Floating acrylic picture frames provide an artsy museum-like magnificence to even the most standard areas. At times referred to as plexiglass frames or frameless picture frames, these frames are my top alternative for exhibiting distinctive artwork prints and even posters. And useful reference &rsquore a excellent different to standard picture gallery walls.
Their hardly-there glance is ethereal and crisp and very substantial touch. The greatest section is that acrylic image frames will do the job with any kind of decor from conventional to vintage, to my personal beloved – world bohemian stylish.
But have you at any time checked the cost of acrylic image frames??? That attractive floating frame in the picture below will set you again a sound $one hundred twenty bucks. For. A person. Body. Yikes! Yep, immediately after looking at equivalent rates in other places, I understood accurately what I necessary to do. I essential to dig deep to create a lower-charge, high-stop hunting, Do-it-yourself floating acrylic frame. The acrylic body tutorial you are about to read through is useful for any person hunting for uncomplicated, inexpensive techniques to up grade the appear of their art selection at home.
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What You&rsquoll Want
 
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 Standoffs to mount your frames
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 Acrylic sheets – One set of two for each individual frame (keep reading through for suggestions on wherever to locate them)
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 A substantial metal tent stake or nail (Suggestion: I located a single at Ace Components for $1.fifty)
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 4 spring clamps to maintain the acrylic in location although you do the job on it
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 A drill for mounting the wall components
Where by to Obtain Acrylic Sheets to Make the Floating Frames
 
 
To my surprise, I observed a range of locations where I could invest in acrylic sheets and even acrylic body kits. For instance, I discovered these ready-created acrylic body kits on Etsy. Sad to say for me, the major measurement available was 11 x fourteen. My artwork measured eleven x 17. Due to the fact I wished a three&rdquo acrylic border all all-around the artwork, I essential my frames to measure 14 x twenty. This would assist me produce the illusion of huge pieces of floating art.
 
Then I figured out that Home Depot sold huge acrylic sheets too. But $116 was far more than I required to shell out. Additionally, I could by no means get a crystal clear remedy on regardless of whether or not Home Depot would cut the acrylic sheet into to the dimensions I desired. Finally, I settled on Ace Components, where I purchased 4 18&rdquox 24&rdquo acrylic sheets for $eleven.99 each. Every single sheet is about the similar thickness as a quarter inch piece of glass. Ace Components then minimize the acrylic – no cost of cost – into two sets of frames measuring 14×20. Et voila! Whole cost with tax was just $51.56.
 
Are the frames you need to have noticeably scaled-down? If so, the deal receives even sweeter. Just ask the Ace Hardware glass cutter if he has any left about acrylic from earlier cuts that match your measurement. Ace Hardware will promote them to you for a portion of the initial cost. I did that when recreating this tutorial and only spent a mere $1.fifty for 4 nine x 11 sheets. Ace is surely the put ya&rsquoll!
I know even so that some genuinely low-priced…ahem…frugal people today will say "But Ola, I uncovered acrylic sheets even cheaper at Pastime Foyer!". Enable the purchaser beware while. Individuals are tremendous skinny, craft grade acrylic sheets and will in no way keep up about time.
 
Now for the standoffs. After ordering a set that was far too compact to make an effects, I settled on these reasonably priced silver one/two&rdquo x 4/five&rdquo wall mount standoff bolts. They come twenty to a pack.
How to &ldquoDrill&rdquo the Holes for the Acrylic Photo Frame
Drilling the holes to make your acrylic photograph frames may seem like a no-brainer to you, but it can get quite difficult. In simple fact, not being aware of far more about this vital action pressured me to have to invest in a lot more acrylic because I ruined the initially established. Suddenly the spending budget for my oh-so-affordable Do it yourself acrylic frames elevated by 50 per cent. Ouch! Keep away from faults by having to pay shut notice to these guidelines.
You see, when drilling the holes for your standoffs you will have to drill pretty, quite slowly, or the acrylic will crack. I&rsquom going to demonstrate you how to keep away from that condition altogether. Rather of drilling the hole (like I did at to start with), do the next:
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DO NOT clear away the protecting plastic from the frame
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Mark the places of your four holes on the initially piece of acrylic. Use your very first piece as a template for the rest of the pieces to make sure the holes are all line up.
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Heat the significant metal stake or nail over a fire
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This is Much, much a lot easier than drilling the hole. Use a pair of vice grips to maintain the metallic stake in area, and to keep away from burning oneself.
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Pierce the site for the gap
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Permit the melted edges of the plastic to awesome. These should then snap proper building a thoroughly clean gap for your standoff.
This is Significantly, a great deal less complicated than drilling the hole. Use a pair of vice grips to hold the steel stake in location, and to avoid burning oneself.
How to Set up Your Snazzy New Floating Wall Frames
Below is the easiest way to put in your new frames:
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Position one piece of all set-to-cling acrylic sheet directly onto the wall the place it will be hung
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With your other hand, use a amount to make absolutely sure the acrylic body is straight
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Your standoffs will generally come with anchors. I strongly propose making use of them. You don&rsquot want to wake up in the center of the night to discover these wonderful thangs cracked and shattered on the flooring do you? I didn&rsquot consider you did. So remember to use the anchors.
Concerned about placing way too many holes in the wall? Just fasten the two major standoffs to the wall. Then connect the standoffs to the base holes of the body, but DO NOT fasten them to the wall. No a single will be the wiser. I saw this carried out at a resort once and it blew me absent.
&mdash Ola
Congratulations! You&rsquove now designed THE greatest, most reasonably priced Do-it-yourself acrylic frames ever. Now all you have to do is sit back and enjoy your freshly developed chef d&rsquooeuvre (masterpiece).
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Use a pen/pencil to mark the area of the holes right onto the wall
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Drill hole and insert anchor
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Sandwich your print or photograph amongst two parts of acrylic and thread the standoff by means of the holes to mount