CasaSugar

Fall Style: Crafting a Fall Landscape With an Old Frame

CasaSugar — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 05:30:42 -0700

Have you been hanging on to a pretty frame that's missing glass? Not sure what to do about it? Well, take a cue from crafty lady Disney and create a three-dimensional picture with it.

Disney writes, "I've had this gorgeous black frame with no glass for a long time, and I finally thought of something to do with it! My dining room wall has a bird theme, and as I was about to clip the hanging wire off this frame, I thought "Hey, it kind of looks like a telephone wire! Just needs birds!"

Disney cut out crows from craft paper, and attached them to the wire. Then, she hot glued twigs from her yard to create trees.

This is such a smart re-use of a glass-less picture frame, and so fun for Fall decorating. It would be a great art project to try with your crafty friends or your children, and an unusual way to add some Fall or Halloween charm to your home. What a great project!

Cool Idea: Door Panes Become Picture Frames

CasaSugar — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:00:03 -0800

My grandmother was the ultimate creative, painfully chic and actually an interior designer herself. So, it didn't come as a surprise when she revamped this French door in her living room (which leads to a rarely used closet), using it to frame black-and-white family photos. She had mattes made to border each photo, or each arrangement of photos, and placed them behind the glass door panes. Then, she had a piece of plywood cut to size, and secured to the door to keep it all in place. It was the sort of great idea that needed to be well executed to succeed, and I think it did. The fact that she used black-and-white family photographs made it all the more nostalgic, timeless, and cohesive. Somehow I don't think color photographs would triumph there. What do you think?

Etsy Find: Belt Buckle Frame

CasaSugar — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 05:30:00 -0700

Since I recently suggested you repurpose your belt buckles as frames, when I came across a belt buckle for sale used in the same way, I couldn't help but share! The Domestikate Custom Belt Buckle ($26) was originally used to hold polished rock and gemstone pieces, and it has a D-ring on its back side, so it can actually be used as a buckle or just as a decorative frame. I love its 1970s Western theme, and think it just begs for a black-and-white cowboy image inside. The seller will print your photo to size and set it in the frame with a plastic protection sheet in front. Pretty neat, huh?

DIY: Photo Triptych

CasaSugar — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 07:45:50 -0700

Using a triptych photo frame can make a photo collection more substantial, or unite three images with a common theme such as subject, composition, or color. And, if you have three wall-mounted frames without stands, turning them into a triptych will allow them to stand up on their own. A photo triptych makes a great gift and a fun weekend project.

Supplies:

three 3.5-by-5-inch unfinished pine frames
four hinges with screws
small flathead screwdriver
paint in your color of choice and a paint brush (or spray paint)

To see the steps from Martha Stewart, read more.

Steps:

Remove the glass and backing material from the frames. Set aside.
Paint the frames with two coats, drying in between each coat. Let dry.
Using your screwdriver, connect each frame with a pair of hinges at the same distance with the pivot facing outward.
Replace the glass, your photos or artwork, and then the artwork.
Clasp it into place, and fold it standing on a table.
If you want to hang it, you can attach two D rings to the middle frame, and hang it on two screws in the wall.
Enjoy!

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Casa Quickie: One, Two, Buckle My . . . .

CasaSugar — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 07:45:50 -0700

I love this idea for repurposing old belt buckles that I found over at Martha Stewart. Take thrifted belt buckles and use them as miniature photo frames, or even better, stick a magnet on the back and display them on a refrigerator or other magnetic surface. Antique stores, flea markets, or thrifting adventures should yield plenty of great possibilities for frames. Try to stick to similar shapes and color palettes to really make the collection gel. Need step-by-step directions? You can learn how to make this craft yourself here.

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Cool Idea: Hang It With Ribbons

CasaSugar — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 07:45:03 -0700

My all-time favorite ice cream shop, Ici, announces their rotating handmade flavors on cute framed signs. While I love everything about the signs, from the font to the bold, black frames, my absolute favorite part of these ice cream signs is the pretty red ribbon with which they're hung.

If you have crown molding in your house, you also probably have a line of molding below it, which is known as a picture rail or picture molding. Using picture frame hooks and some ribbon, you can re-create this very cool look. Are you going to try it at your home?

Cool Idea: Pant Hanger Picture Frames

CasaSugar — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 15:00:03 -0700

I recently spotted this pant/skirt hanger picture frame idea on Ladies & Gentleman Home, and felt a pang of "why didn't I think of that?" It actually started as a budget solution for hanging prints, but evolved into something that has an art-like quality of its own. I'm not so sure that this technique would work in every home, but it certainly works wonders above this mid-century tufted sofa with the mix of screen-printed, floral, and graphic toss pillows and plaid throw picking up the colors and patterns of the prints. If you purchased some new pant hangers when I showed you how to organize your hangers, or have a few to spare, you're in luck.
You can hang your prints and photographs from the moldings, hooks, and any crannies in your home, or construct a simple shelf like this one made from strips of wood. I love how the telephone pole print mimics the shape of the shelf. What do you think?
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Casa Quickie: Fasten With Ribbon For Extra Sweetness

CasaSugar — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 06:15:18 -0700

This photo from phenomenal cake shop Miette in San Francisco features a delicious detail: hanging framed pictures from ribbons. I've seen this technique employed at another local sweet shop in the Bay Area, so I wonder if there's a connection between satin and sugar. Whether or not you serve cake at your own casa, adding ribbons to your framed artwork will sweeten up your home base. To do so in your own home, buy some picture frame hooks, seasonally appropriate ribbon, and get to work. I love the idea of changing out an icy blue or Spring green for a Summer-inspired bright orange or kelly green come June, don't you?

Double the Frames for a Dramatic Effect

CasaSugar — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 04:03:31 -0700

Sgdish writes on Su Casa that she "found this adorable oil painting of a Yorkie on eBay, but it needed a little 'something something,' so I came up with adding an extra antique frame around the picture to give it more presence. Try it with a piece of art that just isn't big enough."

I love this idea, and I love that painting, too. Sgdish, by the way, is a proud owner of four Yorkies herself, so the painting has a lot of personal meaning, I'm sure.

Ask Casa: Framing Fine Photography

CasaSugar — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:00:13 -0800

Hi Casa,

I am adding, for the first time ever, fine photography to my apartment. However I am at a loss when it comes to framing styles and arrangement.

One set of four photographs is horizontally-oriented and black-and-white. I'd like this set in my bedroom but don't know how to arrange them so they look more interesting seeing that they're all horizontal. Tips? Regarding framing them, I'd like to know which types of frames (color, matting, etc.) you recommend for my room seeing that the walls are white but most of the accessory pieces in my room are either antique brown wood or a few wood pieces I've painted bright coral and Yves Klein blue. Are white frames my best bet? Can you frame b&w photographs in brown wood?

The other set of photographs are two color photographs, also horizontally-oriented, that will be nearly facing each other on opposite walls. Tips on framing, matting, and color? They need not match, do they?

I appreciate any tips you might be able to offer me!

Best,
Daniela

To see my suggestions for Daniela, read more.

Hi Daniela,

How exciting! First of all, I wouldn't worry too much about making them "look more interesting" - adding fine art to your home will instantly give it a face-lift regardless of how it's arranged! But, I'll give you a few tips.

As for color, I do think white frames are your best bet. They won't compete with the artwork, and they go with everything. But, you can also go with silver or stainless steel for a more contemporary look. And yes, you can definitely frame black and white photography in brown wood. Another option is to use frameless glass clip frames, which have a more contemporary, minimal look.

I'd say for the set of four photographs, keep the frames cohesive. If you want to choose two different mat colors for the set, you can do that to give it a little edge. But don't get too crazy, maybe go with a gray mat.

For the set of two color photographs, go with a white or off-white mat. For the frames themselves, you can do two different colors or finishes if you like seeing as they'll be on different walls. Select colors that will make the images pop. But make sure the two colors don't clash.

As for arrangements, one option is to use picture ledges. This style allows you to easily move around your photography when it's feeling stale. You can also add a smaller piece of artwork, or even a knickknack, to play with scale. A layering effect (setting one frame slightly in front of the other) is nice, too.

You can't go wrong with a box-shaped arrangement. Just make sure you keep them evenly spaced.

You can also hang two rows of frames a bit off-kilter from one another. It should be enough that the arrangement doesn't look like a mistake, but not too much that the bottom frame is hung between the top two. If you choose an off-kilter arrangement, make sure the distance between the top two frames and between the bottom two frames is the same.

Or, if you happen to have a really long wall, you can hang the four of them side by side. This will give you more of an art gallery effect.

Hope that helps!
Cheers, Casa

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