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.
The frameless look is popular, but is it appropriate for what you need? Does it protect your art or enhance your image? Take a look at the examples below to see what a difference a frame makes.
“Art consists of limitation. The most beautiful part of every picture is the frame.”
– GK Chesterton
Example #1
This beach scene is shown with three different frame styles: unframed, simply framed, and double framed. Which one draws your eye the most?
beach frame 1
beach frame 2
beach frame 3
Unframed Art – Wrapped canvas or print hung directly on the wall. Simple, plain, unprotected.
Simple Frame – Art framed with a simple frame that matches the neutral colors of the image will expand the view. A frame will add stability to the wood frame the canvas is stretched on or protect the raw edges of a photo mount.
Double Frame – A second stacked frame adds interest. Visualize it on your wall. Because of the contrast, your art immediately becomes a focal point. It looks like you are stepping into the picture.
Example #2
This cityscape is also shown with three different frame styles: unframed, simply framed, and double framed. Which one has the most impact?
Building 1
Building 2
Building 3
Unframed Art
Simple Frame – Add a simple silver frame that blends into the building.
Double Frame – Add a fillet (the black piece surrounding the art). Notice how it gives it depth to the image and highlights the black in the windows?
What Is A Fillet?
A fillet is a small piece of moulding that fits inside a frame. It is decorative, designed to enhance, like jewelry. Ask us how a fillet would enhance your art.
Example #3
Take it a step further! Frame it your way. There are no wrong answers, only different tastes!
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
FlagPresentation
MilitaryMedals
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.
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.
It’s Spring Cleaning Time! Time to clean the cobwebs and freshen up your space. Modernize your style with a few easy tweaks to your interior. New accent pieces and art showcasing popular materials can help give you a fresh look for the season. Refreshing a decor style can be as simple as a new coat of paint, a different pillow, or a new frame moulding.
The biggest trend in home decor right now is Comfort! The Danish have a word for it: Hygge (pronounced hoo-ga). Hygge is not just a word – it’s a concept, an attitude of living a cozy life through the enjoyment of simple, natural things. In these tumultuous times, we long for comfort and seek a calming effect in our surroundings. Adding personal comforting touches to our homes increase feelings of content.
How do you apply Hygge to your home?
Infuse your space with your personality! Decorate with items that give you comfort. Maybe it’s a throw blanket, a photograph of nature, or a new light fixture. Pair these personal comforts with natural materials. Keep your decor simple (but not minimal). Look for patterned woods, linear accents, open geometric shapes, soft metallics, and warm fabrics.
What’s your Hygge Frame Style?
What each of us finds comforting is very individual. Our personalities determine what our personal Hygge style will look like. If you’re…
Serene & Calm: Frame a soothing nature scene with wood textures.
Fun & Quirky: Be Bold! Go with a bright color for your frame.
Trendy & Stylish: Choose a metallic frame (matte or rose gold).
Left-Brained: Pick art & framing that draws upon linear patterns.
Check your Framed Art & Pictures for UV Filtering Glass
How long has it been since you framed that photograph? Do you know if you have UV-filtering glass on the piece to protect it from fading? Bring it in, we’ll check it and advise you on what the best glass for your art is.
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!
What Is A Fillet?
