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published by KatieDid Design
22+ Flea Market Frame Ideas
by Kathleen M. Peters, www.KatieDidDesign.com
Do you have an empty space on your
wall, and only $10 to fill it? Guess what? With a little footwork
at flea markets and garage sales, and some imagination, you've got plenty
of options!
Here are some considerations to keep in mind as you're looking for treasure among the trash:
A) It doesn't matter what's in the frame. Just ignore the ugly hand
stiched baby picture, or the landscape that great uncle Bob painted.
Only the frame is important.
B) Check to see if the frame is sturdy. If it is not, then figure out how you could strengthen it before you buy.
C) Does it have brackets, or will you have to buy those separately?
Brackets don't cost too much, but if the frame is only 50 cents, then the
brackets will cost four times what the frame did! You've got to be
able to hang it somehow!
D) Does it have cleanable unbroken glass? Some projects won't need
it, but if you DO want glass, it'll cost you $4 -$10+ to buy it separately,
unless you can find a good piece of glass in another garage sale with a frame
you don't want!
E) Consider the material of the frame, and what you'll want to do with it.
You can do almost anything with wood frames, but metal and plastic aren't
as adaptable.
So what are you going to do with your frame?
Anything you want! Stuck for ideas? Here are 22+ ideas to get
you started:
1) Paint the frame. (Craft paints are cheap and in many colors.)
2) Stain or whitewash a wooden frame a different color.
3) Try redoing the frame with one of the many faux finishes that are available at craft stores.
4) Frame a mirror
5) Frame your child's artwork - either one or a collage.
6) Frame calender pictures - one at a time or a collage.
7) Frame a frame! You'll see this all the time in decorating magazines
of all sorts... just put one interesting frame inside another complimentary
interesting frame, leaving at least an inch of space between them all around.
8) Frame a greeting card... outside, or the inside of a precious one you've received.
9) If you found a large frame, then have a piece of plywood cut to fit, cover
it with fabric, then crisscross it with ribbon every 6-8". put thumbtacks
every place the ribbons cross, and you've got a beautiful card, memo holder.
(Just slide the cards and notes under the ribbon.)
10) Cover the cardboard backing of the frame with a beautiful piece of fabric
and display it alone. This is especially nice with a toile scene, or
large floral print.
11) Center a smaller piece of mirror over the fabric. (from idea #10)
12) Frame some pages from an antique book (also found in garage sales).
Frame it alone, make a collage with several, or layer it over fabric.
(like idea #11)
13) Frame some antique sheet music the same ways.
14) Frame an antique record album - either the cover or the actual album!
15) Frame some wallpaper or wallpaper border samples. You can make a collage of these, too, if you'd like.
16) Frame some recipe cards for your kitchen.
17) Do idea #10 or #15. Then purchase some ribbon roses, lace, or crochet
doilies, etc. at your craft store and hot glue them into a bouquet in the
center of the fabric or wallpaper.
18) Do idea #10 or #15. Take a blank 3x5 card, write a favorite poem,
quote, or Bible verse on it (or have someone else if you don't like your
own handwriting), and hot glue it onto the center. Glue some ribbon
roses, or a bow above it if you'd like.
19) If the frame is deep enough, then arrange a bouquet of silk roses and hot glue them to a nice backing inside the frame.
20) Do idea #10 or #15. Get some of the small wooden letters at a craft
store to spell your child's name. Paint them white, and hot glue them
on... either straight and even, or scattered all over.
21) Have fun with potpourri. Either hot glue large pieces onto the
cardboard backing so it's completely covered, or simply fill the frame with
smaller pieces! (Lay the frame face down, hot glue the glass to the
frame to create a seal, fill it with small/crushed potpourri so it's completely
full, lay the backing down on the potpourri, and hot glue it to the frame,
sealing the potpourri in.)
22+) Frame any other keepsake you've had hidden away!
Let your imagination soar, and have fun!
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This article Copyright 1999-2004 - Kathleen Peters, KatieDid Design. Reproduced with permission.
Kathleen Peters - 'Katie' - is a custom window treatment and bedding designer, and owner of KatieDid Design, her online shop. She is also the editor-in-chief of Decor, Decorating, and Design, a free bi-monthly ezine filled with articles, tips, and guidelines to help with your home decorating.
http://www.KatieDidDesign.com
http://www.DecorDecoratingAndDesign.com
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