A How-To: Illusion Framing

Apologies for the horrible pictures. Poor lighting plus reflective glass equals icky pictures but they help you get the idea

Aaron and I always like to order 8x10s of pictures we love. Unfortunately, getting them custom matted and framed is beyond our budget and lowly 8x10 prints in 8x10 frames don't have a whole lot of visual impact when hung by themselves.

When I redid our living room I has 7 B&W prints I wanted to hang but the 8x10s were too little for the space. I decided that I loved the wall color enough to let it shine through and hung the pictures in larger mismatching black frames with no mat. It's a super cheap and easy way to fill up wall space and they looks awesome in our living room and entry way!




Materials:

• Frame. I got most of mine at Goodwill 50% off day. You want one that will have a couple inches all around between your print and your frame. Check to see if it has hanging hardware on the back. It's fine if it doesn't, but just beware that adding your own hardware is a huge pain in the butt and not as sturdy. Also, no worries if you fall in love with a frame that has no glass. You just need to get two pieces of replacement glass instead of one. You can discard any frame backing. You only need the frame and the glass. Also, your frame should be wood.
  
• Replacement glass to fit your frame. Make sure you measure the existing glass in your frame before you go shopping! At Home Depot they usually keep the replacement glass in the very back by the big saw thing near the lumber.
  
• Glazier points (they look like ninja stars and are with the picture hanging stuff)
  
• Picture hanging hardware for the wall (and back of the frame if your frame has none)
• Paint scraper
  
• Paint for your frame (optional)
  

3. Paint your frame (optional). I spray painted all mine black. Add hanging hardware to the back if it has none. Be prepared to swear and hate life for a few minutes.

4. Clean the original glass and secondary glass thoroughly. You may need to use Goo-Gone on your new glass. The packaging is obnoxious and tends to leave a residue.

5. Place original glass back in frame.

6. Center your print face up on the secondary piece of glass. Secure with a little piece of tape on the back so it doesn't slide around.

7. Put the second piece of glass in the frame, sandwiching your print between the two pieces.

8. Place glazier points flat side down on the glass. Use your paint scraper to push them into the wood at glass level (this makes more sense if it's sitting in front of you. You'll know what I'm talking about). These hold the glass in and I usually do a minimum of 4. I'd take a picture of me doing this but Wes wandered off with my paint scraper and I have no idea where it is. You can see a point in action below:


9. Hammer in some wall hardware, hang, and you're done!