Autograph Framing

[Ryan1125]

I did a quick and cheap framing project this past weekend, and thought I'd share the process to show how easy and cheap it is to do it yourself. Frame shops can run you $150+ very quickly, I usually frame my stuff for less than $25 total (and I don't have to trust someone else with my autographs!)

First and foremost, and this should go without saying, but signed items should NEVER be pressed up against the glass in a frame. (Over time they can stick to the glass and be ruined if you remove it from the frame.) ALWAYS use a matte! (Also, avoid displaying in direct sunlight, as the autograph will fade over time).

For this particular project, I had a golf program signed by Billy Martin/Yogi Berra/Phil Rizzuto. Neat item itself, but I wanted to frame it and give it the attention it deserves.

Step 1: Identify what you want to frame. Here is what I wanted framed:




Step 2: Have a design in mind. If you are simply framing a signed 8x10, 11x14, or 16x20, this is pretty simple (You're basically just picking a matte color and frame). For this example, I wanted multiple pictures, and multiple pieces within 1 "display". Get creative, this is your piece!

Step 3: Choose and Print your photos. (If necessary. If you are simply framing a signed photo with nothing extra, skip this step). This step is also "fun" to me. I simply use Google Images and find images I like and print them myself at SAMs Club or Wahlgreens. It helps to use Google's "search tools" to search for images greater than 1024x768.

I wasn't 100% sure what size I would need, so I printed 4x6 and 5x7 versions. This cost me a whopping $3:


Step 4: Go to Hobby Lobby and get your custom matte made. Take your items with you to Hobby Lobby, and go to the framing section. Talk to someone in the framing department and tell them what you are wanting to do. They will help you choose the right matte color, and help you decide what size frame you are going to need. They will cut your matte in a matter of minutes (make sure you pick one that is "in stock"). Hobby Lobby ALWAYS has a 40% off one item coupon, you can go to their website on your phone and get to it. With 40% off, this matte will cost less than $10 to make!

I took my program, and photos in, talked with the lady about my design idea, and she had this made in minutes (Seriously they are extremely helpful!):



Step 5: Pick a frame. After getting your matte made, you will know exactly what size frame you need to get. You can get the frame wherever you want. (I actually don't like Hobby Lobby's selection, so I typically go get a frame from Michael's.) Michael's ALWAYS has 40-60% off, so you should be able to get a nice frame for less than $20.

I found this one I liked for $15:



Step 6: Put it together with Acid Free Tape. The only thing necessary in this step is ACID FREE TAPE (Sometimes called "Artist's Tape). Do NOT use regular tape, packaging tape, etc. You can pick up a roll of acid free tape while you are at Hobby Lobby. Being "acid-free" means that the tape will not leave sticky residue and potentially rip/ruin your item if you ever have to remove it from the frame.

Now you've got everything you need. Lay it all out and start putting it together. For one item, this part is super easy. Mine required some cutting so it took a tad longer, but not much. Line up your photo(s) in the open spots and apply some acid-free tape to make sure it stays there. (I probably used too much here, but I'd rather be safe than sorry!)



The last step is to admire your work! Be proud, you just did something yourself, which adds to the story of the piece.

I was stoked when I finished mine, it feels good. Don't waste $150+ at frame shops when you can do it yourself for a fraction of the cost.

The completed project:



Good luck, any questions feel free to ask!

[Bigdaddy]

Very nice.

[thenavarro]

Good job! Looks nice

[Lordstan]

Ryan,
Nice job.
I agree 100% that matting and framing costs can be ridiculous and are worth putting a little time and energy into. I did it a slightly different way. I bought a mat cutter and cut the mats myself. It's a little trickier, but was fun. I won't repost stuff again, but the link below is to the thread I started on the subject a while ago
Mark
http://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=168495

[csotus]

this is essentially the same way I went about framing my last auto. Hobby Lobby is one of my favorite places. The associates there were pretty nice and did a good job with my project.