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Cheap Joe’s Art Stuff Art Blog
Tips, Tricks, Thoughts, and inspiration from across the art spectrum.
Fun and Inexpensive Ways To Use Art Frames
Many people know the struggles of trying to frame art pieces. It can get really expensive to have it done professionally, so we’ve compiled this list of unique ways to use art frames. If you’ve been stuck on how to frame your art, and you don’t want to spend a lot of time doing it, then this is the post for you! These are some of our favorite quick and inexpensive ways to frame your art.
- Corkboards
If you’re looking for something super easy (and also really inexpensive) to display your artwork, try using a corkboard. These are great for hanging any art that’s on paper because you can just pin the piece to the board. You can find blank corkboards in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, so you can customize them to fit your décor style. Sometimes you can even find corkboards that are pre-framed! If you have art prints laying around, and you’re tired of not seeing them up on the walls, then head over to your local craft store and pick up a corkboard! - Dartstrip
Dartstrip is a trendy new product that’s been taking the framing world by storm. It’s a super cool way to frame photos! Dartstrip is an eight-foot piece of steel that’s flexible and has a reusable adhesive backing. This product is extremely customizable since it can be easily cut to any size. It also comes with 16 disc magnets to hold two-dimensional artwork. At such an affordable price, this product is a great option for anyone wanting a unique frame for their work! - Pant Hangers
If you’re really wanting to spend the bare minimum on framing your stuff, consider repurposing some of your old pant hangers. Wooden pant hangers are great for displaying smaller-sized prints! This is probably one of the cheapest and easiest framing options, and the result is a vintage-inspired look that somehow combines textures and colors for a modern design. - Washi Tape Frames
Another extremely customizable way to frame your art is to use washi tape. This colorful tape comes in so many colors and patterns, so you’re sure to find some that look nice with your home decorating style. You can design an entire gallery wall with this tape – just tear off the right-sized stripes for your prints, and arrange them however you want. It’s that easy! - Clipboards
If you’ve never considered using clipboards as frames, you definitely should! Clipboards are stylish options for hanging art prints, and they’re usually pretty inexpensive. You can find clipboards at just about any craft store, and they come in a variety of colors and styles. Choose traditional looking ones for a neutral look, or opt for a pop of color that complements your art. The possibilities are endless with clipboards, and they’re sure to be a conversation starter amongst anyone who visits your home! - Panel Mounting
If you want to forgo the traditional frame, but still want a look that’s timeless and sleek, try mounting your art. All you need is your artwork, a painted or stained panel, and some sort of adhering material. You can tone the panel to get it to look the way you want, and then you just adhere the art to it with an acid-free medium. We recommend Yes! Paste and Blair Artist’s Mounting Adhesive as great inexpensive options for this. - Paper Mounting
If the mounting technique sounded promising, but you don’t feel like using a panel, you can use paper instead. Remove the cardboard from the back of your frame, and choose a piece of paper that you think complements your artwork. Cut that paper down to the same size as the cardboard, and then mount your work to the paper with either acid-free tape or a spray adhesive. Then you just slide that paper in between the glass and the cardboard, and you’re done! You’ll have a sophisticated look that highlights your artwork beautifully. - Floating
If already have a framed print hanging on your wall, but you want to elevate the look to make it your own, then the floating technique might be for you. You just take the frame that you already have, but you remove the piece of paper or cardboard (if the frame came with it) and just use the glass instead. You’ll need a spare piece of glass that’s the same size as your first piece. All you have to do is adhere your print to one of the panes of glass, and then slip both pieces into the frame. This technique is ideal if you have a frame that’s larger than the print you’re hanging because it’ll draw attention to the print itself.
Use Art Frames to Elevate Your Space
We hope this list of unique ways to use art frames has inspired you to switch things up next time you want to frame a piece. You don’t have to settle for boring frames, especially when they can end up being the most expensive options. So go ahead and try out some of these ideas – you just might find your new favorite framing technique!"
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