Me too..I have lots that my Mom and I used to play that she had purchased in the 20's. I would love to see how others have displayed...

If they are pretty covers, why not frame between two pieces of glass with a small/simple frame. Leave a border of glass between music sheet and frame.

(Like my handkerchiefs, if you've seen them.)

I haven't seen them framed, but, I have a friend who papered a big ugly supporting column that had to be left in place when she remodeled her condo. After papering the column she shellacked them which gave them an additional aged look. She also singed one or two of the pages around the edges for added character. It looked really nice with her piano and other music memorabilia.

I had a guest artist visit my classroom once. She made paper with the kids and they created collages with all sorts of neat flea market junk. One of the things she did was put a sheet of vintage sheet music on a larger piece of handmade paper and added other things like a few dried flowers, ribbon, etc. It was very cool. My principal framed some of them in shadow boxes to go in the teacher rest rooms.

You could do something similar with purchased handmade paper from an art supply store.

I have a deep frame with vintage keys on handmade paper. Don't have time to post a picture....I also have a few pages from magazines featuring items used in deep frames on top of pages/music sheets. I'm on my way out the door, but will scan/post this afternoon/evening.

I believe they had items such as vintage/antique buttons and cameos showcased, but you could use anything.

Found when after the Photobucket folder had uploaded all the photos. This one has writing with coins on top:

{{!gwi}}

Oh that is a great idea to use the homemade paper as a backing. I have to figure out which ones to frame as I do still play some of them. Momma and I played duets for years and years...she and her sister Bess did it before that when they were girls. No one else will ever play in my family and won't care for them so I might as well frame them in hopes that they will be saved in that way. Thank you Allison for that great pic. c

This is the primary one I want to put up.

I can't think of anything that I could put in front of it in a deep frame, but that is a nice idea.

Trailrunner, you could make photocopies and play from those and hang the originals. My piano teacher used to do that. Saves page-turning too!

Oh I never even thought of that...great idea. I have stacks of music exactly like yours. And some that has really pretty covers with pastel flowers etc. I will have to get it all out and see about trying to frame it. I will look for the paper too,,,,I am not up for making it I don't think....although my kids did it years ago when they were in school. I think they used the blender and poured it out and let it dry. I am so glad you posted this ! c

My sister has lots of framed sheet music and it's all hanging in her family room - sorry, no pics. Hers is all of one theme and each piece of music has a picture on the cover. Each is framed with a simple mat, each is framed in a simple black frame but the frames are all different.

Another friend lives in a bungalow. They have framed sheet music and each of the covers has "bungalow" in the song title. I think they have 3 or 5 hanging and they have chosen quarter sawn oak frames stained a medium brown. They also just have a simple mat for each. Their music is hanging on their enclosed front porch in a straight left to right line. Again, no pics.

I think your idea is great. Under your music is something that looks like a linen weave mat - the brown at the bottom of the pile. Because the cottage music cover is plain, I think a textured mat would be a good choice.

You could do something like this:

{{!gwi}}

Here's something I made 15 years ago, along that line:

Close up:

I bought the sheet music, postcards and photos at an antique store. Did not want to ruin any old pictures I had. Tore deeds to use as the background. Brown paper is a grocery bag crumpled up, then "antiqued" with antiquing liquid bought at Michael's (looks like leather). I used a large stretched canvas from Michael's (use coupon for 40% off).

I used either textured papers or lace behind pictures Used antiquing liquid again to tone down whites. Trinkets from around the house - buttons, single silver earring I used to wear as a teenagers, keys, large metal thing from side of sewing machine (spray painted) and a tiny ring DD2 gave me when she was in preschool.

I thought it needed something after finishing, so I added the upholstery tacks at each corner. Also like using the black photo corners - gives it that "old" feeling.

artlover, thank you for the mockup, and allison, thanks for sharing your piece. They're both great.

lido, I've thought about getting some bungalow songs as well. There were a lot of them. Also, states were popular.

Usually I find a plain one with a meaningful song title, like the one above, or one with a great cover but meaningless song like this

but every once in a while you find a good song AND a good cover like this

:P