Vacation is a special time to relax and get away from the craziness of reality, creating powerful memories of your time with friends and family. You work hard all year for your vacation, planning it carefully, counting down the days … and it’s over before you know it. What do you have to show for it, besides a couple of extra pounds and a gorgeous tan? You’ve got your memories! You bought souvenirs, took amazing photos, and documented your journey. Bring those items to us so we can help bring your vacation memories back to life. Relive the fun & excitement of your travels by seeing them custom framed on your wall every day.
Tip: Hang framed vacation pictures in a place where they can be viewed daily — guaranteed smiles!
What are your favorite vacation memories?
No two vacations are alike. Your photos and souvenirs will vary based on what kind of trip you took. Because each framing project is custom, we can create a display that is as unique as your vacation. Wouldn’t you like to display…
The African mask from your study abroad program?
The Asian silk painting from your business trip to Beijing?
The epic panorama from your family ski trip?
The stunning rock formations you toured in Arizona?
The fossils you found by the lakeshore?
The favorite drink you ordered at the beachside bar?
Amazing architecture you saw during Mardi Gras?
The first moment you stuck your toes in the water?
Vacation memories & souvenirs that work well for framing:
Sea Shells
Foreign Coins
Local Art & Sculpture
Stamps & Postcards
Interesting vacation memories photographs to frame:
Wildlife
Family Portraits
Famous Landmarks
Landscapes
Don’t cheat yourself, vacations are important! A vacation can increase creativity, reduce stress, and produce memories for a lifetime. We’d love to help you relive your favorite vacation every day. Stop by with your photos & souvenirs to see how custom framing can turn a boring scrapbook into a daily conversation piece.
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Preserve your vacation memories by upping your photography game!
Clean your lens! A dirty lens can ruin several, if not all, the pics you take. Many newer phones will warn you if they sense a smudged lens.
Take your time. Even top-of-the-line digital cameras may need time to auto-adjust to lighting conditions and action speeds.
Always ask permission if you want to take a photo of a person not in your party.
Consider lighting. Most photographers encourage the use of natural lighting to illuminate your image (early morning or evening will avoid the tourist crowd). Try to get the subject in the light, not the backlit, for a clear shot.
If you are taking selfies, don’t forget to show where you are! Turn the phone to landscape and put yourself to one side. Or in portrait mode, put yourself at the bottom.
Some more tips:
Some dramatic vacation photos are in silhouette, with a setting sun in the background. The contrast makes a vivid image.
For action shots where the subject is moving rapidly, use ‘burst-mode’ to take multiple pics per second from which you can choose the perfect image.
Pose your subjects with a theme. Photograph a row of bare feet. Or have everybody’s back to the camera. Act like they are scaling a monument instead of just staring at it. Humor always makes for a better photo!
Don’t forget filter apps, just for fun – vintage, rainbow, black and white, etc. You can find all kinds of effects to apply using your phone or social network.
Vacation Bucket List
According to a 2017 survey by US News & World Report, Rome is one of the world’s best places to visit. In terms of cultural offerings and affordability combined, it’s a must-see city! Check out the other 30 places around the world they recommend visiting. What’s on YOUR vacation bucket list?
We’ll Print It For You
Just bring us your digital file, and we can print it in any size on canvas, plastic or metal.
Wedding keepsakes are often heirlooms that get passed onto future generations; here are some ideas if you’re framing for a lifetime. (See descriptions after the photo gallery.)
Wedding Dress
Bouquet
Grandmother's gloves
Wedding announcement in paper
Parent's wedding photo
Momentos
Momentos
Invitation
Invitation
Wedding preparation
Wedding photo
Wedding photo
Signature photo
Honeymoon
Honeymoon
Framing wedding gowns
Typically, your wedding dress gets packed away for several years, unused and forgotten, until your daughter wants to wear it on her own wedding day. When you unpack it, the fabric is yellowed, moth-eaten and unwearable. Why not prevent that damage and put it on display? You’ll be reminded of your special day every time you see it, and framing will keep it safe from the elements. We only use reversible mounting methods so the dress will be in pristine condition should your daughter want to wear it one day.
Framing wedding bouquets
Hold on to your bouquet for the long haul! Preserve your floral arrangement for a romantic reminder of your wedding. Your flowers’ natural beauty will be retained and made into a shadowbox for your enjoyment every day. These blooms don’t have to fade!
Framing vintage family heirlooms
Preserve your family’s history by framing old wedding keepsakes you have tucked away. The old newspaper announcement, Grandma’s lace gloves, and that charming vintage portrait will all be better preserved in a custom frame. Put your heritage on display so those precious family memories will not be forgotten.
Framing your wedding invitations and Save the Date cards
You spent so much time picking out stationery – don’t just throw away your wedding invitation! Turn it into a cherished keepsake by framing it. Framed wedding invitations can truly look stunning – and they make great gifts!
Wedding reception shadowboxes
Your wedding reception was the party of a lifetime! Re-live those moments in one glance by assembling a shadowbox collection of photos, keepsakes, flowers, table numbers, favors, garters and programs from your celebration. These creative displays are only limited by your imagination!
Your engagement memories
Your story doesn’t begin on your wedding day; marriage proposals are romantic beginnings to a lovely relationship journey. Some proposals are spontaneous and creative; others are traditional and sweet. How did your fiancé propose?
Destination weddings & honeymoons
Your destination wedding was perfectly unique – exotic location, intimate setting, close group of loved ones – cherish those memories! Maybe you got married on a white sand beach in front of crystal clear water… or you honeymooned at an elegant European estate…or you eloped to Paris and got married in front of the Louvre. Your destination wedding and honeymoon was truly remarkable, filled with picture-perfect moments. Remember that feeling!
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Framing wedding Signature Mats
Signature mats are the perfect frameable alternative to guestbooks. Friends and family can write their best wishes and artistic sentiments directly onto the mat. You can then frame the mat in any style you wish. We can cut a mat for your guests to sign.
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 (keeps your art & objects from fading), but has exceptional clarity, so that you can really SEE what is behind your frame!
We Rent Frames & Easels
Do you need props for your photo booth? We rent frames and easels! An empty frame makes a fun photo-op; take pictures of the happy couple or guests inside the frame. Easels are a great way to attractively display signs, photos, and directions. Stop in to see our selection of frames and easels. Ask a Frame Depot staff member for details!
There are so many benefits to incorporating a mirror in your décor!
Mirrors make small spaces feel larger, add variety to plain walls, increase light in dark areas, reflect the beauty of a fine piece of furniture, bring a lackluster room to life, and serve as a functional appearance-check as you walk out the door. A custom framed mirror is the perfect addition to almost any décor.
Do you have a unique, hard-to-define personal style?
Do you want to create a focal point or conversation piece?
Do you have a dark area in your home?
Do you need to duplicate a scene in your home?
If you answered “Yes” to any of these questions, you need a custom mirror built just for you! We can help!
Why do you need a custom-built mirror?
When professional custom framers like us build your mirror, we are building it to yourspecifications – right down to the last detail – exactly sized for your space and your style. You get to be involved in the design process, choosing from hundreds of frame samples and mirror choices to build a unique, one-of-a-kind mirror for your home. Because it is built by hand, the quality is unsurpassed; pre-manufactured mirrors cannot compare to the care that our custom framers will commit to your framed mirror. Our framers will make sure your mirror will safely stand the test of time, hang properly, and fit beautifully in your space.
Hang it right the first time!
When you are ready to hang your mirror, consider these tips for proper placement:
Think about the tallest person using it – don’t make them bend down or visually cut their head off!
Look at what the mirror is reflecting – is it pleasing? Do you want that visual duplicated?
Don’t let a mirror startle you. For example, if you place a mirror directly in front of your door, you may get startled by your own reflection as you walk into your home.
Don’t place a mirror across from another mirror – your home isn’t a carnival funhouse.
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Did You Know?
The most primitive ‘mirror’ was looking at one’s reflection in a dark pool of water.
At one time, mirrors were quite expensive and rare. In 1835, German chemist Justus von Liebig applied a silver metallic coating to one side of a piece of glass. This process made mass production of mirrors available and mirror use became widespread.
Some cultures cover mirrors after the death of a loved one, believing that mirrors would trap the soul of the departed and prevent them from going to the afterlife.
Some believe that hanging a mirror (which represents the element water) over a fireplace (which represents the element fire) balances the elements of nature.
Tips & Hints:
If you choose a mirror with a beveled edge, make the mirror large enough so that the edge does not interrupt the main reflection.
Only use one large mirror per room – too many reflections can be visually confusing.
Avoid small ‘face only’ mirrors – save the small mirrors for trays.
A mirror should take up ½ to ¾ of the viewable wall space if it is not bundled with other wall décor items. Balance your positive and negative space.
For tight areas like bathrooms, measure your maximum available space and make sure your framer knows your size limitation.
Delivery & Installation
Mirrors are heavy and difficult to transport and hang properly and safely. Let us help! We would love to deliver and hang your mirror for you! Ask us for details.
The holidays will be here before we know it, and you want to buy meaningful gifts for the special people on your list. Gift cards and two-day shipping might be convenient, but custom framed gifts are treasured forever.
What makes a gift memorable? When you are creating a unique framed project, you are giving your loved one a one-of-a-kind gift from the heart…something they wouldn’t buy for themselves…something that evokes a smile every time they look at it. Now is the time to begin thinking about the unique memories, keepsakes, and treasures you want to frame for the holidays. Here’s some ideas!
Celebrate a dream come true
Life goals deserve recognition when they are achieved, but they are unique to each person. Get creative – sometimes the small details make the best framed memories.
Dream vacation? Relive paradise by framing a photo from those travels. Dream car? Celebrate this achievement by framing the window sticker. Dream job? Encourage that hard work by framing the first dollars earned.
Frame The Kids!
Any parent or grandparent will be thrilled with a present that showcases their children. Maybe your son is a new Dad or your friend with kids is hard to buy for…you can’t go wrong with a gift centered around their beautiful bundles of joy. There are so many frameable ideas…
Newborn Photography
Baby feet
Mother & Child Image
Hand-drawn Portrait
Family Tradition
Kid’s Art
Match a décor style
Art is very individual, so when you find the perfect art for someone, it speaks volumes. Sometimes the art is decorative in nature, and sometimes it is more expressive. Either way, understanding the tastes of others shows that you care. For example, wouldn’t this rooster print look fabulous in your friend’s farm-themed kitchen? She will think of you every time she looks at it.
You collect WHAT? Display your collection
Everybody collects something – from fountain pens to coins to Pez dispensers! Pick the collectible that has the most sentimental meaning or is the favorite. We can frame three-dimensional objects, so don’t feel limited in your selection!
Enjoy special moments
Keep the memory of special people and moments alive by framing a meaningful reminder. A beautiful letter your grandmother wrote you as a child…a wine label from your sister’s birthday at the winery…the hole-in-one golf ball your best friend shot last summer….these all make amazing gifts!
Relive Holiday Memories
Children add a boisterous warmth to the holidays. Remember those delightful moments when the kids were small and seemed to embody holiday spirit? Display those memories so you can cherish them each holiday season.
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Custom trays for holiday gatherings
Make your holiday dinner memorable. Serve it up with a one-of-a-kind serving tray for drinks & appetizers. Unique!
Don’t forget Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is part of the holiday season, too! Show your gratitude for holidays past by framing your child’s handprints, thoughtful gratitude quotes, or family portraits.
Taking a piece of art to a framer can seem overwhelming and complex. You may not know the right questions to ask or what to look for when the designer shows you choices. Here’s a quiz to help sort it all out. Remember that beauty is in the eye of the beholder — what matters most is what looks good to YOU!
Question #1
In which design is it easier to study the kimono?
ANSWER:
Ideally, when you view art, you want to ‘get lost’ in it. Sometimes an overpowering colored mat can take away from being able to do just that.
In the first example, there is so little of the blue color in the art that it does not make sense to allow it to dominate. It is best to use it as a complimentary accent (second or bottom mat).
In the second example, the brown top mat creates such a strong contrast to the light background that it pulls your eye away from the kimono. The light-colored mat becomes the focal point and the kimono secondary.
In the third example the two-tone neutral mats all but disappear and encase the kimono. The mat colors don’t compete with any color in the art, so your eye goes straight to the kimono. That harmony makes you want to study the kimono further.
Tip: Sometime the more colors and busier a piece of art is, the more ‘neutralized’ it needs to be.
Question #2
Match the color examples to its design style: Versatile, dramatic, or decorative?
ANSWER:
There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to design; it all depends on what style you are going for.
The black mat surrounding the art is the most DRAMATIC because it features high contrast colors — white on black — and creates a feeling of elegance and sophistication.
The maroon coloring example is DECORATIVE; using such a bold color is usually done as a statement, to match accessories, or to be on-trend. Be careful, that ‘match’ may change in a couple of years.
The neutral example is the most VERSATILE due to its neutral tones allowing both focus and color contrast.
Question #3
Which mat color do you think works best & why?
ANSWER:
In this painting by Paul Cezanne, the tower is the focal point. In framing design, the focal point is what you notice first upon viewing; we always want to emphasize the focal point with as little competition as possible. Your mat colors should help draw the eye to the art, not the matting.
In the first example, the top mat is the same color as the focal point. These colors compete, and your eye doesn’t know where to focus.
The second example uses the same color blue as in the art to extend the background, but because there is a lot of background already, it is not necessarily needed. (Extending the background is useful when the focal point takes the majority of the area.) Blue and yellow are complementary colors, so this particular coloring would be an excellent choice.
The third example uses a neutral color found in the art, which may be what works best with your décor … but because the yellow focal point and tan mat are so close in color, the mat washes out the focal point.
There is no wrong answer to this design question. It’s a matter of what you want to see, and what works best for you.
A white mat is a wonderful thing. White mats can ‘neutralize’ busy, colorful art. They give a clean, modern look to a piece of art or photograph. White goes with everything, so white mats can create a cohesive look to multiple pieces of art.
Tip: Make sure that the white mat is not brighter than any white in your art, or it will be a distraction.
Question #5
What is the purpose of matting?
A. Mats serve as ‘visual padding’ between your frame and artwork.
B. Mats keep the glass from touching your artwork.
C. Acid-Free mats are part of an archival-safe environment for your artwork.
Matting serves many useful functions and adds to the appearance and preservation of your artwork. Matting enhances your art by creating visual ‘breathing room’ between your art and frame, as well as emphasizing color.
Tip: If you want the very best, choose acid-free ‘Rag’ mats – they are 100% cotton.
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Color Harmony
Three basic color schemes and how they work for your art
Monochromatic
A Monochromatic color scheme uses shades & tones of one color. Variations of lightness and saturation create a stylish, sophisticated palette that is simple and easy to look at. The most basic would be black and white art (including shades of grey).
Complementary
A Complementary color scheme uses two colors that are located directly across from each other on the color wheel. Examples include Blues & Oranges, Yellows & Purples, and Reds & Greens. The high contrast of complementary colors creates a vibrant look, bringing eye-catching energy to art.
Analogous
An Analogous color scheme uses colors that are next to each other on the color wheel. These colors are naturally harmonious together. This creates a peaceful, serene feel if using blues and green, or a bold look if using yellow, orange and red.
Father’s Day is June 17th. We still have time to frame a special memory for Dad. We also have fun gift ideas like a beer cap map, digital tape measure or golfing dog wine holder. We also have frames for his desk, or art for his wall. Stop in and let us help you celebrate your Dad. Free gift wrapping is also available.
