, grayish-white, tan.

What is my style identity?

Do you read about art and know furniture designers’ names?
Are you a fan of low sleek furniture with style and comfort?
Did you have a serious addiction to Mad Men?
Would you describe yourself as simple and uncomplicated?

Your style is Mid-Century Modern

Characteristics: Clean, often curved lines mixed with simple geometric shapes. There usually is a variety of materials (woods, metals, plastics) used in this design.

Color palette: Background earthy neutrals (browns & grays) paired with bright, bold colors such as oranges, chartreuse, pink and blues.

What is my style identity?

Do you prefer simple design with clean lines and geometric patterns?
Do you believe ‘less is more’?
Would you describe yourself as organized, methodical and efficient?
Is your home free of clutter?

What's your style identity, living room setting

Your style is Minimalism

Characteristics: This is a bare essential look. Simple, uncluttered, clean lines typically in an open floor plan. Functional furniture with flat, smooth surfaces and strong lines.

Color palette: Monochromatic – a variation of one color, usually whites, beiges and greys.

What is my style identity?

Do you appreciate history and tradition?
Does your home have a “timeless” look?
Are you a planner who rarely acts on impulse?
Do you prefer stately color palettes and elegant furnishings?

Your style is Traditional

Characteristics: Curved, heavy, dark wood furniture is the norm, paired with stuffed patterned fabrics, hardwood floors, and classical art.

Color palette: Deep, rich jewel-tone hues in reds, blues and greens.

What is my style identity?

Are you trendy, yet classic and chic?
Do you love to shop at the flea market for well-loved décor items?
Do you have more seating than you need because you love to entertain?
Is your home known for its warmth and simplicity?

Your style is Modern Farmhouse

Characteristics: A comfortable mix of old and new with heirloom hand-me-downs. Texture abounds with organic and natural materials.

Color palette: Dominated by natural colors such as soft whites, stormy grays, greiges, browns with accents of purple and blues.

What is my style identity?

Is The Great Gatsby your favorite book or movie?
Do you love rich metallics and sumptuous fabrics?
Is your home filled with stylized geometric patterns?
Do your friends describe you as glamorous?

Your style is Art Deco / Hollywood Glam

Characteristics: Bold and opulent, yet elegant and functional. Angular, geometric forms are common, and fabrics have exotic patterns or high-shine finishes. Deeply colored polished wood, often with a lacquer finish, is frequently paired with metallic accents.

Color palette: Accents of deep yellows, reds, greens, blues and pinks, offset by softer colors of creams and beiges.

Additional Topics

Still not sure what kind of frame you want? Let us help! Our designers know how to match your art to the perfect frame for your style.

Want more fun? Take this Style Identity Quiz!

https://www.tryinteract.com/quiz/what-s-your-decor-personality/

*Frames shown are an example of what may be available…

Color trends for 2021

Jan 4, 2021 | Gallery Walls, Picture Framing, Projects

Color trends for 2021

Illuminating Yellow & Ultimate Gray are Colors of the Year!

Aren’t you ready to kiss 2020 goodbye and embrace 2021? It certainly has been a challenging year for everyone. We don’t know what this new year will bring, but we’re ready for a change. With all the pressing uncertainty and unanswered questions, why should we concern ourselves with color trends right now? Because color reflects our mood. By changing the color around us, we can change our mood. We need comfort and hope. We need the soft, solid colors of familiarity – the caring, ‘we are all in this together,’ dependable color. We also need the happy colors of optimism that promise better things to come in the year ahead.

Many companies make predictions about color trends, but this year their forecasts all have one thing in common: solid, soft neutrals paired with bold accents. The palettes are filled with comfort colors to promote a sense of calm and wellness.

Pantone’s Illuminating Yellow & Ultimate Gray

Pantone©, an industry leader in color forecasting, has predicted that Illuminating Yellow and Ultimate Gray will dominate color trends in 2021. You could call the pair ‘Happy & Dependable’. One color plays off the other to create synergy, union, and balance between practicality and positivity … just what we all need for 2021!

Using this year’s color trends in design

We’ve all spent much more time in our homes recently – plenty of time to notice how our rooms need new color! How can we use these color trends to update our homes?

Aegean Teal

Foggy Morning

Gray Cashmere

Urbane Bronze

Messenger Bag

Modern Gray

What’s are the popular design and color trends for 2021?

design and color trends in the home

Look for bold color trends, good quality and comfortable minimalism

Deep, bold color has a stabilizing and comforting feel. A rich color can feel like a warm hug and have a feeling of elegance and sophistication. Look for the colors in paint, window and floor treatments and cabinet coloring. We can show you how to use these new colorings with matting and framing.

Craftsmanship, comfort & durability is key for 2021. Look for furniture, fabrics, and accessories that will last, that are made with sustainable products, and that can be passed down through the generations. We have always prided ourselves on the quality of our frame mouldings so you can enjoy your framing for a lifetime.

Soft minimalist design is here to stay. Organize your home with intentional, clutter-free spaces that make you feel calm. It’s about having less things, but the right things. More relaxed, casual, comfortable minimalism allows for an escape, with a feel of innocence and whimsy. You will see color trends and patterns that make you smile. Now’s the time to frame a playful piece that will make you happy every time you look at it.

← Float frames make your project stand out! What’s Your Style Identity? →